The Crimson Chasm: Oklahoma’s Unthinkable Fumble—Losing Local Elite to Lesser Programs Even After a Tumultuous 2024 Campaign
The hallowed grounds of Norman, Oklahoma, have long been synonymous with footballing supremacy. For generations, the crimson and cream represented an almost unassailable fortress, particularly when it came to securing the state’s top high school talent. It was an unspoken, almost sacred, understanding: if you were an elite Oklahoma high school football player, your path invariably led to the Sooners. Yet, as the dust settles on the 2024 college football season and the recruiting cycle for 2025 truly takes shape, a disquieting truth has begun to emerge, one that strikes at the very core of Oklahoma’s perceived recruiting dominance. The Sooners, once kings of their domain, are now finding themselves in the unenviable position of losing out on hometown kids, not just to traditional powerhouses, but to programs that, by any objective measure of recent success or historical pedigree, are considered far inferior. This isn’t merely a blip on the radar; it’s a crimson chasm opening, threatening to swallow the very ethos of what it means to be an Oklahoma Sooner, and it has only been exacerbated by the tumultuous season that was 2024.
The most glaring example of this perplexing trend manifests in the saga of Nate Roberts, a four-star tight end hailing from Washington, Oklahoma – practically a stone’s throw from the Sooners’ campus. Roberts, a highly-touted prospect in the 2025 class, was exactly the kind of in-state talent Oklahoma typically locks down with ease. He had a brother already playing in Norman, Jake Roberts, a tight end who transferred to the Sooners, creating a natural pipeline, a familial pull that should have been irresistible. The connections were undeniable, the proximity unbeatable, and the need for talent at the position evident. Yet, when decision day arrived in April of 2024, Roberts bypassed the crimson carpet to Norman and instead pledged his allegiance to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State is, without question, a premier program, but the sting here isn’t just about losing to another blue blood; it’s about losing a local kid, a literal neighbor, to a program thousands of miles away, despite every apparent advantage being in Oklahoma’s favor. This wasn’t a player looking for a different geographic experience or an escape from a small town; this was a homegrown talent choosing a distant rival over the team practically in his backyard. The shockwaves reverberated through the Sooner fan base, not just for the loss of a talented player, but for what it represented: a crack in the foundation of in-state recruiting.
Roberts’ decision, while significant, is not an isolated incident but rather a prominent symptom of a deeper malaise. While the 2025 recruiting class still boasts some high-caliber talent, including highly-rated offensive linemen and defensive backs, the overall narrative has shifted. The once-unquestionable pipeline of Oklahoma’s top prospects straight to Norman seems to be springing leaks. There’s a palpable sense that the Sooners are fighting battles they once effortlessly won. This new reality, where Oklahoma is forced to compete tooth and nail for players who once felt like foregone conclusions, directly ties into the aftermath of the 2024 season. That year was, by many accounts, a jarring deviation from the Sooners’ usual trajectory of consistent contention. A “disastrous offensive performance” became a recurring headline, leading to the early firing of the offensive coordinator, Seth Littrell, just four games into their SEC schedule. Such instability on the field, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, is a significant deterrent for offensive skill players, regardless of how storied the program’s history might be. Recruits, especially in the modern era, are not just looking at legacy; they are looking at immediate fit, offensive philosophy, and the perceived stability of the coaching staff. When a high-profile coordinator is let go mid-season, it sends a message, one that can be detrimental to securing commitments.
Beyond on-field performance and coaching consistency, the burgeoning landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collectives has added another layer of complexity, and arguably, vulnerability, for the Sooners. Whispers and even outright reports suggest that Oklahoma’s NIL efforts, while present, may not be matching the aggressive, deep-pocketed approaches of some of their new SEC rivals, particularly Texas and Texas A&M. The anecdote surrounding five-star defensive tackle David Stone, where there were discussions about him potentially taking a “pay cut” in 2025 due to NIL considerations, highlights a concerning possibility. While Stone ultimately remained with the Sooners, the mere existence of such conversations underscores a potential financial disadvantage. In an environment where players are increasingly looking to maximize their monetary value, a program’s ability to compete in the NIL arena can be as crucial as its tradition or coaching staff. If the perception is that Oklahoma is less willing or able to offer competitive NIL packages, then even local talent might be swayed by more lucrative offers elsewhere, regardless of the “inferiority” of the football program making the offer. The allure of immediate financial benefit can, for some, overshadow the historical prestige of a program.
Furthermore, the 2025 recruiting class for Oklahoma is notably smaller, with only 18 signees, the smallest since 2021. While head coach Brent Venables and his staff have attributed this to a “strategic roster management” approach, necessitated by a roster already loaded with underclassmen and a desire to maintain scholarship balance, it still leaves less room for error. When fewer high school prospects are being targeted, each miss becomes magnified. If the strategy dictates selectivity, then missing out on a local four-star talent like Nate Roberts becomes even more impactful, as the opportunities to fill that void are inherently limited. It also raises questions about whether this smaller class is truly a strategic choice, or a consequence of a tougher recruiting landscape for the Sooners in the wake of their 2024 performance and the new NIL realities.
The broader implications of this trend extend beyond individual recruiting misses. It challenges the fundamental narrative of Oklahoma football. For decades, the program has prided itself on being a regional hegemon, drawing the best from Oklahoma and surrounding states. The ability to recruit at an elite level, particularly within their own backyard, has been a cornerstone of their consistent success. If that cornerstone begins to crumble, the entire edifice is at risk. What does it say about the program’s perceived standing when a highly-rated, in-state tight end chooses a team thousands of miles away, or when a four-star wide receiver like Cortez Mills flips to a program like Nebraska, which, while respectable, hasn’t been a consistent national contender in decades? It suggests a loss of inherent pull, a weakening of the magnetic force that once drew talent inexorably to Norman.
The competitive landscape of college football has changed dramatically, and the Sooners are navigating treacherous waters. The move to the SEC brings heightened competition not just on the field, but also in recruiting. While Oklahoma has been successful in pulling in some top-tier talent and securing commitments from across the country, the local losses underscore a crucial challenge. The traditional advantages of proximity and historical dominance are no longer guaranteed. Programs, even those traditionally considered “inferior,” now have new avenues through which to attract talent, whether through aggressive NIL collectives, specific coaching relationships, or the promise of immediate playing time that might not be available at a blue-blood school saturated with talent.
For the Oklahoma coaching staff, led by Brent Venables, this situation demands introspection and adaptation. Reasserting their dominance in in-state recruiting must be a top priority. This involves not only demonstrating a clear path to on-field success and player development but also navigating the complex and ever-evolving NIL landscape effectively. It means convincing young Oklahomans that their future, both athletically and financially, is best served by staying home and donning the crimson and cream. The notion that a “hometown kid” could choose a “far inferior football program” was once unthinkable for the Sooners; now, it is a stark, uncomfortable reality that serves as a potent reminder of the shifting paradigms in college football and the imperative for even the most storied programs to fight harder than ever for their own. The success of the 2025 season, and indeed, future seasons, will hinge not just on the performance of the players already on the roster, but on the program’s ability to mend the widening crimson chasm and reclaim its rightful place as the undeniable destination for Oklahoma’s finest.
