Paul Finebaum has seen enough from Oklahoma’s defense to change the way he talks about the Sooners.
The ESPN voice carries real weight in college football, and Oklahoma has given him reasons to swing from criticism to praise. The Sooners took their lumps in Year 1 of the SEC, finishing 6-7, but they answered with a 10-3 season in 2025 that put them back in a better light.
What really stood out to Finebaum was the unit on that side of the ball. Oklahoma finished No. 6 nationally in total defense last season and brings back a loaded group, including defensive linemen David Stone, Taylor Wein and Jayden Jackson, linebackers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke and defensive backs Eli and Peyton Bowen and Courtland Guillory.
At SEC media days, Finebaum said the Sooners’ defensive reputation has made him take a harder look at where this team could be headed.
"I think the conversation about the defense has opened my eyes a little bit," Finebaum said on WWLS The Sports Animal.
That defensive identity has been the centerpiece of Brent Venables’ work over the last four seasons, and the results are starting to show up on the field. With so much returning talent, Oklahoma has a group that can match up with just about anyone it sees in the SEC.
The final piece is the offense. If that side of the ball makes the jump Oklahoma needs, the defense could be the engine that carries the Sooners from playoff team to something even bigger: a real SEC and national title threat.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Just Got A Huge New Roster Question This Offseason
A federal judges latest ruling could create an unexpected layer of uncertainty around Oklahomas offseason roster, opening the door for some players to pursue a fifth college season even after exhausting four years of eligibility. The decision applies to athletes from the 2022 recruiting class and arrives despite the NCAAs planned five-in-five rule, which was not supposed to take effect until the 2027 recruiting class, giving programs across the country another potential round of roster movement to monitor.
For the Sooners, the issue is especially notable because several players on the 2025 roster could fall into that window and suddenly have a choice to make after the 2026 NFL Draft. If any of those players decide college is still the better move, Oklahoma could be dealing with a fresh wave of roster decisions well after the usual offseason business is supposed to be settled. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Enters Camp With One Huge Question Up Front
Fall camp is about to open for Oklahoma, and with Brent Venables heading into his fifth year, the Sooners still have a familiar source of intrigue up front. The defensive tackle room has been reshaped by NFL departures, graduation and transfers, but Jayden Jackson and David Stone are back as the anchors, giving Todd Bates at least a proven starting point in a unit that was among the better-regarded parts of the defense a year ago.
What comes next is the real test, because the Sooners need that group to hold up after losing so much experience. Oklahoma has blended in transfers and freshmen to help fill the gaps, and the early weeks of camp will go a long way toward showing whether the new-look interior line can match the standard the program expects, or whether this becomes the kind of spot that takes time to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas 2026 Offense Hinges On One Long Awaited Change
Fall camp has arrived in Norman, and with it comes a familiar offseason priority for the Sooners: making the run game and offensive line sturdier before the 2026 season gets underway. Oklahoma has spent the buildup adding experience on both fronts, bringing in offensive lineman EMarion Harris and running backs coach Deland McCullough as part of a broader push to add physicality and depth. The goal is clear enough, even if the work is just getting started, with the opener against UTEP serving as the first chance to see whether the changes are showing up where they matter most.
For Oklahoma, this is about more than just shoring up one phase of the offense. The Sooners have returning players mixed with new additions, and the challenge now is turning that blend into a line and backfield that can hold up over a full season. The identity they are chasing is a more dependable, more physical attack, and fall camp will reveal how close they are to getting it before the spotlight tightens in September. [Read more 🡒]