**Three Offensive Players Oklahoma Sooners Football Needs More From in 2025**
The Oklahoma Sooners are entering a pivotal season in 2025, their second year in the SEC and a critical chapter in Brent Venables’ tenure as head coach. After a transition year that showed flashes of promise but also inconsistency, the Sooners must take a significant step forward to compete in college football’s toughest conference. While the defense has made strides under Venables, Oklahoma’s offensive success will largely depend on key players elevating their game. Three offensive standouts, in particular, must deliver at a higher level for the Sooners to contend for championships: quarterback **Jackson Arnold**, wide receiver **Nic Anderson**, and offensive tackle **Jacob Sexton**. If these players reach their full potential, Oklahoma’s offense could be one of the most dangerous in the nation. If they struggle, the Sooners could find themselves in the middle of the pack in the SEC.
All eyes will be on sophomore quarterback **Jackson Arnold** in 2025. The former five-star recruit and heir apparent to Dillon Gabriel showed glimpses of brilliance in his freshman season but also endured growing pains, including turnovers and occasional misreads in critical moments. Now, with a full offseason as QB1 and another year in Seth Littrell’s system, Arnold must take command of the offense with greater consistency.
Arnold possesses all the tools to be elite—a strong arm, mobility, and the fearlessness to make big plays. However, the SEC is unforgiving, and Oklahoma’s schedule will feature some of the best defenses in the country. Arnold must improve his decision-making under pressure, cut down on interceptions, and become a more precise passer in the intermediate game. His chemistry with returning receivers like **Nic Anderson** and **Deion Burks** will be crucial, especially in high-stakes matchups against teams like Alabama, Texas, and LSU.
If Arnold makes the expected leap, he could be a dark-horse Heisman candidate and the engine of a playoff-contending offense. If he stagnates, Oklahoma’s ceiling lowers significantly. The Sooners don’t just need Arnold to be good—they need him to be great.
Few players in college football have as much untapped potential as **Nic Anderson**. The 6’4” wideout emerged as a breakout star in 2024, using his size, speed, and contested-catch ability to become one of Jackson Arnold’s most reliable targets. But with the departure of **Drake Stoops** and **Jalil Farooq**, Anderson must transition from a promising playmaker to a true No. 1 receiver.
Anderson’s physical tools are undeniable—he can out-jump defenders, stretch the field vertically, and make clutch catches in traffic. However, SEC defenses will game-plan specifically to stop him, meaning he must refine his route-running and prove he can beat press coverage consistently. Additionally, his durability will be tested over a grueling SEC schedule. If Anderson takes the next step, he could join the ranks of recent Oklahoma greats like CeeDee Lamb and Marvin Mims. If he doesn’t, the Sooners’ passing attack could become overly reliant on short throws and check-downs, limiting their explosiveness.
Anderson doesn’t just need to be good—he needs to be a game-changer. With Arnold’s development tied directly to his receiving corps, Anderson’s ability to win one-on-one matchups will be one of the defining factors of Oklahoma’s season.
Oklahoma’s offensive line was a question mark in 2024, and while improvements were made, **Jacob Sexton** must become a true cornerstone at tackle in 2025. The former highly touted recruit has the size (6’6”, 320 lbs) and athleticism to be an elite SEC lineman, but he must play with more consistency in pass protection. The Sooners allowed too many pressures last season, and with Arnold still developing, keeping him upright is non-negotiable.
Sexton’s run blocking has been solid, but the SEC features some of the best pass rushers in the nation. If he can lock down the left tackle spot and neutralize elite edge defenders, Oklahoma’s offense will have a much higher floor. If he struggles, the Sooners could be forced into more max-protect schemes, limiting their ability to spread the field.
The best Oklahoma teams have always been built in the trenches, and Sexton’s development could be the difference between a good offensive line and a dominant one. If he plays up to his potential, the Sooners’ offense will have the balance needed to compete for an SEC title. If he doesn’t, the entire unit could be playing catch-up against the conference’s best defenses.
Oklahoma has the talent to compete in the SEC, but talent alone isn’t enough. **Jackson Arnold**, **Nic Anderson**, and **Jacob Sexton** must all elevate their games in 2025 for the Sooners to make a legitimate playoff push. Arnold needs to cut down on mistakes and become a more polished passer, Anderson must establish himself as a true alpha receiver, and Sexton has to solidify the offensive line as a reliable blindside protector.
If these three players deliver, Oklahoma’s offense could be one of the most balanced and explosive in the country. If they don’t, the Sooners may find themselves fighting for a mid-tier bowl game rather than a championship. The margin for error in the SEC is razor-thin, and Oklahoma’s success in 2025 will hinge on whether these key players can rise to the occasion.
The pieces are in place. Now, it’s time to see if they can put it all together.
