The Oklahoma Sooners are just over two weeks away from beginning the 2024 college football season. The US LBM Coaches Poll has been out for a week, and the AP Top 25 was released on Monday. In both, the Sooners were voted the No. 16 team in the nation and eighth among SEC teams.
While the human voters may had the Sooners eighth, the computers like Oklahoma a bit better. They’re No. 8 in ESPN’s Football Power Index and come in at No. 13 overall and seventh in the SEC in the final ESPN SP+ rankings ahead of the 2024 season.
Here’s a look at how the SEC compares in the final SP+ rankings.
| SEC Rank | Team | Overall | Offense | Defense | Special Teams |
| 1 | Georgia | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 2 | Alabama | 4 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
| 3 | Texas | 5 | 4 | 12 | 17 |
| 4 | Ole Miss | 8 | 6 | 16 | 26 |
| 5 | LSU | 10 | 2 | 38 | 83 |
| 6 | Missouri | 11 | 8 | 19 | 45 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 13 | 17 | 13 | 95 |
| 8 | Texas A&M | 14 | 11 | 24 | 73 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 15 | 14 | 20 | 52 |
| 10 | Kentucky | 22 | 28 | 31 | 39 |
| 11 | Florida | 23 | 18 | 41 | 9 |
| 12 | Auburn | 25 | 38 | 25 | 27 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 35 | 59 | 30 | 12 |
| 14 | Arkansas | 44 | 39 | 53 | 6 |
| 15 | Mississippi State | 55 | 67 | 52 | 50 |
| 16 | Vanderbilt | 89 | 68 | 104 | 72 |
By comparison, the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense rates more favorably than the offense. OU’s defense comes in as the fourth-best unit in the SEC, according to the SP+ ratings. Offensively, however, the Sooners are considered the ninth-best offense in the conference.
It’s reasonable to expect more out of the defense. There’s a lot more experience and proven production on that unit led by Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman, Ethan Downs, Woodi Washington and incoming defensive tackle transfer Damonic Williams.
The offense has talent, but aside from Gavin Sawchuk, Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony and their offensive line transfers, there’s not a lot of experience or production.
With former five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold taking the reins, there is a great deal of potential for the offense. He has a big arm and fantastic athleticism. He’s got a lot to prove but has the talent to be among the best in college football.
Beyond Arnold, the Sooners have much to prove on special teams. The SP+ ratings consider the Sooners to be the worst team in the SEC on special teams entering the season. The only spot that feels solidified is the punting duties with Luke Elzinga. Elzinga was the best part of Oklahoma’s special teams unit in 2023. OU’s kicking situation is unsettled and they have to get more out of the return game this season if they want to be a contender.
Oklahoma made the move to bring in Doug Deakin, who led some of the best special teams units in the nation during his time at San Diego State. If he can work that same magic in Norman, it’ll go a long way to helping the Sooners become a contender in 2024.
OU will have to be good in all three phases of the game to navigate their schedule and make a run for a College Football Playoff berth this season. Given the strength of the SEC and that OU will play five teams ranked higher than it in SP+ ratings, there’s no room to be average or bad in any phase of the game.
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