Oklahoma’s backfield has a new name forcing its way into the conversation, and it isn’t one that came in with much fanfare. Lloyd Avant, a former Colorado State running back, is set to get his first shot in Crimson and Cream when the Sooners face UTEP on Friday at 7:00 p.m. CT on SECN+.
Avant’s college résumé so far is modest in the run game - 676 yards across two seasons with Colorado State and Tulsa - but his most visible production has come on special teams. He led the American Conference in average kick return yards at 28 and also brought one back for a touchdown. That had been the clearest expectation for him entering camp: a useful piece in the return game.
Instead, reports from practice have painted a different picture. Avant has pushed himself into the running back mix, and Brent Venables says the separator is simple.
"Incredibly consistent," Venables said." He's quiet.
He's tough. His play is really loud.
How he competes is really loud. He didn't miss anything, you know.
He's a model of consistency and a low-maintenance dude, and I love that."
That steady approach has reportedly made Avant one of Oklahoma’s biggest offseason risers. Running backs coach Deland McCullough has also singled out Avant’s consistency as a reason he has worked his way into the starting conversation.
For a Sooners offense that has been looking for more reliability, Avant’s rise adds another layer to a backfield that is expected to look considerably different in 2026. Oklahoma wants more out of its rushing attack, and that makes this development worth watching closely.
If Avant can turn practice momentum into production on Saturdays, the Sooners may already have uncovered one of their most useful offensive surprises before the season even really gets going.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Fans Need To See OUs Friday Game Day Traffic Plan
With the Sooners set to open the season on a Friday, the University of Oklahoma and Norman Public Schools have already taken the unusual step of closing in-person classes that day because of the traffic load expected around campus and the stadium. It is the kind of early warning that tells fans this is not just another home game arrival, but a full game-day exercise with the city, the university and local police all trying to keep traffic moving.
OU has also rolled out a new driving map and traffic protocols for the opener, giving fans a fresh look at how to get in and out around the stadium. Along with ticket prices for Oklahomas game against UTEP and the full 2026 football schedule, the message is clear: anyone heading to Norman that day will want to plan ahead and study the route before setting out. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma May Have Finally Found A Way To Unleash CJ Nickson
Oklahomas updated 2026 roster offered one of the more interesting personnel notes heading into the season opener: CJ Nickson is now listed at tight end. The move was first reported by SoonerScoop and then confirmed when the Sooners released their latest roster, giving the staff a new look at a player who arrived as a versatile four-star recruit out of Weatherford High School and spent his time in Norman as a defensive end.
Nickson has long been the kind of athlete who could fit in several places, with a prep rsum built on playing both sides of the ball. Now Oklahoma is giving him a clearer offensive home, and the switch at tight end suggests the program sees a path to using his size and skill set in a different way. The real question is how quickly that transition can turn into a meaningful role once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma May Need Omarion Robinson Sooner Than Fans Expected
The Sooners open their 2026 college football season against UTEP, and one of the quieter names to watch is second-year safety Omarion Robinson. After working mostly on special teams a year ago, Robinson is slated for a bigger backup role this fall, giving Oklahoma another option in a defensive backfield that will need dependable depth from the start.
Brent Venables has pointed to Robinsons growth this offseason, especially the confidence and consistency that have made him more noticeable in camp. For Oklahoma, that matters because the safety rotation can change quickly once the season starts, and Robinson may be asked to do more than fans expected before the schedule even settles in. [Read more 🡒]