After a very long offseason, Oklahoma’s football season is here. The Sooners open the 2025 campaign at 5 p.m. Saturday against Illinois State. After a rough season a year ago, the Sooners are in prime position to begin on a high note before a tougher matchup with Michigan next week. As the Sooners prepare to […]
After a very long offseason, Oklahoma’s football season is here.
The Sooners open the 2025 campaign at 5 p.m. Saturday against Illinois State. After a rough season a year ago, the Sooners are in prime position to begin on a high note before a tougher matchup with Michigan next week.
As the Sooners prepare to take the field, OUInsider’s Jesse Crittenden and Bryan Clinton discuss potential breakout players, what to look for this weekend and more.
How much pressure are you putting on this season? Is this actually make-it-or-break-it time for Brent Venables?
Bryan Clinton: If Oklahoma goes 6-7 again, I’d say that there should be some real concern for Venables’ future in Norman. However, I’m not entirely sure that the pressure is quite as high as the national narrative might suggest. There’s real buy-in for this season, and OU has done as much as I’ve ever seen to ensure that Brent is set up to have success. The people in Norman love him, and the vast majority of reasonable fans still want him to be the guy for the foreseeable future. In the last few years, Venables has had to deal with a 180-degree culture change, a mass exodus in the transfer portal, and one of the toughest schedules in the country compounded by the worst injury luck we’ve ever seen. The 2025 season is very important, but I’m not 100% sold on it being make-or-break.
Jesse Crittenden: It’s time for the Venables era to take off in Norman.
The 6-7 season was somewhat excusable in 2022, when Venables was tasked with completely rebuilding the roster. Last year’s season was (mostly) derailed by injury. But take a look at the depth chart now. The defense is populated with talent at every position group and filled with second, third and fourth-year guys that this coaching staff recruited. The offense is led by quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle — the two guys Venables specifically wanted in Norman.
The roster isn’t perfect. The schedule is really difficult. But this is Year 4 of the Venables era. A lot of the pieces are in place. Short of catastrophic injuries, this is the season that things have to come together. At the very least, there has to be a product on the field that fans can rally behind. Nine wins should be the benchmark.
How much improvement are you realistically expecting for this offense?
Bryan: I expect the offense to be in an entirely different stratosphere than it was a season ago. Does that mean the unit will be elite? Not necessarily, but it at least has the pieces in place for that to be a possibility. The 2025 offense already has a higher ceiling with a proven playmaker in John Mateer at quarterback, but the depth along the offensive line and at the skill positions vastly raises the floor of the group. At the very least, this year’s offense should be able to control the ball and stay on the field for longer than three plays. Last year, that wasn’t the case, and it cost the team at least a couple of contests.
Jesse: The additions of Mateer and running back Jaydn Ott, along with a highly-explosive offensive scheme from Arbuckle, should give the Sooners a much-higher ceiling compared to 2024. Last season, Arbuckle and Mateer led Washington State to the sixth-highest scoring offense in college football.
But the wide receiver and offensive line groups are both question marks, and both position groups are filled with young guys who have talent but are short on experience. I’m predicting the offense finishes 25th in scoring and 30th in total yards.
4. Call your shot: Which underclassmen breaks out on offense? Defense?
Bryan: It’s hard not to look at Michael Fasusi atop the depth chart heading into Week 1 and not expect him to turn some heads this season. Playing left tackle in the SEC is hard enough, but doing it as a true freshman—that’s a steep learning curve. By the time the Sooners hit the meat of their schedule, I’d expect him to be one of the most-talked-about freshmen in the country.
On defense, it’s got to be Courtland Guillory. He’s done nothing but earn praise from the defensive staff since he arrived on campus, and now he’s listed as one of the stand-alone starters at cornerback. He’s got a great frame, and he’s made with the right stuff to be a menace to opposing wideouts. Look for him to become a staple in this secondary from the jump.
Jesse: I’m going to cheat and pick two guys on offense. Zion Kearney has all of the tools to be a big-time player at receiver. He just wasn’t ready last season. The wide receiver room is crowded, particularly at the “X” spot, and Javonnie Gibson isn’t even healthy yet. But if he carves out a role, the talent will win out. Also, look for Eddy Pierre-Louis to eventually win the starting spot at left guard.
Defensively, this is easy. Reggie Powers is listed as the co-starter at cheetah and as the second guy behind Peyton Bowen at strong safety. The staff is looking for ways to get him on the field. Even if he’s not a starter, he is going to play an important role.
What will you be watching for on Saturday?
Bryan: Even though it’s against an FCS opponent, my focus will be on the trenches. If the Sooners’ offensive line can play consistently good football this season, the sky is the limit. If that’s going to be possible, John Mateer’s uniform has to be clean and the rushing attack needs to look like a well-oiled machine.
Similarly, the Sooners’ defense is relying on its front, but there’s good news on that side of the ball—they should be among the best defensive lines in the country. With guys like R. Mason Thomas, Damonic Williams, Jayden Jackson, and Gracen Halton returning, they were already set to be a strength. But, when you consider the emergence of guys like David Stone, Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Okoye, and Taylor Wein, we could see it hit another level.
Jesse: The offense is going to score points. The defense is going to keep Illinois State from scoring many points.
So what can fans put stock in? The offensive line shouldn’t give up a single sack the entire game. The defensive line should generate all kinds of pressure. The offense shouldn’t have any issues generating explosive plays.
From there, it’ll be all about watching the rotations at each position group, particularly in the first half. What do things look like between Marvin Jones Jr., Taylor Wein and Danny Okoye at left defensive end. How much rotating is there on the offensive line?
In addition to a win, the Sooners should have a very good idea on which guys should be playing when Michigan comes to town next week.
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Category: General Sports
