Are The Oklahoma Sooners The Most Underrated Team In The SEC?

On3’s Chris Low released his latest SEC Power Rankings, and he has the Oklahoma Sooners sitting at No. 4 heading into the 2026 season.

Here’s the full quote from Low: "The Sooners took the step everyone was hoping for in Year 4 under Brent Venables and made the playoff. They return 14 starters from that team, most of them key players, and there’s confidence in Norman that the next step will be a deep run in the playoff. Quarterback John Mateer is back after playing through a wrist injury most of last season. He has a talented receiving corps led by Isaiah Sategna and top portal additions Parker Livingstone (Texas) and Trell Harris (Virginia). Like clockwork, Venables’ defense will again be nasty. Defensive linemen David Stone and Taylor Wein along with linebackers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke and safety Peyton Bowen are All-SEC caliber players. Tate Sandell was the Lou Groza Award winner as the top place-kicker in the country last season."

Chris Low is a guy I usually respect, but even Chris Low has the Sooners ranked too Low (pun intended).

I'd argue that Oklahoma enters 2026 as the most underrated team in the SEC, and maybe in all of college football.

I get Texas and Georgia being 1 and 2. Those are two of the most talented teams in the country on paper. But No. 4 with Ole Miss sitting at No. 3? I’m not buying that at all.

While I think Ole Miss has talent, I’m still not convinced about Pete Golding as a head coach in big moments.

On the flip side, Oklahoma returns serious production on both sides of the ball and feels like one of the most complete teams in the entire conference.

The Sooners made the College Football Playoff in year four under Brent Venables. That was the big step forward everyone wanted to see.

Now they bring back 14 starters, a ton of them difference-makers. That kind of continuity is huge in the SEC.

John Mateer is back at quarterback after dealing with a hand injury for most of last season. If he’s healthy and playing like he did early last year, he has legitimate Heisman contender upside.

He’s got a really good group of weapons around him too. Isaiah Sategna brings elite speed, Parker Livingstone gives them big-body contested-catch ability at 6-4, and Trell Harris brings that slot versatility and playmaking after the catch. This receiving room looks deep and balanced.

On the offensive line, there’s reason for optimism.

If those guys take the step forward we’ve been waiting on, this offense should be much more consistent.

The run game should improve as well, which will take some pressure off Mateer and keep defenses honest.

Defensively, this is still a Brent Venables team. That means it’s going to be physical, disciplined, and nasty week in and week out.

David Stone and Taylor Wein up front, Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke at linebacker, and Peyton Bowen at safety, those are All-SEC caliber players who can make plays all over the field.

Add in Tate Sandell, who won the Lou Groza Award last year as the nation’s best kicker, and you’ve got a complete roster with few real weaknesses.

That’s why I think Oklahoma has a real shot at making the SEC Championship Game.

The schedule is tough, as usual, but this team feels built for it. They’ve got the talent, the experience, and the coaching to go toe-to-toe with anybody in the league.

I’d take this group over Ole Miss right now without hesitation.

The expectations are legitimately high in Norman this year, and they should be. After making the playoff last season, the jump to contending for a championship feels realistic.

This program is trending in the right direction under Venables, and year four feels like it could be special.

Chris Low’s ranking isn’t disrespectful by any means, but No. 4 still feels a little low to me. The Sooners have the pieces to surprise a lot of people this fall.

If the offensive line comes together and Mateer stays healthy, this could be a dangerous team in November and beyond.

Oklahoma fans have every right to be excited. The foundation is solid, the talent is there, and the culture Venables has built seems to be clicking.