Oklahoma Sooners top On3's list of college football defenses for 2026

Oklahoma's defense, under head coach Brent Venables, heads into the 2026 season regarded as the best in college football according to On3's latest rankings. Venables, praised for his defensive strategies, has transformed the team's defense since his arrival in 2021. Key players such as Jayden Jackson, David Stone, and Taylor Wein will lead a strong defensive line, while Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke anchor the linebacker position. The secondary, featuring Courtland Guillory and Eli Bowen, has also shown significant improvement. These developments come following a noticeable turnaround in the Sooner defense over the past few seasons.

• 7:00 PMYahoo Sports — Where does Oklahoma land on On3's list of top 10 defenses?