Brent Venables’ Oklahoma Sooners Earn Spot in Phil Steele’s Nine-Team List of Legit 2025 National Championship Contenders

Brent Venables has heard the noise—doubts, questions, and scrutiny have followed the Oklahoma head coach ever since the Sooners announced their seismic move to the SEC. The transition hasn’t been easy. A 6-7 record in Oklahoma’s first year as a member of college football’s most unforgiving conference left fans restless and critics circling. But as the 2025 season draws near, one of the sport’s most respected analysts is buying into the vision unfolding in Norman.

College football insider Phil Steele, known for his deep dives and analytical breakdowns, has released his latest list of national championship contenders—and Oklahoma has made the cut.

Yes, despite the rocky season and the overwhelming strength of the SEC, Steele has named the Sooners one of just nine legitimate contenders for the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship.

It’s a significant vote of confidence in Brent Venables and the strategic decisions he made during the offseason to change the course of Oklahoma football. After watching his offense flounder last season—finishing 124th in yards per play—Venables wasted no time making big moves. First, he tapped into the Air Raid lineage by hiring Ben Arbuckle away from Washington State as offensive coordinator. Then came John Mateer, a dynamic quarterback who threw for over 3,000 yards and rushed for another 800 while accounting for 44 total touchdowns for the Cougars in 2024. Oklahoma didn’t just get a passer—they landed a complete offensive engine.

Mateer brings instant energy and experience to a unit that sorely lacked firepower last fall. His ability to extend plays, push the ball downfield, and exploit mismatches makes him a true X-factor. But he won’t be doing it alone. The Sooners also secured the services of transfer running back Jadyn Ott, formerly of Cal, one of the Pac-12’s top playmakers. Ott provides a balance of power and speed that will take pressure off Mateer and give Oklahoma the type of offensive versatility they desperately need to compete in the SEC.

But Steele’s endorsement goes beyond skill players. He’s bullish on Oklahoma’s offensive line, describing it as significantly improved and ready to hold its own against SEC defensive fronts. The Sooners struggled with protection and push in 2024, but additions through the portal and the natural development of returning players have given the unit new life.

Defensively, Oklahoma is quietly assembling one of the most underrated back sevens in the country. The linebacker corps returns multiple starters with All-SEC potential, and the secondary features both range and depth. Venables, whose identity has always been rooted in defense, now has the personnel to impose his will on that side of the ball. This is no longer a finesse Big 12 defense trying to survive in a new neighborhood—it’s a group built to go toe-to-toe with the Tennessees, Alabamas, and Georgias of the world.

Speaking of that SEC schedule—yes, it’s brutal. The Sooners will square off with traditional powers like Alabama and Tennessee. There’s little room for error, and a single stumble could derail playoff aspirations. But that’s what makes Steele’s ranking even more notable. He acknowledges the gauntlet but believes the ceiling in Norman is just as high as any team in the nation.

Oklahoma comes in at No. 9 overall in Steele’s preseason rankings, trailing only bluebloods like Georgia, Ohio State, and Michigan. For a program that hasn’t won a national title since 2000, the implications are enormous. Steele’s seal of approval doesn’t guarantee trophies, but it places Oklahoma in the elite conversation—a spot fans have desperately wanted to return to since Lincoln Riley’s departure and the ensuing instability.

Venables’ 22-17 overall record still leaves room for skepticism. Three years into his tenure, there hasn’t yet been that one signature season to silence the critics. But 2025 could be that turning point. Venables has overhauled his staff, recruited more SEC-caliber talent, and embraced the program’s new identity. If Oklahoma can navigate the treacherous waters of the SEC and emerge with even a 10-2 record, they’ll likely find themselves in the thick of the playoff race.

It’s important to note the context here: Steele is not one to make bold predictions based on hype or recruiting stars alone. His evaluations come from film breakdowns, returning production metrics, coaching changes, strength of schedule, and program trajectory. So for Oklahoma to be included in this tight group of nine national title contenders is more than just a courtesy inclusion—it’s a data-backed belief that this team has the pieces to make a serious run.

In addition to Oklahoma, Steele’s list features the usual suspects: Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon, Texas, Florida State, and Penn State. That Oklahoma finds itself among this company—a mix of College Football Playoff mainstays and perennial powerhouses—is a sign of restored credibility in the Brent Venables era.

But there’s more at stake than rankings and accolades. Oklahoma is staring down a defining moment in program history. They’ve officially burned the boats behind them—there is no return to the Big 12 and no excuses left. The expectations are high, and the pressure is immense. Yet with every major change made this offseason, Venables has shown he’s not just reacting—he’s preparing to strike.

John Mateer and Jadyn Ott are new names in Norman, but they may soon become legends if they can help the Sooners snap their 25-year title drought. The defense looks hungry, the offensive line is sturdier, and the play-calling is set to evolve under Arbuckle. In other words, the ingredients are there.

Phil Steele sees it. Now, the rest of college football is starting to catch up.

The Sooners have a long road ahead. There are questions yet to be answered, games yet to be won, and plenty of moments where things could unravel. But for the first time in years, Oklahoma fans can look ahead to a season not just with hope—but with expectation.

Brent Venables’ rebuild may be taking longer than some expected, but if Steele is right, the payoff is coming soon. The Sooners are no longer rebuilding.

They’re ready to contend.