With strategic portal additions and the blockbuster hiring of Jason Witten, the Sooners secure a high-tier SEC ranking as they bolster the roster for a 2026 title run
ESPN college football reporters Eli Lederman, Max Olson, and Adam Rittenberg recently released their comprehensive ranking of every Power 4 team's offseason heading into the 2026 season.
The evaluation weighs roster additions via the transfer portal and high school recruiting, retention of key talent, and coaching staff continuity or upgrades. Oklahoma landed in the upper tier within the SEC, specifically 6th in the conference, positioning the Sooners as one of the stronger but not elite offseason performers across all 68 Power 4 programs.
Oklahoma Sooners: 6th in the SEC
Key additions: WR Trell Harris, OL E'Marion Harris, LB Cole Sullivan
Key departures: DL R Mason Thomas, DL Gracen Halton, OL Febechi Nwaiwu
Top incoming recruits: DE Jake Kreul, RB Jonathan Hatton Jr., WR Jayden Petit
The analysts highlighted Oklahoma's strategic moves around quarterback John Mateer while noting areas where the program could have been more aggressive.
Biggest coaching move: "The Sooners hired several position coaches after their first playoff appearance under Brent Venables, but the biggest name is Jason Witten, the All-Pro tight end who will work with the Sooners' tight ends. Witten spent the past five seasons as a high school head coach in Texas, winning two state championships. OU also hired accomplished running backs coach Deland McCullough, who spent last season in the NFL after a successful run as the running backs/associate head coach at Notre Dame."
This infusion of NFL pedigree and proven developmental coaches stands out as a notable strength for a program building sustained contention in the SEC.
What went wrong: "Oklahoma returned to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019 last fall behind one of the nation's most ferocious defensive units. Venables' defense should be plenty stout again in 2026, especially in the secondary, where the program returns All-SEC safety Peyton Bowen and starting cornerback Eli Bowen. But the Sooners lost a lot of experience and depth this offseason, particularly on the defensive line with the departures of Thomas, Halton, Damonic Williams and Marvin Jones Jr. Oklahoma has plenty of intriguing youngsters competing to fill vacancies on its defensive depth chart, but the Sooners could have been more aggressive in the portal, where Sullivan, a linebacker transfer from Michigan, and former UTSA edge rusher Kenny Ozowalu marked the Sooners' most significant additions."
The defensive line attrition represents the clearest vulnerability. While young talent and transfers like Sullivan and Ozowalu provide upside, the analysts suggest OU stopped short of fully replacing the lost production and depth through the portal.
What went right: "Quarterback John Mateer spent the final two-thirds of the 2025 season hampered by lingering effects of early-season hand surgery but also could have used a more consistent pass-catching unit last fall. Hence, the Sooners retooled around Mateer in 2026, securing portal wide receivers Harris (Virginia) and Parker Livingstone (Texas) to play alongside 2025 receiving leader Isaiah Sategna III and a trio of new tight ends in Rocky Beers (Colorado State), Hayden Hansen (Florida) and Jack Van Dorselaer (Tennessee). Oklahoma brings back three 10-game starters on the offensive line and a rising star in the versatile Ryan Fodje, who started six games as a freshman a year ago. The Sooners added five-star edge rusher Kreul as part of the nation's No. 17 recruiting class and picked up a big spring boost after a district court judge granted linebacker Owen Heinecke an extra year of eligibility on April 16."
Offensively, the moves signal a clear intent to build a more reliable supporting cast for Mateer. The return of offensive line experience, addition of proven pass-catchers, and high-end recruit Kreul provide reasons for optimism. The eligibility ruling for Heinecke adds valuable linebacker depth.
Contextualizing Oklahoma's Ranking Among Power 4 Teams
Oklahoma's placement reflects a balanced but not flashy offseason in a conference where several programs made louder splashes. The Sooners finished behind teams like Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Texas A&M in SEC-specific evaluations but still project as a competitive outfit capable of another playoff push.
Across the broader Power 4 landscape, programs with massive portal hauls, coordinator upgrades, or elite retention often outranked OU, yet the Sooners' continuity under Venables, targeted offensive improvements, and strong recruiting class keep them firmly in the conversation.
Analysts noted that while some teams chased volume in the portal, Oklahoma focused on quality fits, particularly on offense, to address 2025 shortcomings.
The defensive losses temper the grade, but returning secondary standouts and emerging talent could mitigate the impact. Coaching additions like Witten and McCullough add long-term developmental value that may pay dividends beyond 2026.
Overall, Lederman, Olson, and Rittenberg portray Oklahoma's offseason as pragmatic and targeted: strong enough to maintain momentum after a CFP return but with clear areas (defensive front depth) where bolder action might have elevated the ranking further.
For a program looking to take a big step forward in the SEC, this measured approach prioritizes sustainable improvement around a rising quarterback and stout base defense.
The expectation should be for a more explosive offense, while relying on Venables' defensive scheme to develop young talent quickly.
Whether this ranks high enough for playoff contention will depend on how the new pieces integrate and whether the defensive line youth steps up.
As the analysts' framework shows, Oklahoma's offseason earns respectable marks—solid groundwork for continued ascent rather than a complete overhaul.