After Oklahoma’s upset of Texas on Saturday, they jumped seven spots to number five in the AP Poll. Unfortunately for Texas, they dropped six spots to ninth place.
This might seem like a bit of an extreme jump for the Sooners, but they did just beat the third-ranked team in the country, and their defense is vastly improved. They leaped over not only Texas, but also Penn State, Washington, Oregon, USC, and Alabama.
Being ranked ahead of USC has to feel especially good for the team and its fans after a certain coach and quarterback abandoned them for that shiny team out West. The Sooners’ number five spot is also their highest rank in the AP Poll since 2021 when that coach-quarterback duo still resided in Norma
What The New Top-Five Ranking Means for Oklahoma
Well, the Sooners finally got the respect they deserved this season, and it has them on track for a potential College Football Playoff spot. They sit behind only Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Florida State.
Oklahoma still has six games left on their schedule, all in the Big 12, which means they should be pushed in all of them. Away at Kansas and BYU will both be difficult challenges, and Bedlam will always be a pressure-filled game.
But Oklahoma has more talent than any of their remaining opponents, and they should be favored in all of them barring disaster. This could set up another Red River Showdown in the Big 12 Championship in Arlington.
The Sooners control their own destiny. Win out in the regular season, and beat Texas again, and they would be a lock for the Playoff. But if they stumble, or lost the Big 12 Championship, their fate would get a lot murkier.
For now, coach Brent Venables and his staff need to make sure their players stay focused and take care of their responsibilities every day.
