The Oklahoma Sooners are generating serious buzz as a potential top-10 team in 2026, and for good reason. After a rollercoaster 2025 season that saw them secure a College Football Playoff berth as an eight seed, the Sooners proved they're back in the national conversation. Though their first-round home game in Norman ended in disappointment, that playoff appearance marked a massive leap forward from the previous year and signaled a return to the championship standard Oklahoma fans know and love.

Since that electric night under the lights, the roster has seen its share of turnover—players have come and gone, while key veterans have chosen to run it back in crimson and cream. With spring practices wrapping up and rosters taking shape across the country, the consensus is clear: Oklahoma has the pieces to climb back into the top 10. USA TODAY Sports analysts Eric Smith and Paul Myerberg certainly think so. In their post-spring too-early top 25 rankings, they slotted the Sooners at No. 7, good for third in the loaded Southeastern Conference. That's just one spot lower than their January ranking of sixth, and it reflects the high expectations surrounding this squad.

The analysts highlighted two critical areas of focus from spring ball: refining quarterback John Mateer's mechanics and shoring up the offensive line. "Those were significant hurdles in last year's three losses," they noted, adding that "the results of that work will likely dictate whether the Sooners are playoff contenders or potentially title contenders." With the rest of the skill positions expected to be productive, the offense could be explosive. On the other side of the ball, the defense received a major boost when linebacker Owen Heinecke earned an extra year of eligibility. Anchored by tackles David Stone and Jayden Jackson in the middle, and backed by a veteran secondary that might be the best in the SEC, this unit looks formidable.

Of course, the path to a top-10 finish runs through one of the toughest schedules in college football. The Sooners open at home against UTEP before a massive non-conference road trip to Michigan. A breather against New Mexico follows, but then comes another heavyweight road battle at Georgia. After the team's only bye week, the intensity doesn't let up: Oklahoma heads to Dallas for the annual Red River Showdown, a neutral-site classic that always carries enormous stakes. If the Sooners can navigate that gauntlet, a top-10 finish—and maybe even a deeper playoff run—is well within reach.