The Oklahoma Sooners have secured a College Football Playoff berth for the first time since 2019. Brent Venables and the program reached the expanded 12-team field after posting a 10-2 record in their debut SEC season.
The Sooners built their success around the SEC’s top-ranked defense. Oklahoma allowed the fewest points per game in the conference and finished in the top five nationally in that category.
John Mateer managed the offense efficiently in his first season after transferring from Washington State. The junior quarterback threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while leading Oklahoma to a 6-2 conference record.
The defense generated takeaways consistently throughout the season. Oklahoma’s biggest statement came in an upset victory over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where the Sooners forced three turnovers against the Crimson Tide’s offense.
Oklahoma finished tied for third in the SEC standings despite missing the conference championship game.
College Football Playoff bracket
This section will be updated when the bracket is revealed.
Who will Oklahoma play next?
Oklahoma earned the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff and will host a first-round game in Norman. The opponent hasn’t been determined yet.
Potential first-round opponents include Alabama or Notre Dame. Two other SEC teams that didn’t reach their conference championship game are ranked directly above Oklahoma: No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 7 Texas A&M.
If Oklahoma stays at No. 8 and wins its first-round game, the Sooners would face the tournament’s No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals. That opponent will be either Ohio State or Indiana, depending on Saturday night’s Big Ten championship game result.
The official bracket will be revealed Sunday at noon.
When does Oklahoma play again?
Oklahoma will play either December 19 or 20 in the College Football Playoff first round. One game is scheduled for Friday night, with the other three games taking place Saturday.
If the Sooners advance as the No. 8 seed, they’ll face Ohio State or Indiana in the quarterfinals on January 1.
College Football Playoff 2025 schedule
| Date | Round | Matchup | Time | TV Channel |
| Dec. 19 | First Round | 8:00 p.m. ET | ABC/ESPN | |
| Dec. 20 | First Round | 12:00 p.m. ET | ABC/ESPN | |
| Dec. 20 | First Round | 3:30 p.m. ET | TNT/truTV/HBO Max | |
| Dec. 20 | First Round | 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT/truTV/HBO Max | |
| Dec. 31 | Quarterfinal (Cotton Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | |
| Jan. 1 | Quarterfinal (Orange Bowl) | 12:00 p.m. ET | ESPN | |
| Jan. 1 | Quarterfinal (Rose Bowl) | 4:00 p.m. ET | ESPN | |
| Jan. 1 | Quarterfinal (Sugar Bowl) | 8:00 p.m. ET | ESPN | |
| Jan. 8 | Semifinal (Fiesta Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | |
| Jan. 9 | Semifinal (Peach Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | |
| Jan. 19 | National Championship | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN |
