Joel Klatt on Oklahoma Sooners' 2025 College Football Playoff hopes: 'I can't, in good conscience, pick them'
FOX Sports analyst and former quarterback of the Colorado Buffaloes, Joel Klatt, sees Oklahoma Sooners as one of college football's biggest wild cards in 2025. With a revamped offense and a proven defensive mind taking over again, the Sooners look stronger on paper.
But as much as Klatt likes the pieces in Norman, he's not convinced they're set for a College Football Playoff run – and the schedule is his main concern. Klatt ranked Oklahoma No. 24 in his preseason Top 25 and recently broke down his reasoning on The Joel Klatt Show, where he called OU a potential playoff sleeper – with a major 'but.'
Offensive changes give Oklahoma Sooners a real upside this fall
Joel Klatt's optimism starts with the offensive overhaul. After one of the worst scoring outputs in the SEC last year, the Sooners are turning to former Washington State QB John Mateer and his OC Ben Arbuckle to fix it.
"I love the additions on offense. John Mateer is a guy I'm very impressed with. I've talked about him at length this offseason. (Ben) Arbuckle, his offensive coordinator at Washington State, also joins him in Norman there.
Their offense should be better. It was bad last year. The film was some of the worst that I've ever seen, to be honest with you," Klatt said.
Oklahoma's offense struggled badly last season, averaging just 13 points per SEC game without help from the defense and ranking 97th nationally.
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New quarterback John Mateer doesn't need to match the 4,000 yards and 44 touchdowns he had at Washington State, but even coming close would be a big upgrade. The Sooners also brought in star running back Jaydn Ott, new playmakers at receiver and tight end and experienced linemen to help fix a weak offensive line.
Brent Venables
is back in charge of the defense and Klatt thinks that's a good thing
On defense, Brent Venables is calling the shots again. "Defense improved. The defense has steadily improved.
Venables will be the play-caller on the defensive side for OU this year. I like that. I really like that. He's entering his fourth season. We've seen them have a double-digit win season under Venables. So, can it happen? Absolutely," Klatt said. After a year with Zac Alley as defensive coordinator, Venables is taking over play-calling again following Alley's departure.
The brutal
SEC schedule
is the big concern
Even with improvement on both sides, Klatt isn't predicting a playoff run – and he is clear why.
"Here's the problem. If they had a more favorable schedule, like Auburn's? I think I would probably pick them (as a CFP sleeper) right here," Klatt said. "But I can't, in good conscience, pick them with what their schedule is... They're not making this jump... I don't like it... While I think they can improve, I don't think they'll make enough of an improvement, as it relates to their schedule, which we don't talk about enough, to go to the playoff.
"
OU faces Michigan early, then battles through Texas, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri, and South Carolina. Even a much-improved roster will struggle to navigate that slate.
Also read
:
Travis Kelce breaks massive podcast record as Taylor Swift makes surprise appearance on New Heights
There's real excitement around Oklahoma's offseason moves. But unless they can break through one of the toughest schedules in the country, a return to the CFP will remain just out of reach.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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