SHOCKER: ESPN Analysts Stun Fans With Bold Praise for Oklahoma’s Offseason, Sparking Talk of College Football Playoff Run
In a surprising twist that has rippled across the college football landscape, ESPN analysts have recently heaped rare and glowing praise on the Oklahoma Sooners, citing their calculated and aggressive offseason moves as a legitimate reason to believe the team could be on a trajectory toward the College Football Playoff in 2025. Long dogged by critiques of inconsistency and an inability to win on the biggest stages, the Sooners suddenly find themselves back in national conversations—not as a cautionary tale, but as a dark horse with real teeth.
Oklahoma’s offseason didn’t begin with a splashy head coaching change or a blockbuster quarterback transfer, but rather with a set of smart, deliberate moves that demonstrated both urgency and strategic planning. ESPN’s Greg McElroy, Paul Finebaum, and Heather Dinich—three analysts not known for tossing around empty optimism—each went on record during recent appearances praising Oklahoma for “finally looking like a program with a plan.” That’s not faint praise; it’s a significant course correction in the narrative that has dogged OU since the departure of Lincoln Riley and the transition into the Brent Venables era.
The Sooners are entering their second season in the SEC, and that transition alone is enough to intimidate most programs. But instead of treading water, OU used this offseason to reshape its roster, reassert its identity, and double down on winning in the trenches. In short: they got serious. No longer content with Big 12-style finesse football, Oklahoma is now built for the grind of SEC warfare—and people are starting to take notice.
Perhaps the most impactful move came via the transfer portal. Oklahoma landed multiple battle-tested veterans from power programs, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines. These weren’t just depth pieces; they were culture-setters. Players like Michigan State offensive lineman Spencer Brown and Alabama defensive tackle Tim Keenan III weren’t brought in to watch—they were brought in to lead. Brown, a 6-foot-6 mauler, brings a Big Ten toughness to the Sooners’ offensive front, and Keenan offers the kind of SEC-tested brute strength that Oklahoma has lacked up the middle since Gerald McCoy wore crimson.
But it wasn’t just the trenches that got a makeover. Oklahoma also added speed and savvy in the secondary, including the high-profile acquisition of cornerback Jyaire Brown from Ohio State. Brown, who played in big moments for the Buckeyes, gives the Sooners a shutdown presence on the perimeter—something they’ve lacked for several years. Combined with the return of safety Billy Bowman, this gives Oklahoma its most talented and cohesive defensive backfield in nearly a decade.
Brent Venables, a former defensive coordinator who earned his stripes building elite Clemson defenses, has finally molded this roster in his image. After a shaky start to his head coaching tenure, the 2024 season now looms as a make-or-break moment—and the ESPN crew seems to believe he’s about to break through. “This team finally has defensive teeth,” said McElroy. “For the first time in years, I’m not just hoping OU will stop someone—I actually expect them to.”
That’s high praise for a program that, just two years ago, was giving up 40-plus points to Kansas State and Texas Tech. The defensive turnaround is rooted not only in talent but also in scheme. Venables has installed a more simplified system that allows his athletes to play faster, read less, and react more instinctively. The early reviews from spring ball were overwhelmingly positive. Multiple insiders noted that even backup units looked sharper and more assignment-sound than last year’s starters.
Offensively, Oklahoma remains a work in progress, but there’s no shortage of optimism. The Sooners will be led by sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold, the former five-star recruit who flashed brilliance in limited action last year. ESPN’s Dinich singled out Arnold’s development as “the single biggest reason” to believe in Oklahoma’s potential playoff push. “If he becomes what the coaches believe he can be, then there’s no ceiling for this team,” she said.
Arnold won’t have to do it alone. The Sooners bring back a potent trio of running backs, headlined by Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes, who combined for over 1,500 rushing yards last season. The offensive line—historically a strength for Oklahoma—has been reshuffled and re-energized by the arrival of new position coach Seth Littrell, whose tough-love approach has resonated with players.
Then there’s the receiving corps, led by returning star Nic Anderson and bolstered by the addition of LSU transfer Aaron Anderson. Between the two Andersons, Oklahoma suddenly has both a vertical threat and a slot dynamo. It’s a group with speed, hands, and enough experience to frustrate even the most talented SEC secondaries.
Of course, none of this means anything without results. The Sooners have often looked like world-beaters in spring and summer, only to fold under pressure once the calendar turns to October. That’s why the praise from ESPN analysts is so surprising—it’s not based on speculation or hope, but rather on observable improvement and deliberate change.
“The difference this time,” Finebaum said, “is that Oklahoma finally looks like a team that can survive—and maybe even thrive—in the SEC. They’ve stopped pretending they can outscore everyone and started building a team that can win 24-20 if they need to.”
That mindset shift is perhaps the most important offseason development of all. For years, Oklahoma operated with a Big 12 mentality, even while preparing to enter a league dominated by defensive grit and ball control. This year, they finally made peace with that reality. The result is a more balanced, more rugged, and more confident team.
The 2025 schedule won’t do them any favors. Oklahoma faces a brutal SEC slate that includes road trips to Alabama and LSU, as well as a Red River showdown against Texas in Dallas. But unlike previous years, where the Sooners would enter those games as underdogs hoping to pull off an upset, there’s a growing sense they might be able to go toe-to-toe on talent alone.
That’s not to say Oklahoma is now a favorite to reach the Playoff—there are still too many unknowns for that. Arnold’s development, the chemistry of the rebuilt offensive line, and the ability of the defense to remain disciplined against elite competition are all fair questions. But for the first time in a long time, the questions feel manageable. They feel like the kinds of things a good team figures out, not fatal flaws waiting to be exposed.
It’s worth noting that Oklahoma’s return to relevance comes at a time when the Playoff is expanding to 12 teams. That format change could benefit a team like the Sooners, who might not be ready to dominate the SEC but could absolutely play their way into a 10-2 season and an at-large berth. With a signature win or two, that might be all it takes.
That’s what makes this offseason buzz so fascinating. It’s not just about hope—it’s about positioning. Oklahoma is no longer trying to reclaim its past glory. It’s trying to carve out a new identity, one suited to the realities of SEC football and a rapidly evolving postseason structure. The ESPN analysts are simply responding to what they see: a team that got tired of excuses, tired of being soft, and decided to grow up.
In many ways, this version of Oklahoma is exactly what Brent Venables was hired to build. It just took a little longer than expected. Now, with a roster that looks tougher, a scheme that looks sharper, and a staff that looks more cohesive, the Sooners are daring to believe again—and for once, the national media is starting to believe with them.
Whether it ends in a playoff berth or another season of “almost,” the 2025 Oklahoma Sooners have already achieved something remarkable: they’ve forced people to take them seriously. That might not be a trophy, but it’s a powerful first step. And if you ask ESPN’s top voices, it just might be the first step toward something even bigger.
