NORMAN - In a college football era built on movement, Oklahoma’s defense has stood out for how little it has changed.
That continuity could carry into the Sooners’ 2026 season opener against UTEP, when all 11 defensive starters may be players who began their college careers in Norman. Senior safety Peyton Bowen says that kind of stability has given Brent Venables’ defense something a lot of teams spend years trying to find.
“I think it helps with trust a lot because you know the potential of each guy from freshman year all the way up,” Bowen said. “It’s not like you’re bringing in somebody new and you’re like, ‘Alright, let’s see how this guy is.’ You know who this guy is from Day 1.”
Bowen is one of the clearest examples of that homegrown development. He arrived at Oklahoma in 2023, Venables’ second season as head coach, and made an immediate impact as a freshman. He played in all 13 games that year and started twice.
His workload grew in 2024, when he again appeared in all 13 games and made five starts. In 2025, Bowen became a full-time starter, opening all 13 games and finishing with 47 tackles, seven pass breakups, two interceptions and a tackle for loss.
He said he never seriously considered leaving Oklahoma, and he pointed to the culture Venables has created as a major reason.
“The people that come in tend to stay, and then just the guys here, we all love each other like brothers,” Bowen said. “From the transfers’ point of view, I’ve never been outside of this facility as a player, so whenever they come in, they say it’s a brotherhood, and it shows that we’re different from those other schools in the sense of just being together. Coach V always harps on being together as a team.”
That togetherness has shown up in the results. Oklahoma’s defense has improved in each season under Venables.
In 2022, his first year in Norman, the Sooners allowed 461 yards and 30 points per game. Last season, they led the SEC in total defense at 272.5 yards allowed per game, scoring defense at 15.2 points allowed per game and sacks with 45.
The Sooners have also seen several major defensive names come through the program and move on to the next level, including R Mason Thomas, Gracen Halton, Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman Jr., all of whom started and finished their college careers at Oklahoma before heading to the professional ranks.
Bowen said that kind of track record only reinforces his belief in the program’s approach.
“The development piece, I’d say it’s better to an extent because you get to really see them develop,” Bowen said.
In Other News...
OU Is Forcing A Tough Stadium Tradeoff Fans May Hate
The planned changes at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium are no longer just a vague idea, with Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny confirming the reduction of roughly 7,000 seats is moving ahead. The final design is still being evaluated, but the message to fans is already clear enough: this is a major stadium tradeoff, one driven by the schools push to keep the football program financially competitive while modernizing the venue.
For longtime season-ticket holders, the hard part may be less about the number of seats than where everyone ends up. Denny acknowledged the concern over relocations and said the department is working to make sure all season-ticket holders still have a place in the stadium, even as the seating map changes around them. For fans who have spent years with the same view, the coming reshuffle may be the part of the project that feels most personal. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Legend Faces Health Scare As Fans Await Word On Recovery
Jamelle Holieway, one of the most recognizable figures in Oklahoma football history, is dealing with a health issue and says he is now resting at home as he works his way toward recovery. The former Sooners quarterback and national champion shared the update on Facebook, and the message quickly drew support from fans who still hold him in high regard for what he meant to the program.
Holieways note also underscored how much his place in Sooners lore still resonates, even years after his playing days ended. The response from the Oklahoma community has been one of prayers and well wishes, with supporters hoping the former quarterback continues moving in the right direction in the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]
OU Fans Need To Know What Changed Before The Home Opener
With the home opener approaching, Oklahoma is trying to make the trip to Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium a little less chaotic for fans heading to campus. The universitys athletics department, working with Norman police and OU police, has released new game day driving maps and protocols aimed at improving traffic flow and making the arrival process safer and smoother.
The advice is pretty straightforward, but it matters on a crowded Saturday: plan parking in advance, leave early, expect delays near campus and use the official routing maps instead of relying on GPS. The school is also pushing carpooling and basic vehicle-security precautions, all part of an effort to keep the focus on the game instead of the headache of getting in and out of the area. [Read more 🡒]