So far, the 2026 Oklahoma Sooners are a very good team. They are currently sitting on a 35-3 record and are ranked #3 in the nation behind Texas and Texas Tech.
But we all know that with a history as rich and storied as Oklahoma’s, finishing the season at #3 aint good enough. Does Oklahoma have a legitimate shot to win the title this year? Their current #3 ranking would certainly suggest that, but what if we looked at it in a different way?
The 2024 version of the Oklahoma Sooners was also a very good team, and so was the 2025 version Oklahoma Sooners. Now, the 2024 version won the national title, while the 2025 version lost in the WCWS. So the 2026 Oklahoma Sooners wants to be more like the 2024 than 2025 Sooners.
If we look at the numbers, how does this year’s Sooners compare to the last two years Sooners?
First, let’s look at hitting. And I’ll give you just one word: wow. 2024 Sooners and 2025 Sooners had a very good offense, but the 2026 Sooners are on a whole other level. 2026 Sooners team batting average is 100 points higher than 2024, they are hitting an average of 3.5 home runs per game and scoring an average of 11 runs per game, which is vastly better than either of the last two seasons. Get this, with 17 regular season games left to play, the 2026 Sooners have already eclipsed the 2024 and 2025 Sooners season home run totals. And their 11 runs per game average is 4 more runs per game than either previous Sooners team. This offense is on pace to be legendary, and at the very least, is objectively better than either 2025 or 2024.
Now let’s look at pitching. This comparison is not as favorable. Oklahoma’s 2026 team ERA is .75 runs per inning higher than 2024. 2026 team strike outs per game is just under one lower than 2024, opponents batting average is 30 points higher in 2026 vs 2024, and they are allowing 2.18 runs per game versus 2024’s 1.77 per game. Oklahoma’s 2026 pitching looks a lot more like 2025 than it does 2024, which is not great if you are reaching for #1.
The 2026 Sooners’ strength is undoubtedly their bats, and if they want to finish this season ranked higher than #3, the pitching staff needs to do its job yes, but Oklahoma’s offense is what will carry them there. Most national title winners do it with elite pitching, but if any team has the chance to upend that trend and win with an overpowering offense, it’s the 2026 Oklahoma Sooners.
