The ESPN Football Power Index is calling it: a 7-5 season for the Oklahoma Sooners. Yeah, you read that right, a 7-5 prediction, even with a College Football Playoff return on the line. Some analysts are already skeptical, looking at a gauntlet of games ahead. But not everyone is buying the FPI's take, and On3's J.D. PicKell is straight-up saying the Sooners are about to shock everyone.
Buckle Up For Brutality: The Sooners' Schedule is Insane
Let's be real, Oklahoma's path to the College Football Playoff in 2026 is going to be a meat grinder. The season kicks off on September 4 against the UTEP Miners, but don't let that fool you. After the opener, things get wild fast. ESPN's FPI, which tries to guess future performance, says Oklahoma's schedule is the second-toughest in the entire country. The only team with a harder road? The Arkansas Razorbacks. That's a brutal reality, and it's why some folks are already penciling in a lukewarm 7-5 year. It's tough to look at that schedule and not wonder if the Sooners are in for a long haul.PicKell's Wild Take: This Team is a "Wagon"
But here's where it gets interesting: J.D. PicKell isn't just shrugging off the FPI's prediction. He's looking at the talent in Norman and calling a completely different shot. "The schedule is brutal," PicKell admitted. "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. I'm going down with the ship here. I think Oklahoma is going to be a wagon once again." A "wagon" in college football speak? That's code for an absolute powerhouse, a team that's going to roll over opponents. Last season proved the Sooners can handle adversity, navigating a killer SEC schedule with an injured quarterback, a struggling ground game, and a crazy conference transition. This team showed grit. This year, John Mateer is back at quarterback and healthy, the defense is loaded, and the offense is expected to take a big step forward. PicKell sees all the pieces there for Oklahoma to not just survive this monster schedule, but to use it as a launching pad. This isn't just about making the playoff anymore; it's an opportunity to cement themselves as a true national championship contender. Can they actually pull it off? The whole college football world is about to find out when they hit that field.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.