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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
'I really like what I see': Paul Finebaum on the 2025 Oklahoma Sooners
'I really like what I see': Paul Finebaum on the 2025 Oklahoma Sooners In the transfer portal era of college football, programs now have the capability to change so much for their team over just one offseason. A team that excelled can get gutted by players transferring elsewhere, while a team that struggled can make upgrades at the necessary positions to improve the following year. That's what fans of the Oklahoma Sooners are hoping happens for their team in 2025. After a poor season in 2024, OU is in serious need of a bounce-back this year. They made plenty of portal additions this winter and spring to try and avoid another subpar season. Oklahoma's biggest portal acquisition came in the form of a QB upgrade. Washington State's John Mateer replaces former starting quarterback Jackson Arnold, who now plays at Auburn. With the Sooners needing a total revamp on offense after last season's dumpster fire, many believe that Mateer is the key to getting OU back to their high standard on that side of the ball. That list includes Paul Finebaum, who covers college football and the SEC for ESPN and the SEC Network. He hosts "The Paul Finebaum Show," where he expressed his high expectations for Mateer and Oklahoma. "I think John Mateer is going to fit in very well," Finebaum said. "This is based on people who have seen him perform out there and those who know the Sooners' depth chart. I really like what I see. It's a big year. A couple of tricky games. The second half of the schedule, to me, is littered with tough road games." Mateer, along with new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who also comes from Washington State, will be tasked with getting OU back on track offensively. However, Oklahoma's early schedule includes two big home games against Michigan and Auburn. If the Sooners can topple the Wolverines and the Tigers, they should be 5-0 when they head to the Cotton Bowl to face Texas. After the Red River Rivalry, Oklahoma's final six games are all against brutally tough competition. South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri and LSU is about as tough of a half-season stretch as you can find in college football. It certainly won't be easy against the nation's hardest schedule, but with a difference-maker in place again at the quarterback position, the Sooners have high hopes for the 2025 season. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
USA Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
No love lost: Top five SEC football rivalries that fuel the South's football obsession
No love lost: Top five SEC football rivalries that fuel the South's football obsession Every game during the year is important for Southeastern Conference teams hoping to make the postseason. However, certain dates on the schedule just mean more. SEC rivalries run deep as the Red River that separates Texas and Oklahoma, with each team looking to mark another victory on the calendar. Most importantly, programs are looking to achieve bragging rights for the next year. Rivals in the SEC are not to be played with, as friendships, relationships, and marriages are put on the line depending upon the results of the contest. All jokes aside, there is nothing like a Saturday on rivalry weekend in the South. From fans waiting to break out the cigars in the Alabama-Tennessee "Third Saturday In October" to a golden cowboy hat awaiting the winner in the Red River Rivalry between the Sooners and Longhorns, traditions in SEC rivalries are rich and unique. The real question remains: What are the top five contests filled with the ultimate amount of bad blood, bragging rights, and tears in the league? 1. Iron Bowl - Alabama vs. Auburn Although these two conference powerhouses do not crack the top 10 of most-played rivalries in the SEC, there is no denying the true spite between Auburn and Alabama. Both teams met for the first time on the gridiron in 1892, where the Tigers defeated the Crimson Tide 32-22. After the eras of legendary head coaches Paul "Bear" Bryant and Nick Saban, Bama holds a 51-37 overall record over Auburn. Beyond the wins and losses is a hatred that runs so deep that a man poisoned 130-year-old oak trees at Toomer's Corner in 2010 because the Tigers celebrated a win. Not to mention, Crimson Tide fans treat every loss to their in-state rival like a state of emergency. That is exactly why there is no rivalry in the country like the Iron Bowl. 2. Red River Rivalry - Oklahoma vs. Texas If you were to look up the definition of hate in a dictionary, chances are the Longhorns and Sooners would be at the top. Called the Red River Rivalry for the border that separates the schools, the battle for the gold-plated cowboy hat signifies state superiority. Beginning in 1900, the matchup between the programs is hyped every single year, and for good reason. The Longhorns hold a 64-51-5 overall advantage over the Sooners, but Oklahoma has battled back in the series to win seven contests in the last decade. It's called a border war for a reason, as every single matchup sees a split stadium ready to burst at the seams for any advantage one team has over the other. The "Horns Down" motions do not help matters, which is just another sample of the absolute loathing these two schools have for one another. 