Greg McElroy predicts Oklahoma's defense among nation's best in 2026

On August 22, 2026, Greg McElroy made a bold prediction regarding the Oklahoma Sooners' defense, suggesting it could rank in the top five nationally. Under head coach Brent Venables, Oklahoma's defense has shown significant improvement, previously ranking in the top 10 for several key statistics. McElroy acknowledged the loss of several NFL-caliber players but highlighted the returning talent, such as Taylor Wein, David Stone, and Jayden Jackson. Venables is cautious about making declarations before the season starts, emphasizing the team's need to maintain its performance amid a challenging schedule. Oklahoma is coming off a strong 2025 season, having finished 10-3 and returning to the College Football Playoff.

• 10:01 AMYahoo Sports — Greg McElroy makes bold claim about Oklahoma's defense