The “quiet” part of offseason college football is coming as most of the dust settles from the spring football practice and transfer portal window. We are less than three and a half months away from the zero week on August 23.

ESPN and staff workers Eli Lederman, Max Olson and Adam Rittenberg took the opportunity to rank offseason for each Power Four Four conference team. The trio combined all 68 teams in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 (plus FBS Independent Notre Dame). In the new era of college football, the inevitable changes every year are crucial during the offseason. This gives you a victory in the fall.

ESPN is high in OU’s offseason, ranking it as the second best offseason for the SEC, behind only the LSU Tigers (their top overall team). Hire a new offensive coordinator and add a new starting quarterback to Norman.

Entering a pivotal year, head coach Brent Venables became the primary offensive coordinator hire at Ben Arbuckle, who brought quarterback John Mateer to Washington State. Arbuckle coached Cam Ward and Mateer at Pullman, and he should immediately improve a Sooners offense, finishing No. 97 nationwide last season. - ESPN.

After the OU offense was frightening a season ago, the Arbuckle-Mateer combination cut their work for them. The Venables couldn't make another incompetent attack like they did last year. Injuries and inexperienced played a huge role in the Sooners' problems last offseason. They can't control all the damage, but Sooners are able to add a lot of experience and production to the portal.

In 2024, in the disastrous SEC debut, the Sooners had little to do with it, which led to the second loss season since the program and raised the calories in the Venables' seat. This prompted an offensive overhaul. Past Mateer, Jaydn Ott, Florida Fringe Stormtrooper Marvin Jones Jr. But it's still a question as to whether the Sooners are enough to strengthen the range of receivers and offensive line units in the season a year ago. - ESPN.

Understandably, there will be concerns about the offensive line and wide receivers. The Sooners bring two powers to four receivers at Isaiah Sategna and Josiah Martin, but they will also rely on those who spend 2024 at the FCS level. Along the offensive line, Derek Simmons represents the largest offensive lineup besides real freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje. Simmons is a highly respected addition to West Carolina, and has performed well in his game against the SEC over the past two seasons. Oklahoma also added Stanford’s Luke Baklenko and Jake Maikkula this offseason to improve any depth issues.

The 6-7 score at the University of Oklahoma is far from satisfactory. Venables and OU made comprehensive changes to achieve this. Oklahoma has achieved a huge victory in 2025 through the increase in transfer portals. Despite the problems with multiple positions on the lineup, ESPN believes that quarterback upgrades can cover up some loopholes when the Sooners have football games. But that's not the only place to get better. Adding Jaydn Ott to the running room puts Arbuckle in a huge gaming threat in the backcourt.

Oklahoma situation classified when Oklahoma State swapped Jackson Arnold (Auben) for his partner, who had 3,319 pass yards and 44 touchdowns last fall. The fourth-year passer provides the Sooners with a double threat to play, but in 2024, Oklahoma has a very lack of confidence. If he can stay healthy, he scored 1,305 yards and 12 points in 2023, another new weapon for Arbuckle's crime. The Sooners added a lot of new options in their pass matches against Javonnie Gibson (UAPB) and Isaiah Sategna (Arkansas), the new receivers of four new receivers Deion Burks and Jayden Gibson. - ESPN.

Bill Connelly, also ESPN's Bill Connelly, tried to turn everything around Norman with a bolder compliment to the Sooners and the work they did during the offseason.

No one is more desperate for a good offseason than the Venables, but he may have put together the best offseason in college football. We'll see if it can win on another cruel schedule, but Arbuckle, Mateer & Co. Reliable turnover should be generated in the points department. Offseason national champion. - Connery, ESPN

Whenever you can add a quarterback, who makes up nearly 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns like OU did with John Mateer, it can change the trajectory of your plan. Now, in popular seats, Venables has the opportunity to guide themselves out of the hot seat as a big season in 2025. Mateer is the organizer and the leader this team needs.

Lederman, Olson and Rittenberg were not that high offseason at Oklahoma, but still placed it sixth in all 68 powerful four teams. While most of what happened will directly affect the 2025 season, General Manager Jim Nagy has had short-term and long-term impacts on Oklahoma Sooners.

After 2024 is disappointing and delivered, you need a big problem. An embattled offense brought Pullman package deals and quarterback partners from Washington State. OU added help around Mateer, running back to OTT and others. The team also has clear staff guidance with former senior Bowl executive managing director Jim Nagy. - ESPN.

Nagy has felt his presence on the portal and recruitment trails, helping Sooners Land Ott, Maikkula and broad receiver Jer'michael Carter on the spring portal.

It is said that only Louisiana State, Texas Tech, Penn State, Oregon and Clemson have better off seasons than Oklahoma. The Sooners are also ahead of the Auburn Tigers, who will be the opponent of the Open Conference game in Norman on September 20.

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