David Pollack Names College Football Powerhouse Who Won't Win 10 Games in 2025
There are nearly 130 days until Week 1 of the 2025 college football season begins. This season is crucial for several teams and their coaches.
The Oklahoma Sooners hope to rebound after experiencing another losing season under head coach Brent Venables. Last season, the team finished with a 6-7 record, marking their second consecutive losing season under Venables. In 2022, during Venables' first year as head coach, the Sooners also went 6-7. However, they managed to bounce back in 2023, achieving a 10-3 record.
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In 2024, Oklahoma transitioned to the SEC and ended the season with another 6-7 record. Now, the team is hoping for a recovery similar to that of 2023. David Pollack mentioned on "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack" that he believes Oklahoma will be significantly improved in 2025. Still, he does not expect them to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables.Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
"I think Oklahoma shoots up," Pollack said. "Like, immediately shoots up and becomes exponentially more competitive. But the problem is the schedule. I don't think they're a team that is going to win 10 games and get to the College Football Playoff."
The Sooners are set to look very different in 2025. They fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell during the season and lost starting quarterback Jackson Arnold to the transfer portal at the end of the regular season. This comes after the offense ranked No. 113 in total offense and No. 119 in passing offense.
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Venables replaced Littrell with Ben Arbuckle, the former offensive coordinator at Washington State, who had led the Cougars to the No. 17 offense in the country. Oklahoma also managed to sign Arbuckle's quarterback from Washington State, John Mateer, through the transfer portal. Mateer threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Additionally, he contributed 826 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
The Sooners further bolstered their roster by adding former California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott in the spring transfer portal. Although Ott had an injury-riddled 2024 season, finishing with 385 yards and four touchdowns, his performance in the first two seasons prior was impressive, with 2,212 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns combined. He joins an Oklahoma team that hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2022.
Despite these changes, the Sooners will once again face a challenging schedule. According to Athlon Sports, Oklahoma has the second-toughest schedule in the sport. The team hopes to navigate this tough slate successfully and rebound, similar to their strong performance in 2023.
Related: David Pollack Names Major College Football Coach Facing Make-or-Break Season
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