How does Oklahoma compare to 2026 opponents in ESPN's SP+?

Oklahoma’s 2026 college football schedule is set to be one of the sport’s toughest, with the Sooners opening a new season a little over a week away and aiming to improve on last year’s 10-win mark and College Football Playoff appearance. According to Bill Connelly’s ESPN SP+ metrics, Oklahoma ranks No. 11 entering 2026, and faces eight opponents inside the top 25. Three opponents are in the top 10. The Sooners return many offensive snaps, have a quarterback who is healthy, and are described as having elite talent on defense across all three levels. On the schedule, they play Michigan (Sept. 12), Georgia (Sept. 26), Texas (Oct. 10), Kentucky (Oct. 17), and Ole Miss (Nov. 14), among others, plus a bye Oct. 3. The piece notes OU is top-33 in offense, defense, and special teams, with only a few opponents matching that across all areas.