Andy Staples’ CFP Bracketology: Oklahoma Shakes Up the Bracket
In his latest College Football Playoff bracketology forecast, On3’s Andy Staples is making a bold call: Oklahoma is crashing the party and upending the CFP landscape. As the season slips into its final stretch, the Sooners’ resume long considered borderline is gaining traction in projects that matter.
Staples puts Oklahoma firmly in his 12-team playoff field, signaling that Norman’s resurgence is more than just noise. While the Sooners sit just outside of automatic major-championship contention, their combination of key wins and high-performance metrics is validating their case for an at-large berth. Experts like Andy are clearly buying in.
Oklahoma’s Resume Starts to Speak
Part of what’s pushing Oklahoma back on the map: signature victories. Their non-conference win over Michigan and solid résumé elsewhere are playing well in projections. According to CBS Sports’ breakdown of the Sooners’ path, Oklahoma ranks eighth nationally in “game control”, a metric that the CFP selection committee reportedly favors.
That’s a strong foundation to argue for a playoff spot, even without winning the SEC.
Their remaining schedule still poses challenges. Staples notes that Oklahoma’s path to the CFP hinges heavily on outcomes from their games at Alabama, and then potential regular-season matchups with Missouri and LSU. If the Sooners win out, the argument for their inclusion strengthens especially given the quality of their victories to date.
Staples Believes in Oklahoma’s Ceiling
Andy Staples has long identified Oklahoma as a wild-card team, one with serious upside but just as much risk. He’s pointed to the defensive depth the Sooners have assembled and the leadership potential of their quarterback, while also underscoring concerns about their offensive line. That duality big reward, big risk is exactly what makes Oklahoma’s potential playoff run so interesting.
If everything falls right, Staples sees Oklahoma not just making the bracket, but having a real shot at making noise. But it’s predicated on a strong finish and some help elsewhere: losses from other bubble teams, favorable comparisons, and sustained performance under pressure.
Bracket Impact: What Oklahoma’s Inclusion Means
With Staples slotting the Sooners into his mock 12-team field, the ripple effects are significant. Oklahoma’s entrance could push out other bubble contenders and elevate the SEC’s representation. In some scenarios, they may even face off against rivals or land in a challenging first-round spot that tests their playoff mettle immediately.
Their inclusion also changes the conversation around strength-of-schedule and committee metrics. Oklahoma’s recent resume argues that you don’t need to win your conference to make the cut, especially if you’ve built quality wins and control performance metrics.
The Bottom Line
Andy Staples’ bracketology leans confidently in favor of Oklahoma making the CFP not as a long shot, but as a legitimate threat. Their recent body of work, paired with remaining opportunities and key selection criteria, gives Staples reason to believe they’re more than smoke in the cloud.
If Oklahoma finishes strong and does so in style they could not only crash the playoff bracket but reshuffle its balance. That’s why, according to Staples, Oklahoma isn’t just knocking on the door … they might already be inside.
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