No. 13 Oklahoma started the season red-hot with two wins over ranked teams in the first four weeks. But after a loss to No. 8 Ole Miss in Norman, the Sooners are now on the outside looking in when it comes to the College Football Playoff.
Just weeks ago, Oklahoma was 5-0 entering the Red River Rivalry. But the Sooners suffered their first loss of the season to Texas, and on Saturday fell 34-26 to the Rebels. They now sit at 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the SEC.
While Oklahoma has the chance to bounce back starting next week, it won’t be easy.
Here’s a look at the road ahead for the Sooners and what to expect after the loss to Ole Miss
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Will Oklahoma make the college football playoff?
The road ahead is a tough one for the Sooners, who face ranked opponents in each of their final four games.
Oklahoma has two ranked wins over No. 15 Michigan and No. 22 Auburn, both coming in Norman. Both losses are to teams in the AP Top-25 in Texas and Ole Miss.
With two losses, the Sooners are going to need to perform exceptionally well against these ranked opponents to keep the playoff hopes alive.
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John Mateer stats
Mateer had a game of extreme highs and lows against Ole Miss, ultimately falling short in the key moments of the 34-26 loss. The junior transfer got off to an electric start, completing 10 of his first 11 passes for 169 yards, highlighted by a 76-yard touchdown strike to Isaiah Sategna III that briefly tied the game in the second quarter.
However, after that explosive start, Mateer’s performance dramatically cooled off. The quarterback went just 7-of-20 passing for the remainder of the game, including crucial missed throws as the Sooners fought to regain the lead in the fourth quarter. On Oklahoma’s final two possessions, Mateer struggled with accuracy, missing wide-open receivers on third and fourth downs, which ended the final offensive drives and allowed the Rebels to seal the victory.
Mateer finished the day completing 17 of 31 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown, but his inability to convert in crunch time was cited as a major reason for the defeat. The final image of his performance was a desperation Hail Mary heave that fell incomplete as time expired, summarizing a day when his initial brilliance was ultimately overshadowed by critical mistakes and missed opportunities against the top-10 Rebels.
MORE: College Football Playoff projections for Week 10
Oklahoma 2025 schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| 11/01 | at No. 17 Tennessee | TBD |
| 11/15 | at No. 3 Alabama | TBD |
| 11/22 | vs. No. 15 Missouri | 12:00 PM |
| 11/29 | vs. No. 20 LSU | TBD |
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