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Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma lead the SEC in USA Today power rankings. Oklahoma is seen as a national championship contender despite not being in the top three of early preseason polls.
Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma top SEC in USA Today power rankings
Even the national media thinks Oklahoma football is a national championship contender.
No, the Sooners aren't ranked in the top three or four in the country in any of the too-early preseason (it's still, really, the offseason) polls and prognostications. But regular spots in the top 10 exist. Plus, OU plays in the SEC now, where any team rated that highly will get every opportunity to move up, given their competition.
So a standing at No. 3 in the SEC power rankings at this point - as the Sooners found themselves in Paul Myerberg's power poll for USA TODAY - is a strong sign. The Sooners are a team to watch after taking a leap into the playoff last season.
"Having already turned the defense into one of the league’s best," Myerberg wrote, "Brent Venables now looks for similar growth from an offense that brings back senior quarterback John Mateer and added receiver transfers Trell Harris (Virginia) and Parker Livingstone (Texas) to join established starter Isaiah Sategna III."
Mateer was a Heisman Trophy favorite early in the 2025 season before an injury and the tightening schedule slowed his production in the second half. With more weapons outside and a bit more from his running backs, it isn't out of the realm of possibility to think Oklahoma's offense could be a top 30 unit this year.
Whether that's enough for them to leapfrog Texas and Georgia, the two teams rated ahead in Myerberg's poll will play out in the fall. OU made the College Football Playoff last year with the Bulldogs while Texas was left out despite beating the Sooners in the regular season.
Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma are currently the top three teams in the SEC power rankings by USA Today.
Oklahoma is viewed as a contender due to their consistent presence in the top 10 and their competitive position in the SEC.
Oklahoma made a leap into the playoff last season, indicating their strong performance.
Oklahoma's No. 3 ranking in the SEC power poll suggests they are a team to watch in the upcoming season.
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Alabama, Texas A&M and Ole Miss rank No. 4, 5 and 6 in the poll. All three of those teams made the Playoff last year, as well. The Sooners will play the Bulldogs, Longhorns, Aggies and Rebels in the 2026 regular season.
Oklahoma's Kendal Daniels (5) hits Michigan's Justice Haynes (22) in the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooner and the University of Michigan Wolverines at the Gaylord Family à Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) and linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) celebrate after a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Auburn Tigers at Gaylord Family à Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday,Sept. 20, 2025. Oklahoma won 24-17.
Aug 30, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) during the game against the Illinois State Redbirds at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Jay Lindsey (88) against Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) celebrates after a play during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Missouri Tigers at Gaylord Family à Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. Oklahoma won 17-6.
Nov 22, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) tackles Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula (9) during the second half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Nov 22, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) reacts during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) reacts during the second half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) celebrates a safety against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) celebrates a sack of South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) pressures Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) in the first half of the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorn at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
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Oklahoma's Kendal Daniels (5) hits Michigan's Justice Haynes (22) in the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooner and the University of Michigan Wolverines at the Gaylord Family à Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
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Oklahoma's Kendal Daniels (5) hits Michigan's Justice Haynes (22) in the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooner and the University of Michigan Wolverines at the Gaylord Family à Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
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Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) and linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) celebrate after a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Auburn Tigers at Gaylord Family à Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday,Sept. 20, 2025. Oklahoma won 24-17.
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Aug 30, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) during the game against the Illinois State Redbirds at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Jay Lindsey (88) against Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) celebrates after a play during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Missouri Tigers at Gaylord Family à Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. Oklahoma won 17-6.
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Nov 22, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) tackles Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula (9) during the second half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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Nov 22, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) reacts during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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Oct 25, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) reacts during the second half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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Oct 18, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) celebrates a safety against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
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Oct 18, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) celebrates a sack of South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
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Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kendal Daniels (5) pressures Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) in the first half of the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorn at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma No. 3 in SEC power rankings from USA TODAY