Oklahoma’s injury list is already reshaping the Sooners before they even kick off against No. 2 Georgia on Saturday, and the availability report released Wednesday makes that clear.
Five OU players were ruled out for the SEC opener, and four of them would have been in the starting lineup if healthy. Starting defensive tackle David Stone is also listed as questionable.
That leaves Oklahoma trying to piece together a depth chart that is, at least for now, anything but settled.
At quarterback, there’s no real mystery. John Mateer remains the No. 1 option, with Whitt Newbauer behind him.
Even if some fans are itching for a change, the Sooners don’t have a backup who looks ready to force the issue. If the season really goes sideways, freshman Bowe Bentley could enter the conversation, or Newbauer could get a shot to show what he can do.
The backfield may be healthy, but it could still be the most volatile part of the offense after Week 3. Lloyd Avant sits atop the running back group, yet the pecking order behind him isn’t locked in.
Against New Mexico, freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. was the second Sooners back to touch the ball and finished with the second-most carries. He also missed some assignments, though, which could make Deland McCullough hesitant to lean on him too heavily in a road game like this one.
Tory Blaylock returned fully healthy last week, and that could push him into the RB2 role. Xavier Robinson, meanwhile, has gone from competing to be the top back to getting only two carries a week ago.
At receiver, Oklahoma is dealing with more uncertainty. Trell Harris might be out for the rest of the season, and Jer’Michael Carter, who is listed as questionable, could miss another game.
That puts more pressure on Elijah Thomas, who will need to help carry the load while Harris is sidelined. Mackenzie Alleyne should also see more snaps, and Manny Choice could be in the mix if Carter can’t go.
Isaiah Sategna III, meanwhile, is listed as the top option in the group.
Tight end is the one place where the Sooners’ offense still feels stable.
Up front, the problems continue. Michael Fasusi has already been ruled out, and Oklahoma has been forced into more shuffling along an offensive line that hasn’t been healthy all season.
Ryan Fodje is expected to slide in again at left tackle, even though he still hasn’t played his usual right guard spot this year. Freshman Noah Best is projected to start at right guard for the fourth time in his career.
The other possible change comes at left guard, where Eddy Pierre-Louis has been underwhelming. Heath Ozaeta could get the nod there as a veteran presence in a difficult road setting.
E’Marion Harris may eventually lose his hold on the right tackle job, but for now there isn’t an obvious alternative.
On defense, the biggest question is who steps in if Stone can’t play at defensive tackle. Trent Wilson, Braxton Fely, Bishop Thomas and Nigel Smith II are the realistic choices.
Wilson looks like the likeliest starter, though a rotation seems probable. Fely, who joined the roster shortly before the season as a 5-in-5 addition from Boise State, is also a candidate if he’s caught up enough to handle it.
There is some good news for Oklahoma at linebacker. Kip Lewis is expected back, which matters a lot for a defense still missing Cole Sullivan.
Even with Lewis in the mix, the Sooners remain thin. James Nesta should still play plenty, and Owen Heinecke might stay on the field for long stretches.
Reggie Powers III could also spend a lot of time in the cheetah role rather than Oklahoma adding another linebacker to the mix. At SAM linebacker, James Nesta and Jaydon Southard are the names to watch, while at WILL, Lewis is listed ahead of Nesta.
In the secondary, the Sooners are leaning on youth in a way that gets more alarming on the road against Georgia. With Michael Boganowski out, Omarion Robinson should start again at free safety.
At strong safety, Peyton Bowen is the starter, with Markel Ford behind him. The concern is obvious: Oklahoma’s safety depth depends heavily on freshmen, and that’s a tough place to be heading into this matchup.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Already Has A Georgia Problem And Fans Know Where It Hurts
Oklahomas first availability report for the 2026 season already brought a tough early test into sharper focus, and the matchup waiting next could hardly be less forgiving. Georgia is on deck, and the Sooners are dealing with a group that already includes at least five players expected to miss the game, among them four starters, which leaves the depth chart looking thinner than anyone would want this soon into the year.
Defensive tackle David Stone is the name Oklahoma fans will watch most closely after suffering a dislocated kneecap, though the good news is that there is no structural damage and he is pushing to play. Linebacker Kip Lewis is listed as probable, which helps, but the broader picture is still one of uncertainty around several key players, and that is the part that makes this one feel bigger than a single injury report. [Read more 🡒]
Reggie Powers III Is Giving Oklahoma Real Confidence Before Georgia
Reggie Powers III gave Oklahoma another reason to feel good about its defense in the win over New Mexico, turning a missed tackle into a third-quarter sack that helped swing momentum back the Sooners way. It was the kind of play that showed why Powers has settled in so quickly to his new starting role, with the defensive back already ranking near the top of the team in several key categories through three games.
Oklahomas defense has opened SEC play on a strong note, leading the conference in scoring defense and passing defense after three weeks, and Powers has become part of the reason for that confidence. With Georgia next, he stressed the need for the whole unit to keep working together, which is exactly the sort of message a young starter can amplify when the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Arbuckle Faces His Biggest Oklahoma Test Yet At Georgia
Oklahoma is heading into its toughest offensive proving ground yet, and Ben Arbuckle knows the challenge comes with extra pressure. The Sooners have struggled to find consistency on that side of the ball, and the trip to No. 2 Georgia arrives with the kind of spotlight that can expose every weak spot. For Arbuckle, the assignment is less about chasing a perfect game plan and more about finding a way to put his players in positions where they can settle in and play with confidence.
The line news only adds to the difficulty. Starting left tackle Michael Fasusi has been ruled out, leaving Ryan Fodje in line to step in, while freshman Noah Best is set to return to the lineup. Against a defense like Georgia's, the Sooners need cleaner execution and better comfort up front, and Arbuckle's emphasis on leaning into players' strengths will be tested from the opening drive onward. [Read more 🡒]