3. The Egg Bowl - Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State Well, if in-state hatred is what you strive to see on the last Saturday of the regular season in the SEC, look no further than the state of Mississippi where you will find the third-oldest rivalry in the league. The battle for the Golden Egg Trophy between Ole Miss and Mississippi State has been filled with historic moments and displays of distain for the opposing colors. The Rebels boasts a 66-46-6 record over the Bulldogs, but you can throw all records out the window when it comes to the battle for that shiny egg. Between fights on the field, fans battling in the stands and legendary moments like the missed extra-point after wideout Elijah Moore's infamous leg-lift celebration in the endzone that cost Ole Miss the 2019 matchup, the Egg Bowl is a November tradition unlike most. 4. World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party - Georgia vs. Florida What would a SEC rivalry list be without the greatest cocktail party on the planet? Well, Georgia-Florida games are just that. The war between the Bulldogs and Gators has been honed "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" for a reason, as fans fill the parking lot outside of TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, to indulge in some beverages before entering the stadium to display what they think of their rivals. This rivalry is not for the faint of heart. While Georgia holds a 56-44-2 record over its rival, the Gators dominated the majority of the early 1990s and mid-2000s. The blood that runs through the veins of those that fill the stands and the players, coaching staff and members of the program, are the only common ground Florida and Georgia will find. That might even be a stretch. 5. Lone Star Showdown - Texas vs. Texas A&M Many college football fans considered themselves blessed that the Lone Star Showdown returned last season. The battle for in-state supremacy between Texas and Texas A&M dates back to 1915, and up until 2011, the two faced each other every year. Since the establishment of this rivalry, the Longhorns boast a 77-37-5 overall record over the Aggies, while also claiming seven victories in the last 10 matchups. Like others on this list, this hatred runs deep in every sport and on a daily basis for fans. It is not just a game to residents in the state, it is a lifestyle. With Texas completing the program's first season in the SEC in 2024, there are sure to be more insanely competitive and hostile contests between the two for the foreseeable future. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Projected $758K Star Recruit Spurns Oklahoma After Teasing Commitment Decision
Projected $758K Star Recruit Spurns Oklahoma After Teasing Commitment Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Class of 2026 five-star offensive tackle and Oklahoma target Felix Ojo is nearing a decision amid a busy official visit schedule. Advertisement Ojo (6-foot-7, 275 pounds) plays for Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas. He is rated as the No. 3 offensive tackle, the No. 1 player in the state, and the No. 6 overall recruit (On3 industry). Ojo, who holds an On3 NIL valuation of $758,000, announced in February his top eight schools: Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame. Ojo loaded his summer with visits, also including trips outside of his top schools. Notre Dame unofficially hosted Ojo on April 10 before he took official trips to Ole Miss (April 18), Texas Tech (April 25), Colorado (May 2), Florida (May 16) and Ohio State (May 30). Advertisement Additionally, Michigan received an official visit on June 6 with Texas (June 13) and Oklahoma (June 20) slated to cap off Ojo's summer schedule. Oklahoma coach Brent Venables talks with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian before the Red River Rivalry© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images However, head coach Brent Venables and the Sooners are no longer expected to host Ojo after a key announcement on Monday. The Oklahoma visit has been cancelled, as Ojo revealed that his decision is approaching sooner than previously expected. 'Not needed," Ojo said via On3's Hayes Fawcett. "Nearing my decision a lot sooner than later." It's unclear if Ojo's decision has closed the door for Oklahoma in his recruitment, but the Sooners would have likely benefited from getting the highly coveted recruit on campus. Advertisement Texas stands, for now, as the last program to get an official visit from Ojo this summer. Head coach Steve Sarkisian's Longhorns signed the nation's top class in the 2025 cycle and have been linked to the in-state recruit for some time. Ojo previously named the SEC powerhouse as his leader in May, and he is projected to ultimately land at Texas, according to recruiting experts from On3, 247Sports and Rivals. Related: Arch Manning's Weaknesses Revealed Ahead of Potential Breakout Season at Texas Related: Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit Related: Kirby Smart, Georgia Add Another Recruiting Win as Surge Continues This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners kickoff times announced for 2025 season
