Oklahoma Sooners inside ESPN's top 12 ahead of first CFP Rankings release
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The Oklahoma Sooners‘ defense heads into the bye on a high note, coming off a big road win over the Tennessee Volunteers. It was the Sooners’ third AP top 25 win of the season, setting OU up for what could be a memorable November.
After the win, Oklahoma moved up to No. 12 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the AP Top 25 ahead of the first release of the College Football Playoff rankings. Now, the Sooners are up to No. 11 in ESPN’s latest power rankings after the Week 10 action. And the task is simple. Win and Oklahoma are in the CFP. And to do so, they’ll need to keep playing the way they’ve been playing the last few weeks.
As important, Oklahoma got its running game going at Neyland Stadium. Xavier Robinson‘s 115 yards marked the most by a Sooners running back in 2025. And with another 80 yards on the ground from quarterback John Mateer, Oklahoma turned in its best rushing performance against a power conference defense this fall. The Sooners were still outgained 456-351 in Week 10. But even base-level production on the ground at Tennessee made a game-changing impact for an offense that struggled mightily across much of October. It was enough to help keep Oklahoma’s playoff hopes alive. – Eli Lederman, ESPN
The Oklahoma Sooners have found some momentum with their ground game over the last three weeks. Tory Blaylock against South Carolina and now Xavier Robinson against Ole Miss and Tennessee have given the Sooners a spark on offense with three straight games with 100-yard rushers.
The rushing attack has helped take the pressure off of Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer and the Sooners’ defense. For Oklahoma to come out of the bye week and earn another road win, the Sooners will need another strong day on the ground against an Alabama Crimson Tide defense that ranks 73rd in the nation, allowing 149.1 rushing yards per game.
The Sooners have an opportunity to put themselves firmly in the College Football Playoff discussion with a win over Alabama before returning home for games against Missouri and LSU. At 7-2, the Sooners have already clinched their second-best season under head coach Brent Venables.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners move into ESPN’s top 12 ahead of first CFP release
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