The Oklahoma Sooners have been one of the more consistent teams since the turn of the century. While it hasn’t resulted in as many national championships as others, Oklahoma’s reputation has had them inside the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll every preseason.
The Sooners have started the season in the top five of the coaches poll 16 times since 2000. 10 of those seasons, the Sooners finished the season outside the top five. On three of those 10 occasions where Oklahoma finished outside the top five, the Sooners closed the season ranked No. 6 in the nation.
Three times since 2000 have the Oklahoma Sooners started the season outside the top five and finished in the top five.
There have only been three seasons in which the Oklahoma Sooners were unranked in the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, including the 2022 season.
If preseason power rankings are any indication, the Sooners will likely keep their preseason coaches’ poll inclusion streak going in 2023. National analysts are optimistic about the Sooners improving upon their 2022 season, but time will tell.
Here’s a look at where Oklahoma started and finished each season since 2000 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.