As the dust settles on a 10-2 regular season and a trip to the College Football Playoff, Oklahoma fans are riding high-but they also know the reality of the modern college football landscape. The days of penciling in returning starters and building continuity year over year?
Those are long gone. Between the NFL Draft and the ever-churning Transfer Portal, roster turnover is no longer the exception-it's the norm.
That’s why, as the Sooners look ahead to 2026, the focus shifts from celebrating 2025 to preserving the core of what made this team special. If Oklahoma wants to not only return to the Playoff but make a deeper run, keeping key pieces intact is priority No.
- Let’s break down the players the Sooners absolutely need to retain if they want to take that next step.
Tory Blaylock, RB - The Ground Game’s Future
Tory Blaylock wasn’t just a pleasant surprise in his freshman campaign-he was a breakout waiting to happen. Despite entering a crowded backfield, Blaylock led the Sooners with 480 rushing yards on 120 carries, finding the end zone four times. That’s solid production, but the real value lies in his trajectory.
Blaylock showed flashes of being the kind of every-down back Oklahoma hasn’t had in recent years. He’s got the vision, the burst, and the toughness to be a game-changer-especially if the Sooners can bring back the young offensive line that helped pave the way. Pairing Blaylock with fellow rising star Xavier Robinson again in 2026 could finally give OU the consistent running threat they’ve lacked.
But if either back bolts, Oklahoma may find itself in the all-too-familiar position of overpaying in the portal for a running back who doesn’t move the needle. The chemistry and upside with Blaylock are already there-this is a player worth building around.
Michael Fasusi & Ryan Fodje, OT - The Foundation Up Front
You can’t talk about Oklahoma’s offensive potential without mentioning the bookends of the line. Freshmen tackles Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje stepped into starting roles and didn’t just hold their own-they thrived. These two aren’t just promising-they’re rare talents who already have a full season of experience in Ben Arbuckle’s system under their belts.
In today’s college football, finding offensive tackles with both upside and experience is like striking gold. If either Fasusi or Fodje were to hit the portal, replacing them wouldn’t just be difficult-it might be impossible.
These are cornerstone players, the kind you build an offense around. Keeping them in Norman is essential to protecting whoever lines up under center next fall-and to unlocking the full potential of the run game.
John Mateer, QB - The Most Polarizing Piece
Let’s be honest-this one’s going to stir debate in Norman.
John Mateer’s 2025 season was a rollercoaster. He started the year as a Heisman frontrunner before injuries and inconsistency crept in late.
But here’s the thing: even at his lowest, Mateer kept the Sooners in Playoff contention. That’s not nothing.
Some fans are hoping for a fresh start at quarterback, maybe even a splashy portal addition. But when you look at the full picture, Mateer might be the most stable option heading into 2026. He knows Arbuckle’s system inside and out, and with a full offseason to get healthy, there’s every reason to believe he can bounce back.
If Mateer does move on, Oklahoma’s options get murky. Michael Hawkins Jr. could be a candidate, but he’s also a transfer risk. True freshman Bowe Bentley has all the tools, but expecting him to lead a Playoff-caliber team in Year 1 is asking a lot.
That leaves the portal-and the price tag for a top-tier QB this cycle? Reports say $4-5 million.
That’s a massive investment for someone who may not even be a clear upgrade. The smarter play might be to use that money to build around Mateer-add weapons, shore up the line, and trust a quarterback who’s already proven he can win.
Tate Sandell, K - The Unsung Hero
Specialists don’t always get the love they deserve, but Tate Sandell made sure fans knew his name in 2025.
Sandell accounted for 101 of Oklahoma’s 317 points during the regular season-nearly a third of the team’s total output. That kind of production earned him the Lou Groza Award and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year honors. And while his College Football Playoff performance wasn’t his finest moment, there’s no denying how critical he was to the Sooners’ success.
He’s got one year of eligibility left, with options to either go pro or explore the portal. But if Oklahoma can convince him to stay, they’ll retain one of the most reliable legs in the country-and a major weapon in close games.
Isaiah Sategna III, WR - Speed That Changes Games
If Isaiah Sategna III stays in Norman, the Sooners might just have the fastest player in the SEC-and that’s not hyperbole.
Sategna brought instant explosiveness to the Sooners’ offense and special teams after arriving via the portal. His ability to stretch the field vertically, create separation, and flip field position as a punt returner made him one of the most dynamic players on the roster.
With Oklahoma’s history of struggling to retain and reload at wide receiver, keeping Sategna is absolutely critical-especially if Mateer returns. The chemistry between the two was just starting to click, and with another offseason together, Sategna could emerge as one of the conference’s most dangerous weapons.
He’s not just a wide receiver-he’s a game-breaker. And in a league where speed kills, Sategna is the kind of player who can single-handedly tilt the field.
The Bottom Line
The Sooners have a golden opportunity to build on a strong 2025 campaign-but only if they can hold onto the core that got them there. From the trenches to the skill positions to special teams, Oklahoma has the pieces to make another Playoff run-and maybe even push further.
But in today’s college football, continuity doesn’t come easy. The portal giveth, and the portal taketh away. That’s why keeping guys like Blaylock, Fasusi, Fodje, Mateer, Sandell, and Sategna isn’t just about roster management-it’s about championship aspirations.
Oklahoma’s ceiling in 2026 will be defined not by who they add-but by who they keep.