Texas Longhorns Earn Massive Preseason Edge Over Rival Oklahoma Sooners as Expectations Soar for 2025 College Football Championship Push
The release of the 2025 college football preseason rankings has stirred excitement and debate across the nation, but nowhere has the conversation been louder than in Big 12 and SEC circles, where the stark difference between the preseason rankings of the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners has raised eyebrows. Once two closely matched programs with a rivalry that defines college football tradition, Texas and Oklahoma now appear to be on different trajectories according to the pollsters. The Longhorns were ranked within the top four, firmly in College Football Playoff territory, while Oklahoma found itself outside the top fifteen, drawing immediate attention to the growing gap between the two rivals heading into the season.
This significant disparity in ranking isn’t just a reflection of preseason hype—it signals a fundamental shift in how both programs are being viewed nationally. Texas, fresh off its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance last season, is seen as a team on the rise, a national title contender with elite talent, momentum, and stability. Meanwhile, Oklahoma enters the 2025 campaign with more questions than answers, facing skepticism about its ability to return to the upper echelon of college football after a period of inconsistency and transition.
The magnitude of the gap is not just numerical—it’s philosophical. Texas is being treated like a team that has arrived. Oklahoma is being viewed like a program in search of its identity. That’s a dramatic change for two schools that are not only moving to the SEC together but have long prided themselves on being equals. For decades, the Red River Rivalry symbolized parity—an annual war between blue bloods with national implications. Now, at least on paper, it looks more like a potential mismatch.
Much of Texas’s lofty preseason ranking stems from what the program accomplished last season. The Longhorns finished 13–2, won the Big 12 in their final year before entering the SEC, and made it to the College Football Playoff, where they lost a narrow semifinal to Michigan. It was a season of validation for head coach Steve Sarkisian, who had been tasked with returning Texas to national prominence. Not only did Sarkisian silence critics, but he also built a team that played with physicality, balance, and confidence—traits often absent in recent Texas squads.
Now, in 2025, Texas returns the core of that championship-caliber roster. Most notably, quarterback Arch Manning, the most hyped high school prospect in years, takes over full-time under center. Though he saw limited action last year behind the now-departed Quinn Ewers, Manning’s development has been closely monitored, and reports out of Austin suggest he has all the tools to become a star. Surrounded by elite weapons—receivers like Jordan Whittington and Johntay Cook, Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond, and tight end Gunnar Helm—Manning will be given every opportunity to lead an explosive offense. The backfield is loaded too, with Jaydon Blue and Cedric Baxter Jr. poised to carry the load behind a massive, experienced offensive line.
Texas also brings back a defense that showed signs of dominance late last year. Led by linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., defensive tackle Bear Alexander, and cornerback Terrance Brooks, the Longhorns have built a unit capable of handling the physical demands of SEC play. They’re big, fast, and most importantly, confident. The defense’s ability to generate pressure while remaining disciplined in coverage gives Texas a blueprint to compete against the nation’s best offenses.
All of that momentum has fueled belief in Austin that Texas isn’t just back—they’re here to stay. The preseason poll reflects that belief. For the first time in over a decade, Texas is entering a season with national championship expectations that feel grounded in reality, not just brand reputation. The Longhorns are finally living up to their potential.
By contrast, Oklahoma’s situation is more complicated. Despite winning ten games in 2024, the Sooners faltered down the stretch, including a disappointing loss in the Big 12 Championship Game to Texas and a lopsided bowl defeat to LSU. That ending left a sour taste in Norman and exposed some of the team’s lingering flaws—mainly, inconsistency at quarterback, a defense still trying to find its footing, and an offensive identity that wavers between the Lincoln Riley era and Brent Venables’ vision.
Venables, now in his fourth year at the helm, has made strides in reshaping Oklahoma’s culture and recruiting strategy, but the results have been uneven. The Sooners have shown flashes of brilliance, particularly on defense, but have struggled to put together four-quarter performances against elite opponents. That inconsistency has led pollsters and analysts alike to adopt a “wait and see” approach with Oklahoma. They’re no longer the automatic preseason top-five pick they once were during the Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray days.
Oklahoma’s quarterback situation also contributes to the lower ranking. After the departure of Dillon Gabriel, the Sooners are turning to Jackson Arnold, a five-star talent with tremendous upside but limited experience. Arnold showed poise in brief appearances last season but now faces the pressure of leading a team with playoff aspirations in the SEC. His supporting cast, while solid, lacks the star power Texas has. Running back Gavin Sawchuk returns as a dynamic playmaker, and receivers like Nic Anderson and Jaquaize Pettaway provide speed, but questions remain about depth and offensive line cohesion.
Defensively, Oklahoma has made progress under Venables, but they still lack the dominant front-seven presence that programs like Georgia, Alabama, and now Texas possess. The additions of transfers like linebacker Jaheim Thomas and defensive lineman Damonic Williams may help, but the overall talent level hasn’t fully caught up with the demands of SEC play. If Oklahoma is going to close the gap, it’ll need more than incremental improvement—it will require a defensive identity that can win games outright.
That’s the heart of the matter: Texas looks ready to win big games on both sides of the ball. Oklahoma still looks like a team hoping to figure it out. In the SEC, that’s the difference between contending for championships and finishing in the middle of the pack.
Of course, preseason polls are not destiny. Football is not played on paper, and both teams will have opportunities to define themselves on the field. But perception matters, especially in a new conference where every game is a battle and every misstep can be costly. Texas enters 2025 with the benefit of the doubt. Oklahoma enters 2025 needing to earn it.
This gap in preseason ranking also carries weight in recruiting, media coverage, and public confidence. Texas has become the “it” program again—flashy, confident, and backed by results. Oklahoma, though still respected, doesn’t carry the same shine it once did. For a rivalry built on parity, that shift could be the most significant development of all.
The psychological effect of this preseason disparity can’t be understated either. Texas players and fans will embrace the high expectations, using them as fuel for a championship push. Oklahoma, on the other hand, may use the perceived slight as motivation—but motivation alone won’t fix schematic issues or depth concerns. The Sooners will need to earn back respect one week at a time, and in the unforgiving SEC, that’s easier said than done.
Even the Red River Rivalry itself may feel different this year. Once viewed as a toss-up with title implications, it may now be seen as a proving ground—Texas as the powerhouse looking to assert dominance, Oklahoma as the underdog trying to claw its way back. That dynamic shift could redefine the rivalry for years to come.
Still, if there’s one thing history has taught college football fans, it’s that nothing is permanent. Oklahoma is too proud, too talented, and too well-resourced to stay down for long. The Sooners have rebuilt before and likely will again. But for now, Texas holds the upper hand—not just on the scoreboard, but in the minds of voters, analysts, and fans alike.
And that might be the most important development of all. For the first time in years, the national perception of Texas as a legitimate title contender isn’t based on history or branding. It’s based on results. Oklahoma, once the more consistent and dominant program, finds itself in the unfamiliar position of chasing.
The 2025 season is just beginning, and the story is far from written. But the gap between Texas and Oklahoma in the preseason poll is more than just a number. It’s a reflection of where the two programs stand—and where they might be headed.
