ESPN's Football Power Index is calling for a 7-5 season for the Oklahoma Sooners, a brutal forecast for any team eyeing the College Football Playoff. That prediction comes after their schedule got ranked the second-toughest in the entire country, sitting only behind the Arkansas Razorbacks. Seriously, can you believe that? Some analysts are totally skeptical about Oklahoma heading into 2026, and you can't exactly blame them when you look at what's ahead.
This Schedule Is An Absolute Nightmare
The Sooners are facing a monster challenge if they want to get back to the College Football Playoff this year. The journey kicks off on September 4 against the UTEP Miners, and honestly, that's just the calm before the storm. After that opener, Oklahoma's schedule explodes into one of the most difficult in all of college football. When the FPI, which is built to project a team's future performance, says your path is the second-hardest nationwide, that's not just chatter. That's a certified gauntlet staring them down. It’s no wonder some folks are predicting a rough ride, with that 7-5 FPI projection hanging over their heads.J.D. PicKell Says They're Still a "Wagon"
But hold up! Not everyone is buying into the doom and gloom. On3's J.D. PicKell is stepping up, believing Oklahoma has the raw talent to absolutely smash through this schedule and stay among the nation's elite teams. "The schedule is brutal," PicKell declared, acknowledging the undeniable difficulty. But he quickly reminded everyone, "The schedule was brutal last year. You had a quarterback with nine fingers and no run game. Find your way to the College Football Playoff." His faith is unwavering, saying, "I'm going down with the ship here. I think Oklahoma is going to be a wagon once again." He's basically saying the national narrative on these Sooners is completely off the mark. Last season, this team showed everyone they could battle through serious adversity. They navigated a seriously tough SEC schedule even with an injured quarterback, a rushing attack that was struggling to find its footing, and one of the most brutal conference transitions in college football history. So, what’s different now? Quarterback John Mateer is back and healthy. They've got a loaded defense ready to shut opponents down. Plus, the offense is expected to take a major step forward this year. Oklahoma has all the pieces to prove that this "brutal" schedule isn't a roadblock at all. Instead, it's a golden opportunity to cement themselves as true national championship contenders. Can they do it? The Sooners are about to find out when they kick off against the UTEP Miners on September 4. The path is clear: either they prove the skeptics right with a tough 7-5 season, or they make J.D. PicKell look like a genius and show everyone they’re still a wagon. It's gonna be wild.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.