Oklahoma got a timely boost up front on Saturday, and Michael Fasusi wasted no time making his presence felt.
The Sooners’ left tackle was back on the field for the first time since the Week 1 win over UTEP, and his return helped settle an offensive line that had already seen another starting lineup shuffle this week. Fasusi was a major factor in Oklahoma’s win over Mississippi State, especially on passing downs. According to Pro Football Focus, he did not allow a pressure across 39 pass-block snaps.
His value showed up in the run game too. Fasusi helped clear the way for Tory Blaylock’s 47-yard burst to start the second half, and Lloyd Avant’s 19-yard run also came behind the left side.
Oklahoma finished with 184 rushing yards on 41 carries, its best ground output since the Sooners totaled 192 yards against Tennessee in November of last season.
Bringing Fasusi back strengthened the left side next to left guard Noah Best. Ryan Fodje had filled in effectively, but he was sidelined in the loss to Kentucky with an ankle injury. When Fodje is healthy again, he could slide back to the right side at either guard or tackle, giving Oklahoma another option in the trenches.
Fasusi was a true freshman All-American selection in 2025, though he logged only 17 snaps in the season opener. After getting more time to recover from a shoulder injury in fall camp, he appears ready to help Oklahoma as it tries to build momentum in the second half and stay in the College Football Playoff conversation.
In Other News...
Sooners Suddenly Have A Real Path Back Into The Top 25
A win over Mississippi State gave Oklahoma a needed jolt in Week 8, and the ripple effect around the rest of college football could make the Sooners road back into the AP Top 25 a little more realistic. The weekends results shuffled the landscape in a way that mattered well beyond Norman, with several ranked teams taking hits and a few others positioned to rise when the new poll comes out.
That kind of chaos is exactly what Oklahoma needed after its own recent slide. With the poll expected to move again after another round of mixed results nationally, the Sooners suddenly have a path to climb back into the conversation if the teams around them keep stumbling and they keep stacking wins on their own schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Keeps Showing Fight But One Problem Still Wont Go Away
Owen Heinecke gave Oklahoma another snapshot of the grit this team keeps leaning on, playing through illness and still leading the Sooners in tackles during their 23-15 win over Mississippi State. It was the kind of performance that fits the broader tone of the season so far: this group has found ways to answer setbacks, and it has shown enough fight to stay in games and bounce back when things go sideways.
The issue, as coaches and players have made clear, is not toughness. It is consistency. Oklahoma has alternated wins and losses all season, which means every encouraging step seems to come paired with a reminder that the Sooners still have not put together a sustained run, and until they do, they will keep living in the space between resilience and real momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Suddenly Has A Quarterback Problem Before Texas
Mississippi State left Norman with more than a loss to sort out, as quarterback Kamario Taylor went down again with the same right foot issue that had already been bothering him. Jeff Lebby said Taylor had been cleared to play even after being limited in practice, but the foot was re-aggravated during the game against Oklahoma and forced him out before the first quarter was over.
The timing makes the situation especially tricky with Texas next on the schedule, because the Bulldogs now have to wait for more medical information before they know what kind of plan they can build around at quarterback. Taylor's return remains uncertain, and for a team already trying to stabilize itself, the difference between limited and unavailable could shape the entire week of preparation. [Read more 🡒]