2025 Comebacks – Can OU Survive the Year? Can OSU Get Off Life Support?

At the end of every long Oklahoma, two things are true. We've had enough of this hot weather, and every other conversation is about college football.

Whether you’re wearing crimson or orange, you’ve probably already got strong feelings about how this season’s going to go.

So let’s talk about it.

2025 is the Oklahoma Sooners second year in the SEC, and the word of the day is “rebound.” After last year’s bumpy introduction to the conference, head coach Brent Venables is looking to prove the program still belongs in the top tier. With a new QB at the helm, John Mateer, expectations are as high as they've ever been.

Mateer racked up over 3,100 passing yards and nearly 900 rushing yards last season. The media keeps using the term "dual-threat" to describe him. He'll certainly have a lot of help too. Running backs Jadyn Ott and Jovantae Barnes might be the one-two punch the Sooners need for their SEC do-over year.

OU's schedule has a couple of giant, teeth-baring speed bumps named Texas and Alabama. The AI prediction, OU pulls out an almost respectable 9–3 or 10–2 record this year, which would be an improvement from the embarrassing 6-7 record of last season.

10-2 was a solid record in a tough Big-12 in years past, but in the SEC, anything short of playoff contention is a letdown.

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Now, over in Stillwater, things aren’t quite as sunny. While the perception of things are rarely the reality of a situation, it really looked like OSU was trying to do everything in the world to run off Mike Gundy.

He's had a famously chaotic relationship with the media over the years, and now it seems that fans are hopping on the "Go Away Gundy" bandwagon.

With the Oklahoma State Cowboys coming off a 3–9 campaign - AKA - the worst season they’ve had since the early ‘90s, every Cowboy alum thought we could hear the nails being driven into the coffin.

With that record and not a single conference game win, Mike Gundy cleaned house with both coordinators and hit the transfer portal like a man on a mission. Eighteen new players are in, including quarterback Hauss Hejny from TCU, who might bring some much-needed spark.

The Cowboys’ receivers could actually be a strength, but the offensive line is more of a question mark than a Magic 8 Ball. New defensive coordinator Todd Grantham should help stabilize the defense, but it’s going to take time.

The AI prediction has OSU finishing around 4–8 or 5–7. That’s not the turnaround fans want, but it would likely keep most OSU Cowboy fans from demanding Gundy's head for Christmas.

Since you're probably wondering about Bedlam, it's a quick "no." We are getting it back, but not until 2031. So for now, the in-state rivalry will have to play out in parking lots, living rooms, and on Facebook comment threads where reasonable football debate goes to die.

Bottom line? The Sooners are looking for redemption, the Cowboys are looking for a pulse, and both will have plenty to prove before the season’s over.

Go pokes!