Imagine the thrill of a college football powerhouse clawing its way back into the national spotlight—Oklahoma is doing just that, securing a spot in the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time since 2023! But here's where it gets controversial: with powerhouse SEC teams dominating the field, does Oklahoma really have a fighting chance against such stiff competition, or is this just a tease for Sooner fans?
As the season barrels toward its final stretch, the Oklahoma Sooners have firmly planted themselves in the discussion for the College Football Playoff. Currently boasting a 7-2 overall record and a 3-2 mark in SEC play, the team earned a solid 12th-place ranking when the College Football Playoff selection committee released its inaugural rankings for the year on Tuesday. With just four weeks remaining in the regular season, these rankings set the stage for what's to come.
To help newcomers understand, the College Football Playoff is a modern system that selects the top teams for postseason play, replacing the old Bowl Coalition and BCS formats. It typically expands to 12 teams, with conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC often leading the pack. In this initial list, nine SEC squads made the top 25, showcasing the conference's strength. Among them, four SEC teams—No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Georgia, and No. 6 Ole Miss—are projected for the 12-team playoff field. Oklahoma, alongside No. 11 Texas, sits just outside that elite group for now. Meanwhile, the ACC's highest-ranked team is No. 14 Virginia, and no Group of Five (like the Big 12 or C-USA) teams cracked the top 25 initially. However, the top Group of Five champion automatically earns a playoff bid at season's end, which could shake things up—think of it as an underdog wildcard that adds intrigue and debate.
And this is the part most people miss: Oklahoma's return to these rankings marks a comeback story worth noting. Back in 2023, under head coach Brent Venables' second year, the Sooners debuted at No. 9 after a strong 7-1 start. But after a couple of road losses, they slipped to No. 17 and eventually finished 12th in the final rankings, missing out on the four-team playoff and the prestigious New Year's Six bowl games. Fast-forward to now, and after nine regular-season games, Oklahoma's playoff dreams remain alive. A big reason? Their dramatic 33-27 victory over Tennessee in Week 10, many view it as a make-or-break moment for playoff eligibility. This triumph stands as the highlight of Venables' four-year tenure, boosting the team to a perfect 3-0 on true road games this season and providing a crucial lift before their second bye week.
Tennessee entered the rankings at No. 25, adding to the stakes. Plus, Oklahoma notched a quality win against No. 21 Michigan, proving their mettle against ranked opponents. As Venables put it after the Tennessee game in Knoxville: 'This is a team that's really determined, a team that's hard to kill, a team that came together and wasn't bothered by the noise. They know that when we put it all together, we have everything needed to win every game in the fourth quarter of our season.' It's that resilience that's fueling the hype.
The Sooners have a weekend off before hitting the road on November 15 for a pivotal matchup against No. 4 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m., and with playoff implications hanging in the balance, this SEC showdown promises to be electric—catch it live on ABC. From there, Oklahoma heads home for their last two regular-season games: against No. 22 Missouri (6-2, 2-2 overall) on November 22, and against unranked LSU (5-3, 2-3) on November 29. These clashes could solidify or derail their playoff push.
But wait, is the SEC's dominance in these rankings fair game for debate? Some argue it gives Southern programs an unfair edge, while others say it's just good football. And what about that automatic bid for Group of Five champions—could it level the playing field, or does it complicate things unnecessarily? Here's a controversial take: with teams like Oklahoma outside the projected field, fans might wonder if the committee's criteria truly reflect a balanced selection, or if conference prestige plays too big a role.
For reference, here's the full College Football Playoff top 25, with the projected 12-team field highlighted in bold:
Ohio State
Indiana
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Alabama
Georgia
Ole Miss
BYU
Texas Tech
Oregon
Notre Dame
Texas
Oklahoma
Utah
Virginia
Louisville
Vanderbilt
Georgia Tech
Miami
USC
Iowa
Michigan
Missouri
Washington
Pitt
Tennessee
Not ranked: Memphis (the top Group of Five team so far)
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What do you think—will Oklahoma crash the playoff party, or is this ranking just a mirage? Do you agree with the committee's picks, or should the system change? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let's debate!
