What positions will the Oklahoma Sooners improve at in their 2025 season? Setting expectations for the Sooners in year two of SEC play

As the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for their second season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2025, expectations are high for a program that has consistently been among the top teams in college football. However, after a mixed debut season in the SEC, it’s clear that head coach Brent Venables and his staff will need to make targeted improvements across several key positions to elevate the team to true SEC contender status. The program’s historical success, rich tradition, and strong recruiting classes suggest that a return to the top of the conference is within reach, but the Sooners will need to address some specific areas to make that happen.

The 2025 season will be a critical one for the Sooners. Venables’ system is one that relies on a disciplined, physical brand of football, and it will take time for the team to fully adjust to the higher level of competition in the SEC. However, as they continue to recruit and develop talent, the Sooners will be looking to improve in multiple areas, both offensively and defensively. With the 2024 season now behind them, here are the positions where the Oklahoma Sooners will need to improve for the 2025 season and the expectations for those improvements.

1. Quarterback

Quarterback play is one of the most crucial factors in determining the success of a team, especially in the SEC, where defensive competition is fierce. While Oklahoma’s offense has traditionally been one of the most high-powered in the country, the transition to the SEC has highlighted some weaknesses at the quarterback position. In the 2025 season, the Sooners will need to develop a more consistent and dynamic quarterback to compete against the elite defenses in the SEC.

In 2024, Oklahoma saw mixed results at quarterback, with Dillon Gabriel leading the charge for much of the season. Gabriel’s experience and skill set made him a solid option, but he struggled with inconsistency, particularly against more physical defenses. For 2025, the Sooners will need to either have Gabriel take another step forward or have a younger quarterback emerge to take over. Oklahoma’s recruiting classes, which have brought in talented quarterbacks such as Jackson Arnold, are shaping up to create strong competition at the position. Arnold, in particular, is a highly regarded recruit with a strong arm and impressive athleticism, making him a potential game-changer for the Sooners if he can adjust to the SEC level quickly.

Oklahoma’s quarterback play will be critical in the 2025 season as they look to compete in one of the toughest conferences in college football. A consistent and explosive quarterback could be the key to taking the Sooners to the next level.

2. Offensive Line

One of the biggest challenges Oklahoma faced in their inaugural SEC season was the play of the offensive line. While the Sooners are known for their offensive prowess, they were often overpowered at the line of scrimmage, particularly against the larger, more physical defensive fronts of SEC opponents. For Oklahoma to compete with the elite teams of the SEC, they must improve their offensive line play and gain a stronger, more physical presence in the trenches.

The Sooners have long been known for producing high-caliber offensive linemen, but the SEC represents an entirely different level of physicality. In 2025, Oklahoma will need to upgrade both the interior and exterior of their offensive line. They must develop stronger run blockers who can win at the point of attack and open up lanes for running backs, while also improving their pass protection to give the quarterback time to operate in the pocket.

Oklahoma has made strides in recruiting top-tier offensive linemen, and the 2025 season will be the first real test for some of these incoming players. The development of these young linemen, combined with the experience of returnees, will be essential to ensuring the Sooners can hold their own in the trenches against the big, physical defenses of the SEC. If the Sooners can develop a more dominant offensive line, their offensive production will see a significant improvement.

3. Defensive Line

Oklahoma has been known for its high-powered offense, but it has often struggled on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the trenches. With the physical nature of SEC football, the Sooners’ defensive line needs to be drastically improved in order to compete with the elite offenses in the conference. In 2025, Oklahoma will be looking to strengthen its defensive line, improve its pass rush, and shore up its run defense.

Brent Venables, who has a background as a defensive coordinator, knows how critical a strong defensive line is to building a successful defense. In 2024, Oklahoma had some success with their defensive front but still struggled to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks and stop the run. For the Sooners to compete for an SEC championship, they need to take a major step forward in terms of both pass rush and run-stopping ability.

The addition of recruits such as Adepoju Adebawore, a defensive lineman from the 2025 recruiting class, gives the Sooners a much-needed boost in terms of depth and talent. Adebawore is an explosive pass rusher who could make an immediate impact for Oklahoma, especially if he can transition well to the SEC level. The development of other defensive line prospects, along with the continued progress of players like Jonah La’ulu, will be vital in determining how effective Oklahoma’s defensive front can be.

4. Linebacker

The linebacker position is one of the most critical areas for improvement for Oklahoma, especially in SEC play. While Oklahoma’s linebacking corps in 2024 showed potential, they often struggled against the faster and more physical offenses in the SEC. In the 2025 season, the Sooners will need to build a more dominant and consistent linebacker group that can handle the demands of SEC offenses.

Oklahoma has some talented players at linebacker, but depth and consistency have been issues. The Sooners need linebackers who can defend the run, cover in pass protection, and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Venables has always placed a strong emphasis on linebacker play, and he will need to recruit and develop talent at this position to elevate the defense.

In particular, the Sooners will need to find players who can match up against elite running backs and tight ends in the SEC. The linebackers must be faster, more physical, and more disciplined in their assignments. Players like Danny Stutsman will be expected to take on a leadership role and show that they can perform at an elite level. The development of younger linebackers and the continued maturation of veteran players will be key to improving the defense in 2025.

5. Cornerback and Secondary

Another area where Oklahoma will need to improve in the SEC is in their secondary, particularly at cornerback. While Oklahoma’s defense showed some improvement in 2024, their secondary was often exposed against the fast and talented receivers of the SEC. The Sooners must continue to recruit and develop cornerbacks who can compete at the highest level and cover elite wide receivers in a conference known for producing top-tier talent at the wide receiver position.

In 2025, Oklahoma will need to address both the cornerback position and the overall depth in the secondary. Oklahoma’s defense has often struggled in the passing game, especially when trying to defend against the explosive offenses of SEC teams. Improving the secondary will be crucial for the Sooners as they aim to make a deep run in the conference and compete with the likes of Alabama, Georgia, and LSU.

Oklahoma will look to develop its cornerbacks, such as Gentry Williams, into lockdown defenders who can match up against the best SEC receivers. With a stronger secondary, the Sooners can limit big plays and force more turnovers, which will be crucial to their defensive success. If the secondary improves, Oklahoma will become a much more complete and dangerous team on both sides of the ball.

6. Wide Receiver Depth

While the Sooners have a star in wide receiver Marvin Mims, they need to develop more depth and consistency at the position. Mims has the ability to be one of the top playmakers in the SEC, but Oklahoma needs other receivers to step up and provide more balance to the offense. In a high-powered conference like the SEC, having multiple reliable weapons in the passing game is crucial to keeping opposing defenses on their toes.

The Sooners have recruited talented wide receivers, and the 2025 season will be a critical one for players like Andrel Anthony and Jalil Farooq. These players need to develop into consistent, explosive threats to complement Mims and keep defenses from focusing too much on one player. The depth at receiver will be key to keeping the passing game dynamic and unpredictable.