Breaking News: Joel Klatt Issues Warning to Oklahoma Sooners After Ranking Them in Top 25
May 6, 2025 – Norman, OK
College football analyst Joel Klatt has sparked headlines and heated debate across the fanbase after including the Oklahoma Sooners in his latest Top 25 rankings — but not without a stern warning attached.
Klatt, a respected voice in college football and lead analyst for FOX Sports, released his updated Top 25 on Tuesday, placing Oklahoma at No. 21. While some fans welcomed the national recognition, Klatt’s commentary made it clear that the Sooners are on thin ice.
“Oklahoma has Top 25 talent, no question,” Klatt said on his podcast The Joel Klatt Show. “But talent alone won’t be enough this year. If they don’t develop consistency — especially on defense — they could fall out of relevance by midseason.”
High Expectations, Thin Margins
After a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw the Sooners finish 8–5 and struggle in Big 12 play, head coach Brent Venables faces rising pressure to prove that his program is on the right track before their move to the SEC becomes fully entrenched. Klatt acknowledged Oklahoma’s high-upside roster, led by returning quarterback Jackson Arnold, but cautioned that the team’s recurring defensive lapses could once again be its downfall.
“The Sooners can beat anyone on their schedule if they play to their potential,” Klatt added. “But they also have a tendency to beat themselves. That won’t fly in a Top 25 conversation.”
Defensive Doubts
The core of Klatt’s concern lies with Oklahoma’s defense — particularly its inability to close out games and stop the run in key moments. Despite an aggressive offseason in the transfer portal, questions linger about the team’s depth and discipline on that side of the ball.
The Sooners allowed an average of 29.4 points per game last season, one of the worst marks in the conference. While Venables, a former defensive coordinator, has vowed improvement, Klatt’s warning suggests the national perception remains skeptical.
Path Forward
Oklahoma opens the 2025 season with a manageable non-conference slate, but a brutal stretch in October — including games against Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss — will quickly reveal whether the Sooners are pretenders or contenders.
Klatt concluded his segment by doubling down on his message:
“I believe in Oklahoma’s ceiling — I really do. But if they don’t clean up the mistakes that haunted them last year, they’ll be lucky to stay in the Top 25 by November.”
The Sooners’ response to that challenge begins in Week 1. And thanks to Joel Klatt’s pointed warning, all eyes will be on Norman this fall.
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