There is no question: the season hasn't gone the way the Oklahoma Sooners hoped coming out of the bye week. Oklahoma sits at 2-2, with losses to the Michigan Wolverines and the Georgia Bulldogs. The Sooners also struggled to beat the New Mexico Lobos, winning 14-6 at home.

The Sooners entered this year with College Football Playoff and national championship expectations after making the playoff last season. The Sooners are coming out of their bye week with a big challenge, facing the No. 1 Texas Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday.

Heading into that game, ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) measures team strength and is meant to be the best predictor of a team's performance for the rest of the season. The FPI predicts Oklahoma to finish 6-6 this season. That would be the third 6-6 regular season under head coach Brent Venables.

While ESPN's FPI paints a discouraging picture of Oklahoma's remaining season, the Sooners still have an opportunity to change that outlook. Saturday's Red River Rivalry presents a difficult challenge, but it also gives Oklahoma a chance to reset the narrative and show signs of progress after the bye week.

A win over the No. 1 Longhorns would boost the Sooners' confidence and put them in a better position to build momentum for the second half of the season. The path back to the College Football Playoff may be more difficult than expected, but how Oklahoma responds against its biggest rival could go a long way toward determining what remains possible in 2026.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: ESPN FPI projects a rough finish for Oklahoma

Source: Yahoo Sports