SEC CFB Newcomer Set For Harsh Conference Introduction After Release Of Media Poll

SEC media isn't rolling out the welcome mat for Oklahoma.

The Sooners, entering their first season as an SEC member, ranked eighth in the SEC preseason media poll.

If there was doubt that Oklahoma was entering a rough new reality, its preseason poll placement confirms it.

The Sooners ranked first in the Big 12 football media's preseason poll for six consecutive seasons from 2016 - 21 .

In 2022 , Oklahoma ranked second in the preseason poll, receiving 12 first-place votes. Last year , it placed third with four first-place votes.

SEC media members weren't as hard on Texas, also entering its first year as an SEC member. The Longhorns ranked second in the preseason poll. Georgia is No. 1 while Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU round out the top five.

This season, the Sooners play six teams ranked ahead of them in the SEC media preseason poll, including home games against Tennessee (Sept. 21) and Alabama (Nov. 23), road games at Ole Miss (Oct. 26), Missouri (Nov. 9) and LSU (Nov. 30) and a neutral-site game in the Red River Showdown against Texas (Oct. 12).

Oklahoma went 10-3 last season, head coach Brent Venables' second year in charge of the program.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel transferred to Oregon, but the team has five-star class of 2023 recruit Jackson Arnold penciled in as its 2024 starter.

He appeared in seven games last season and started the 2023 Alamo Bowl against Arizona.

Arnold finished 26-of-45 for 361 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in a 38-24 loss.