College football fans, get ready to mark your calendars. The Oklahoma Sooners are officially on the radar as a national championship contender, and the national media is taking notice.

In the latest USA TODAY SEC power rankings, Oklahoma secured the No. 3 spot, trailing only powerhouse programs Texas and Georgia. For a team that just made the leap into the College Football Playoff last season, this ranking is a strong signal that the Sooners are built to compete at the highest level. And with the SEC's brutal schedule, every opportunity to climb the ladder is right in front of them.

Brent Venables has already transformed Oklahoma's defense into one of the league's best. Now, the focus shifts to the offense. According to Paul Myerberg, the Sooners are looking for similar growth on that side of the ball, especially with senior quarterback John Mateer returning. Mateer was an early Heisman Trophy favorite in 2025 before an injury and a tough second-half schedule slowed his production. But with new weapons—including wide receiver transfers Trell Harris (Virginia) and Parker Livingstone (Texas)—alongside established starter Isaiah Sategna III, the offense has the pieces to become a top-30 unit this year.

The question is: will that be enough to leapfrog Texas and Georgia? The Longhorns and Bulldogs currently sit ahead of the Sooners in the power rankings, but Oklahoma already made the Playoff last season alongside Georgia, while Texas was left out despite beating OU in the regular season. The 2026 regular season will bring even more drama, with the Sooners scheduled to face the Bulldogs, Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, and Ole Miss Rebels—all of whom made the Playoff last year.

For Oklahoma fans, the path to the top is clear: win the big games, and the national championship conversation becomes very real. Whether it's in the stands or on the field, this is a team worth watching—and gearing up for.