Oklahoma football poised for next step in 2026, Scott Van Pelt says

Key Highlights

• But it won't be easy to keep it."I always make this analogy in sports: you can start playing golf and get from being a 100 to 90 and then 90 into the 80s if you work at it.
• But getting that next step to become like scratch single-digit, that's the hard part to me.
• For OU the next step's the hardest."Van Pelt pointed, rightfully, to the narrow wins Oklahoma came up with in the regular season that allowed the team to sneak into the postseason tournament.
• The Sooners had to beat Alabama, Missouri and LSU in their final three games to make it and did so, but needed to hold tightly in close contests, two of which saw OU win by single digits. Oklahoma finished sixth in FBS in total defense last year, but just 92nd in total offense.
• Another season of John Mateer in the Southeastern Conference, growth at running back and a healthy season from the offensive line would almost certainly see that offensive ranking go up. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut it's close."You're living on the margins.