Oklahoma Sooners 2025 Playoff Push: Reinvigorated After Midseason Setback

Just a few weeks ago, Oklahoma’s football season seemed to be headed off the rails. After a tough home defeat to the Ole Miss Rebels in late October, the Sooners’ postseason aspirations appeared all but dashed.

Fast forward to ‘Red November’, and No. 8 Oklahoma is not only alive but thriving in the College Football Playoff conversation, with a pair of pivotal home games left on the schedule.

Resurgence After Roadblocks

Following a disappointing 34-26 loss to Ole Miss and an earlier stumble against unranked Texas, Brent Venables’ squad sat at 6-2 with fading playoff prospects. However, something clicked for the Sooners as November arrived. Under Venables’ renewed leadership and focus, Oklahoma has reclaimed its momentum, winning back-to-back games and reentering the national spotlight.

While the media is abuzz with playoff scenarios, Coach Venables stays locked on the immediate challenge ahead. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter what I think about the Playoff — my focus is entirely on what’s next,” Venables commented when pressed about postseason implications. “Debating what could be is a distraction. We need to handle what’s right in front of us.”

Two Home Games, Playoff Destiny in Hand

The next test comes this Saturday against No. 23 Missouri, followed by a regular season finale with LSU inside Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Sooners, now 8-2 and the highest-ranked two-loss team in the latest College Football Playoff poll, have jumped ahead of both Texas and Notre Dame thanks to a critical upset against Alabama and some timely losses by rivals.

Currently, projections would match Oklahoma against No. 9 Notre Dame at home in the Playoff’s opening round, setting up the winner for a clash with top-ranked Ohio State at a neutral venue. However, cementing a home playoff game will depend on more than just winning their last two — the Sooners will also need the right results elsewhere in the rankings.

Road to the Playoffs

If Oklahoma closes the regular season with wins over Missouri and LSU, a Playoff spot is almost certainly theirs to lose. Yet, guaranteeing the advantage of playing the first postseason game on their home field may still require a bit of luck in addition to taking care of business.

Football drives massive attention throughout the region, and as excitement builds, many fans look for ways to enhance their game-day experience. However, Oklahoma has yet to legalize sports betting, and offshore sportsbooks continue to serve Oklahoma players, providing alternatives for those seeking to wager on the Sooners’ postseason run. For now, the state’s passionate fans must rely on out-of-state platforms to place bets on college football action.

As the regular season draws to a close, Oklahoma finds itself not just with a path to redemption, but a true shot at College Football Playoff glory — a remarkable turnaround from a season that, not long ago, seemed to be teetering on the edge.