Oklahoma Sooners kickoff times announced for 2025 season Kickoff times for the Oklahoma Sooners 2025 season were released on Wednesday. Six of the team's regular-season games have exact times; another two are labeled as early games, and four remain in flex with an opportunity to be in primetime windows. Early kickoff times are scheduled for either 11 a.m. or noon CT. The flex games are open to network discretion and will kick at either in the 2:30/3 p.m. window or the primetime window between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. CT. Two of Oklahoma's biggest games on the schedule, against Michigan and Texas, are locked in. The Sooners host Michigan in Norman during Week 2, September 6, at 6:30 p.m. The annual Red River Rivalry game Week 8, October 11, against Texas, will take place during the prime SEC mid-afternoon time slot at 2:30 p.m. Other specific kickoff games have been scheduled for the opener at home against Illinois State at 5 p.m., on the road against Temple in Week 3 at 11 a.m., and at home against Kent State during Week 5 at 3 p.m. Oklahoma's two early games are at South Carolina on October 18 and at home against Ole Miss on October 25. Every other game - at home against Auburn on September 20, at Tennessee on November 1, at Alabama on November 15, and at home against LSU on November 29 - are the Sooners' flex games. Eight of Oklahoma's 12 games will be in the afternoon or in primetime this season. OU finished 6-6 during the regular season last year and lost its bowl game to Navy, supplying coach Brent Venables with a losing record in two of his first three seasons in Norman. The Sooners are largely expected to improve on last year's results, with new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer having arrived from Washington State in the offseason. Oklahoma football schedule 2025 Illinois State - home - August 30, 5 p.m. Michigan - home - September 6, 6:30 p.m. Temple - road - September 13, 11 a.m. Auburn - home - September 20, FLEX Kent State - home - October 4, 3 p.m. Texas - neutral - October 11, 2:30 p.m. South Carolina - road - October 18, EARLY Ole Miss - home - October 25, EARLY Tennessee - road - November 1, FLEX Alabama - road - November 15, FLEX Missouri - home - November 22, 11 a.m. LSU - home - November 29, FLEX Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Where do Oklahoma Sooners land in ESPN's latest FPI?
Where do Oklahoma Sooners land in ESPN's latest FPI? The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to bounce back after a poor 2024 season that saw them go 6-7. Now, in 2025, Year 4 under head coach Brent Venables and Year 2 in the Southeastern Conference is a pivotal season for both the present and the future of the program. OU plays in the loaded SEC and isn't among the favorites to compete for the conference title in 2025. However, ESPN's latest Football Power Index believes Oklahoma will be much better than they were a year ago. According to ESPN's Neil Paine, "The FPI is a predictive rating system that estimates each FBS team's strength (in points per game relative to the national average) on offense, defense and special teams, making adjustments for starters lost, recruiting talent and other personnel changes. Those numbers are then plugged into the schedule, and everything is simulated 20,000 times to track each team's odds of winning its conference, making the playoff and advancing through to the national title." Oklahoma came in at No. 17 in ESPN's FPI. While that's a very good mark, it actually puts them tenth in the SEC, speaking to the overall strength of the league. The offseason additions of GM Jim Nagy, OC Ben Arbuckle, QB John Mateer, and RB Jaydn Ott, along with Venables taking command of the defense, have put the Sooners in a position to show marked improvement in 2025. Other moves like adding offensive analyst Kevin Wilson and LB coaches Nate Dreiling and Wes Goodwin to the staff and retaining DT David Stone are under the radar, but they could pay big dividends as well. However, the Sooners play what's been billed as college football's toughest schedule. They play eight of the top 20 teams in the FPI. In fact, OU's only game against Power Four competition that doesn't see them face a team in the FPI's top 20 is against Missouri. Additionally, FPI projects that the Sooners will have the ninth-best defense in the country in 2025. That defense was the only reason Oklahoma didn't lose even more games a year ago, and despite losing Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman Jr. to the NFL Draft, that unit has a chance to be good again this year. FPI thinks that two Oklahoma games are among the biggest games of the entire season. The first is on October 11th, when the Sooners take on the Texas Longhorns in the annual Red River Rivalry matchup. Texas ranked No. 1 in the FPI. The other is on November 15th, when OU travels to face the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are ranked No. 3 in the FPI. The Sooners have a chance to be one of the most improved teams in Power Four in 2025. However, Venables and Co. will have to navigate an absolutely brutal schedule if they want to have a chance to make the College Football Playoff. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
