Oklahoma got a much-needed dose of good news on center Jake Maikkula on Monday, with reports indicating the knee injury he suffered in Saturday’s scrimmage is not believed to be season-ending.
Maikkula was seen emotional after his leg was rolled up on during the scrimmage, which immediately raised alarm about the severity of the injury. But according to Pete Nakos and other Sooners outlets, the outlook is better than first feared.
Sooners on SI reported that Maikkula has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and could miss 4-6 weeks. That timeline would keep him sidelined for a bit, but it is still a far cry from the season-ending fear that followed the injury.
The timing matters for Oklahoma, whose first game of the 2026 season is set for September 4, just under three weeks away. If Maikkula’s recovery stays on track, the Sooners could still have him back relatively early in the year.
That would be a significant boost for an Oklahoma offensive line that is expected to lean on the fifth-year senior once he’s healthy. Maikkula started 10 of 11 games for the Sooners before an infection knocked him out of the regular season finale against LSU and Oklahoma’s CFP matchup against Alabama.
Maikkula is in his second season at Oklahoma after beginning his college career at Stanford in 2022. He redshirted his first year and then went on to start 16 games at guard and center over the next two seasons with the Cardinal.
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Jayden Daniels Is Suddenly Facing An LSU Fan Backlash
Jayden Daniels is back in the middle of an LSU conversation he probably would rather leave behind. The former Tigers star, now with the Washington Commanders, is in a dispute with LSU over the use of his name, image and likeness, and the issue has drawn extra attention because the school allowed another player to wear his former jersey number.
The reaction has not been quiet, either. ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum publicly criticized Daniels response and said the quarterback has lost support within LSU Nation, adding a sharper edge to what had already become a sensitive topic for fans who still view Daniels as one of the programs recent standard-bearers. For now, Daniels is preparing for his first NFL season opener with Washington against the Eagles on Sept. 13, even as the LSU chatter continues to linger. [Read more 🡒]
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Selected 249th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Nussmeier arrived in the league after throwing for 7,699 yards and 52 touchdowns at LSU, though his final college season was shortened by injury before it ran its course. Preseason games do not settle much, but for a quarterback trying to carve out a place in the pros, every snap matters and every early impression can shape the conversation around what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Ed Orgeron Is Already Raising The Standard At LSU Camp
Ed Orgerons return to LSU football has already added a familiar edge to fall camp, where the veteran coach is back in an assistant role working on defense and recruiting under Lane Kiffin. His presence has been felt quickly around the program, with players noticing the energy and authority he brings back to practice as the Tigers try to sharpen up before the season.
Orgeron has been spending time with a defensive line group that includes both transfers and freshmen, giving him a chance to set the tone with players who are still learning what it takes to perform at LSU. For a program that has long valued toughness and development in the trenches, his influence gives camp an unmistakable old-school weight while the bigger question is how far that standard can carry once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]