Preseason Poll Reveals Massive Divide Between Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners, Sparking Questions About Future Big 12 Power Dynamics

The 2025 college football preseason poll has unveiled a surprising and significant gap between two of the sport’s most historic rivals—the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners. Once viewed as neck-and-neck competitors both regionally and nationally, the two programs now seem to be standing at vastly different altitudes as the new season approaches. With Texas projected to be a top contender not just for the conference title but also for a College Football Playoff berth, Oklahoma finds itself significantly lower in the rankings, raising serious questions about the current trajectory of Brent Venables’ program and the broader implications for the Sooners as they transition further into the SEC landscape.

The Texas Longhorns, fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024 and brimming with returning talent and elite recruits, are riding a wave of national optimism that hasn’t been this powerful in over a decade. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has finally delivered on the promise that followed him from Alabama, piecing together an elite offensive system complemented by a fast, physical defense that now resembles the very SEC powerhouses Texas was once dwarfed by. With star quarterback Quinn Ewers returning for what many believe could be a Heisman-contending season and a young but dominant defensive front, Texas isn’t just expected to compete—they’re expected to dominate.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s ranking in the preseason poll has come as a jarring contrast, with the Sooners barely cracking the Top 25 in many national projections. Despite flashes of progress under Venables in 2024, including a solid bowl win, the overall perception of the program remains one of stagnation rather than ascension. Critics cite inconsistency at quarterback, a defense that still hasn’t fully matured under Venables’ system, and recruiting classes that have struggled to keep pace with not just Texas but also emerging powers like Georgia, Michigan, and Florida State. While Oklahoma still boasts a proud tradition and a fan base that expects championship contention annually, the current reality suggests a program trying to rebuild faster than the rest of the college football elite is willing to wait.

This enormous preseason disparity between Texas and Oklahoma has stirred passionate debates across college football circles, particularly in the Big 12 and SEC regions. Though both schools are now members of the SEC, their respective outlooks entering 2025 could not be more divergent. Texas, ranked as high as No. 2 in several major polls, is widely considered a legitimate national title contender. Their offense, led by a fully healthy Ewers and a top-three receiver corps, is expected to torch defenses across the SEC. Add in a pair of blue-chip running backs and an offensive line considered the most cohesive in the conference, and it’s clear why analysts are bullish on the Longhorns. Their defense, too, has undergone a quiet transformation, led by veterans in the secondary and a dominant edge-rushing unit that will likely give quarterbacks nightmares all season long.

On the other hand, Oklahoma enters the season with more questions than answers. The quarterback battle remains unresolved after an inconsistent 2024 campaign, and while there’s talent at the skill positions, the lack of an elite offensive line and uncertainty at coordinator positions have clouded projections. Venables, known for his defensive acumen, has not yet produced a defense that consistently wins games at the highest level. In the SEC, that’s a fatal flaw. With the conference as competitive as ever, Oklahoma’s early-season matchups could either validate the concerns or spark a much-needed revival. But as it stands, they are viewed as a tier or two below their biggest rival.

What makes this gap even more striking is how close these programs were just a few years ago. The 2020s began with both teams trading wins in the Red River Rivalry, splitting recruiting territory across the Southwest, and being mentioned in the same breath when it came to future playoff contenders. Yet Texas has capitalized on NIL, the transfer portal, and blue-chip development in a way Oklahoma has not. Sarkisian’s aggressive recruitment of top talent, his ability to retain coaching staff, and his adaptability in offensive scheming have all paid off at the right time. Conversely, Venables’ emphasis on culture-building and long-term program development—while admirable—has yielded only modest short-term returns.

Beyond just preseason rankings and speculation, the real-world implications of this widening gap are enormous. For Texas, a top-three preseason ranking sets expectations sky-high, and anything less than a trip back to the College Football Playoff would be seen as a disappointment. The pressure is immense, but so is the opportunity. This is the year Texas can prove it belongs among college football’s top-tier programs again—not just in terms of branding or history, but on the field, where it matters most. For Oklahoma, the lower ranking carries different stakes. It’s not about national title aspirations—at least not yet—but rather about regaining credibility, showing measurable progress, and proving that Venables can steer this ship through SEC waters. If the Sooners stumble out of the gate or suffer multiple lopsided defeats, the whispers around program direction could grow louder, potentially impacting recruiting and administrative patience.

Recruiting is another area where the difference in momentum is striking. Texas has landed multiple five-star prospects in both the 2024 and 2025 classes, with a pipeline now firmly established into elite high school programs in Texas, California, and even Florida. Oklahoma, while still recruiting at a high level, has struggled to land top-10 classes consistently, often losing battles to SEC competitors or even Texas itself. This talent imbalance may not show in every game, but over the course of a season—especially one as grueling as the SEC schedule—it becomes difficult to ignore. Development can bridge the gap only so much when facing rosters that are stacked two-deep with future NFL players.

Another factor is program stability. Sarkisian has built a cohesive identity in Austin, one that players seem to buy into and fans can rally behind. The offense is fast, smart, and dangerous. The defense is aggressive and disciplined. And most importantly, the team has shown resilience in big games. Oklahoma, while not lacking in pride or legacy, has been harder to pin down. Is it a defense-first team in the making or an identity still in flux? Will Venables’ long-term vision take root before impatience sets in from boosters and fans alike?

The psychological edge between the programs is also shifting. For years, Oklahoma was seen as the steadier, more successful rival, racking up Big 12 titles and CFP appearances while Texas floundered through coaching changes and inconsistency. But the recent turnaround under Sarkisian has begun to reverse that perception. Texas is the team with swagger now, the team that recruits want to play for, the team that shows up in big moments. The narrative has flipped, and with it, the recruiting advantages, media buzz, and fan confidence have followed.

None of this is to say Oklahoma is doomed or that the rivalry is dead. In fact, rivalries thrive on cycles—one team ascends while the other reloads. And in college football, things can change quickly. A surprise win, an elite freshman breaking out, or a defensive turnaround can reignite momentum. But entering 2025, it’s clear that the Texas Longhorns are not just ahead of Oklahoma—they’re leagues ahead in terms of readiness, confidence, and national perception.

The Red River Rivalry game in October will still be circled on every calendar, but it will carry a new context. For Texas, it may be about staying undefeated, securing a playoff path, and asserting their dominance in front of a national audience. For Oklahoma, it might be about redemption, proving they belong in the conversation, and salvaging a season that already feels steeped in doubt. The preseason gap in rankings has only heightened the stakes. And if the pollsters are right, the distance between these programs may be more than just numerical—it may be philosophical, strategic, and, most tellingly, existential.

In a sport where perception is often reality and where margins are thin at the top, the gap between the Longhorns and Sooners has rarely felt this wide. Whether it’s a fleeting moment or the beginning of a new era in this storied rivalry will be decided not by polls, but by what happens when the helmets crash, the whistles blow, and one of college football’s most sacred rivalries writes its next chapter under the blazing lights of the SEC.