Taylor Wein says Oklahoma’s defense is already ahead of where it was a year ago, and that’s a big reason the Sooners feel good about what’s coming next.
The numbers from last season back up the buzz. Oklahoma finished among the nation’s top 10 in total defense, tackles for loss, rushing yards allowed and sacks, making it one of college football’s most complete units on that side of the ball. And even with that kind of production, there’s still room to climb.
That’s the part that matters for 2026: the Sooners are bringing back a core that gives this defense a real foundation. Linebackers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke are back, along with secondary pieces Peyton and Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory. Up front, Oklahoma returns Taylor Wein, David Stone and Jayden Jackson.
Wein, speaking with media as fall camp wrapped up, said the group has taken noticeable steps forward.
"We've made a lot of improvements," Wein said via SoonerScoop's YouTube channel." Defensively, I think we've come together and made a lot of improvements.
We've understood our weaknesses. Each year, each week, each day you find weaknesses.
You've got to figure out how to fix that, and you've got to watch tape with critical eyes and get better. This unit has done a good job of doing that."
That’s the heart of Oklahoma’s defensive outlook. This isn’t a reset. It’s a return of proven pieces with the chance to sharpen the details that kept the unit from being even better last season.
With Lewis and Heinecke steadying the linebacker group and Wein, Stone and Jackson giving the front more returning talent, Oklahoma has the ingredients to stay elite. The real test is the schedule, which will demand that standard every week.
If Wein’s read on the defense is right, the Sooners may be looking at another top-tier group - and one that could be strong enough to help push Oklahoma back to the College Football Playoff.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Freshmen Are Already Creating 2026 Position Battle Pressure
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The most interesting part is how many different spots are already being nudged by this class. Some of the pressure is up front, some of it comes from the edge, and some of it reaches all the way to quarterback, where Bowe Bentley and Whitt Newbauer add another layer to an already crowded picture. None of that settles the depth chart in August, but it does mean Oklahoma is carrying a freshman class that looks capable of creating real competition sooner than later, and maybe forcing older players to defend jobs that once seemed safe. [Read more 🡒]
OU Offseason Changes Still Carry One Big Surprise For Sooners Fans
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Owen Heineckes situation is another one worth watching as the calendar turns toward 2026. After winning a legal battle that gives him an extra season of eligibility, the linebacker has injected a bit of long-term intrigue into a defense that has already seen plenty of offseason movement. For Oklahoma fans, the surprise is not just that the Sooners kept busy, but that one of the most consequential storylines might still be unfolding well beyond the coming season. [Read more 🡒]
Blake Griffins Next Move Gives Sooners Fans A New Reason To Watch
Blake Griffin is adding another lane to a post-playing career that has already stretched well beyond the NBA floor. The former Sooners star announced he will launch a late-night sports talk show, The Stepback with Blake Griffin, set to debut Oct. 20 on Prime Video and roll out new episodes every Tuesday, with Griffin fronting the program himself in front of a live studio audience.
The setup is a little different from the usual sports talk format, too, since there will be no guests and Griffin will be carrying the conversation on basketball and other sports. He also co-founded the production company behind the show, another sign that he is leaning hard into entertainment after retiring from the NBA in 2024, and it gives Oklahoma fans another reason to keep an eye on what he does next. [Read more 🡒]