J.D. Pickell says Oklahoma has what it takes to chase another College Football Playoff run

J.D. Pickell believes Oklahoma has the pieces to contend again for the College Football Playoff, arguing the program is positioned to make a serious run even as the road to the playoff remains steep in 2026. In his assessment, Oklahoma is not only talented enough to compete for elite results, but also built in a way that should allow it to handle the weekly demands of a high-profile schedule.

The Oklahoma storyline, as Pickell presents it, is both opportunity and pressure. Returning to the playoff is never a simple checkbox in modern college football, and Pickell’s framing emphasizes that the Sooners have to earn their way back rather than assume they will be there. The bar for Oklahoma is high, and the expectations that come with the program’s profile are part of the challenge.

Pickell points to the season opener as an early test of Oklahoma’s ability to execute under attention. Oklahoma’s 2026 trip begins Sept. 4 against the UTEP Miners, a matchup he describes as the first step on what he calls a difficult climb back to the playoff. The implication is straightforward: you cannot stumble early and still expect to navigate later tiebreakers, quality wins, and the overall playoff picture.

In the broader College Football Playoff context, Oklahoma’s objective is not only to win games, but to produce the type of resume that holds up against other contenders. Even strong seasons can end short if they lack the signature wins or if the team drops points in games that are perceived as controllable. Pickell’s comments reflect that reality, treating the playoff as something Oklahoma must continually prove.

The Sept. 4 opener against UTEP also matters because early games shape how a season is evaluated. Non-conference performances tend to influence how voters, selection conversations, and public perception treat a team’s ceiling. For Oklahoma, the opener sets the tone for everything that follows, from confidence to game-planning to how the team handles momentum.

What to watch next is how Oklahoma handles that first hurdle in a way that looks deliberate rather than reactive. If the Sooners can turn the opening month into a foundation, the playoff chase becomes more manageable. If they fail to separate from an opponent they are expected to handle, the “difficult challenge” Pickell describes could tighten quickly.

As for the larger picture, Pickell’s core message is that Oklahoma’s talent level and program readiness can translate into another playoff-caliber season. Still, the only certainty in college football is that the playoff path will demand consistent, high-quality play, and Oklahoma’s schedule begins that process on Sept. 4 against UTEP.