For the first time in over two decades, the Oklahoma Sooners will enter a college football season without their name appearing on the preseason coaches poll, and the ripple effect of that absence is already sparking intense discussion across the sport. Since 1999, Oklahoma has been a fixture in those rankings, a perennial presence that symbolized sustained national respect, consistent success, and the expectation of championship contention. Now, in 2025, that streak has ended, and the message from coaches around the country is as loud as it is sobering—OU is no longer seen as one of the elite programs heading into this season. This moment is not just a blip on the radar; it’s a statement that the Sooners are facing one of the most critical crossroads in the modern history of their program.
The coaches poll is not perfect, and it has its critics, but it does serve as a national barometer of respect. Being left out entirely is not simply about the number next to a team’s name, but about perception, and perception plays a huge role in college football. For Oklahoma, perception has historically been tied to dominance, tradition, and a steady churn of NFL-caliber talent. That’s why this exclusion hits so hard. From the late 1990s under Bob Stoops, through Lincoln Riley’s high-powered offenses, to the program’s transition into the SEC, the Sooners have been synonymous with relevance. Now, at least in the eyes of the coaches, that identity has taken a serious hit.
Several factors have contributed to this fall from preseason grace. The most obvious is performance. Recent seasons have not met the lofty standards OU fans are accustomed to. While there have been bright spots, inconsistencies in key games, struggles against top-tier competition, and an inability to close out big moments have created a narrative of underachievement. In an era where recruiting, NIL deals, and transfer portal decisions can reshape a program overnight, the Sooners have had moments of promise but haven’t strung together the kind of dominant runs that force voters to keep them near the top.
There’s also the transition into the SEC to consider. While Oklahoma has yet to fully immerse itself in a regular SEC schedule, the perception of them as a Big 12 powerhouse does not necessarily carry the same weight against the backdrop of their new conference. Coaches are aware that the SEC is a different animal, one where depth, physicality, and weekly gauntlets define a season. It’s possible that some voters see the Sooners as unproven in that environment, hesitant to extend preseason credibility to a team that still has much to prove against that caliber of competition.
Recruiting, too, has played a role in the shifting perception. While Oklahoma has landed solid classes and found gems in the portal, they’ve struggled at times to consistently beat out the upper echelon of SEC and Big Ten programs for elite talent. In modern college football, roster composition is as important as coaching, and when a team loses too many high-profile recruiting battles, it can signal trouble ahead. For the Sooners, this challenge has been magnified by staff turnover and the need to adapt quickly to new recruiting landscapes shaped by NIL collectives and national exposure.
The omission from the poll also reflects how the program’s identity has shifted in the post-Lincoln Riley era. Under Riley, the Sooners were an offensive juggernaut, a quarterback factory producing Heisman winners and first-round NFL picks. But with Riley’s departure and a shift toward a more balanced, defense-oriented philosophy, Oklahoma has been in the midst of an identity overhaul. While this may ultimately benefit the program in the long term, especially in the SEC, the short-term growing pains have been visible. Coaches voting in the preseason poll tend to reward proven track records over potential, and OU’s recent inconsistency has made it harder to sell them as a guaranteed top-25 team before the season begins.
For fans, this development is both shocking and motivating. Oklahoma’s fanbase is among the most passionate in college football, and the idea of being completely absent from a preseason ranking will undoubtedly light a fire under the team and its supporters. The program has always thrived when doubted—some of its greatest seasons have come after disappointing years—but this is uncharted territory for an entire generation of fans who have never seen the Sooners enter a season without that early recognition.
Players, too, will feel the sting of this snub. In college football, preseason polls are often used as bulletin-board material, a rallying cry to prove the doubters wrong. Oklahoma’s coaching staff will have no shortage of motivation to remind the locker room that the nation’s perception of them has changed and that it’s up to them to redefine it. The absence from the poll can become a unifying force, a point of pride to show that rankings are earned, not given.
There’s also an interesting psychological angle to consider. Being outside the top 25 removes some of the pressure that comes with defending a ranking week in and week out. Instead of being the hunted, the Sooners can adopt the role of the hunter, attacking each opponent with something to prove. This mindset can be dangerous for opponents who might overlook a program that is used to playing with the weight of national expectations.
Still, it’s impossible to ignore the historical weight of this moment. Since 1999, Oklahoma has been a preseason staple, a symbol of sustained excellence. That streak has spanned multiple coaching regimes, conference championships, playoff appearances, and national title runs. The fact that it ends now is not just about where the Sooners stand today, but about how the college football landscape has evolved. Programs like Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State have become entrenched in the top tier, while emerging programs like Washington, Oregon, and Florida State have risen to challenge for those spots. The competition for preseason recognition is fiercer than ever, and any slip in performance can result in a swift fall.
The coming season will serve as a referendum on the state of Oklahoma football. Can they rebound quickly and reclaim their place among the nation’s elite, or will this preseason snub mark the beginning of a more extended period outside the spotlight? Much will depend on player development, in-game execution, and the ability to adapt to the challenges of the SEC. The talent is not absent in Norman—there are still highly touted recruits, experienced leaders, and a coaching staff with a vision for the future. But turning that vision into immediate results is the challenge.
Looking ahead, the path back into national prominence will not be easy, but it is far from impossible. History is full of teams who were overlooked in August only to dominate in the fall. If the Sooners can start the season strong, especially with statement wins over ranked opponents, they can quickly re-enter the conversation. In college football, momentum is everything, and one month of excellence can erase months of doubt.
In many ways, this moment may prove to be a blessing in disguise. It forces a program long accustomed to praise to take a hard look at itself, identify weaknesses, and work relentlessly to address them. It strips away any illusion that past success guarantees future respect, reminding players and coaches alike that in the ever-changing world of college football, respect must be earned anew every season.
Ultimately, the absence of Oklahoma from the preseason coaches poll for the first time since 1999 is more than a trivia note—it’s a challenge, a wake-up call, and an opportunity. It’s a reminder that tradition alone does not win games, that rankings are reflections of recent results, and that the only way back to the top is through performance on the field. Whether the Sooners rise to that challenge will define not just their 2025 season, but perhaps the trajectory of the program in the SEC era. The stage is set, the doubters are loud, and for the first time in a long time, Oklahoma enters a season with everything to prove. That combination of history, pride, and urgency could either fuel a remarkable resurgence or confirm the shift in national perception. The next few months will reveal which story gets written.
