OU football‘s narrow win over New Mexico wasn’t the best to help the Sooners‘ resume towards a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The 14-6 win kept raising questions about the Oklahoma defense, and resulted in the Sooners being dropped from the AP Top 25 poll. OU travels to Athens next for its conference opener against the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs.
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Here are the latest 2026 bowl projections for the Sooners entering Week 4:
Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma Sooners coach Brent Venables arrives before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma Sooners coach Brent Venables arrives before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma players arrive before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
3 / 10
Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) arrives before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma players arrive before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
5 / 10
Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma Sooners coach Brent Venables arrives before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
6 / 10
Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) arrives before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
7 / 10
Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis (55) arrives before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
8 / 10
Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma players arrive before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
9 / 10
Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle arrives before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
10 / 10
Oklahoma Sooners vs New Mexico Lobos in Week 3 college football, see top photos
Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Jayden Jackson (65) arrives before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
2026 OU football bowl projections
Athlon Sports: Oklahoma vs. SMU in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 30
Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at ialmeida@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
