The hype train for Oklahoma football is officially leaving the station. With spring ball in the rearview mirror and the college baseball season winding down, it's time to turn our attention to the gridiron—and expectations for the Sooners are soaring heading into the 2026 season.

After punching their ticket to the expanded College Football Playoff for the first time last year, Oklahoma is hungry for more. The return of quarterback John Mateer, dynamic wide receiver Isaiah Sategna, and a solid core of starters from the nation's No. 6 defense has Sooner Nation buzzing with anticipation.

Adding fuel to the fire, Josh Pate released his preseason Commissioner's Poll on Monday, slotting Oklahoma at No. 9. That's a vote of confidence that has fans feeling optimistic about what's ahead.

The Southeastern Conference is stacked, with three other league programs landing ahead of the Sooners: Texas at No. 3, Georgia at No. 7, and Ole Miss at No. 8. But the SEC depth doesn't stop there. Five more conference rivals cracked the Top 25, including Texas A&M at No. 10, LSU and Alabama at No. 12 and No. 13, respectively, and Florida and Missouri at No. 21 and No. 23. Oklahoma will face six of those teams during the regular season—plus a daunting trip to Ann Arbor to take on No. 15 Michigan.

That brutal schedule is actually a golden opportunity for the Sooners. With so many marquee matchups, Oklahoma has plenty of chances to prove they belong among the elite. Road games against Georgia, Florida, and Missouri will test their mettle, especially since OU has never faced the Gators in a regular-season game and has only squared off with Georgia once—back in the iconic 2017 Rose Bowl.

The Sooners kick off their campaign on Sept. 5 at home against UTEP. If the preseason buzz is any indication, Oklahoma fans should gear up for a season full of high-stakes drama and plenty of reason to wear their crimson and cream with pride.