Oklahoma Sooners ranked in Tier 3 by ESPN for 2026 season

The Oklahoma Sooners will begin their 2026 college football season at home against the UTEP Miners on September 4th. Ahead of the season, ESPN has placed the Sooners in Tier 3 in its preseason rankings, labeled 'Maybe this is their year.' The Sooners are among five teams in this tier, alongside BYU, LSU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and USC. Oklahoma's defense performed well last year, leading the FBS in tackles for loss and demonstrating a strong ability to stop opponent-designed runs. As the season approaches, various rankings indicate different perceptions of Oklahoma’s potential success in the SEC.

• 8:00 PMYahoo Sports — Which tier does ESPN think the Oklahoma Sooners belong in for 2026?