Oklahoma’s offensive line may look a little different when the Sooners walk into Michigan this weekend, but the staff isn’t sounding alarm bells.
The problem starts with the injuries. In the opener, Oklahoma was already missing two starters, with Jake Maikkula and Ryan Fodje both out in Week 1. Then left tackle Michael Fasusi, a preseason All-SEC pick, was limited to 17 snaps before leaving with what appeared to be a right shoulder injury.
Now the Sooners are heading into a road matchup with Michigan with more uncertainty up front than they wanted. Maikkula and Fodje appear likely to be available after Brent Venables said Oklahoma planned to "get them going here this week."
Fasusi, though, remains the bigger question mark. Venables did not mention him this week while giving updates on injured players, which leaves his status for Saturday in doubt.
If Fasusi can’t go in The Big House, Oklahoma will have to keep adjusting on the fly along the line. That kind of movement doesn’t seem to bother offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who pointed to the way Bill Bedenbaugh handles the group as a whole.
"Challenging? I think how coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh prepares those guys and doesn't just coach a right guard like he's a right guard; he really encompasses the entire offensive line unit and what everybody has to do," Arbuckle said.
"I think that makes the ability to be able to shuffle people around, whether there's injuries or you want to see people somewhere else, or just trying to give someone a breather. I think that gives us the ability to go out there and execute and not really have mental busts as being a worry in the forefront of your mind."
In Other News...
Michigan Knows Oklahoma Will Expose This Fast If Nothing Changes
Michigan came out of a frustrating stretch last week with players openly calling the performance disappointing and embarrassing, then followed it with a player-led meeting aimed at cleaning up the issues before the next step in the schedule. After the uneasy win over Western Michigan, the message inside the room was simple enough: the level of play has to rise quickly, because a stronger opponent is waiting and there will not be much room for the same mistakes.
Oklahoma has plenty of reason to pay attention to that kind of self-scouting, because a team still sorting through its own standard tends to find out fast whether the corrections are real. The players involved said they know the challenge ahead and understand they need better effort, but the real test is whether that urgency carries onto the field when the matchup finally arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Brent Venables Defends What Makes Oklahoma Different From Everyone Else
Brent Venables has made no secret of how much he values the kind of early-season test Oklahoma just took on by lining up Michigan in a nonconference matchup. At a recent press conference, the Sooners coach talked through both sides of that equation, noting that games like that bring obvious challenges but also serve a purpose beyond the standings. For Oklahoma, they fit into a long-running habit of meeting top programs early, a tradition that still helps shape how the team is viewed and how it prepares.
Venables also acknowledged the larger landscape could make those heavyweight nonconference games harder to find if playoff structures change. Even so, he framed them as more than a scheduling choice, pointing to their importance in recruiting and in getting a team ready for the grind ahead. In a sport where some programs prefer to avoid risk, Oklahoma has continued to lean into it, and Venables appears intent on keeping that edge intact for as long as the format allows. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas New Portal Defenders Could Spark A Real 2026 Debate
Oklahoma spent part of the offseason reshaping its defense through the transfer portal, and four of the newcomers arriving with eligibility for 2026 are worth keeping on the radar. Defensive tackles Danny Saili and Braxton Fely, linebacker Jaydon Southard and cornerback DYoni Hill all bring different kinds of help to a unit that is already looking ahead to how its roster will be built in the coming seasons.
The interesting part is not just that the Sooners added depth, but where those additions could fit once 2026 gets here. Each player comes with a track record that gives Oklahoma more options across the front seven and in the secondary, and the temporary restraining order tied to their eligibility adds another layer to a roster picture that is still coming into focus. For a program that is always balancing immediate needs with long-term planning, this is the kind of portal haul that can quietly shape a future debate. [Read more 🡒]