Oklahoma’s first game week of the season is bringing a fresh wave of anticipation, and for a group of Sooners, Friday night means something even bigger: a first run through the Owen Field experience in uniform.
Twenty-five players listed on OU’s opening depth chart on offense and defense are set to make their debuts in Norman. For a few of them, the buzz isn’t just about the crowd or the setting. It’s about finally turning months of work into a real game against somebody else.
Florida transfer Hayden Hansen put that feeling into words on Sunday.
“No matter where you’re at, Florida, high school, Oklahoma - if you put in seven months of work, it’s a beautiful thing watching it all come together,” Florida transfer Hayden Hansen said on Sunday. “And (Brent) Venables has said it time and time again: we have all the pieces we need.
It’s on us to put it all together. We have what we need.
Our best is the best in the country. If we can go out there, starting with UTEP, go put it on, we’re going to have a good season ahead of us.”
Hansen also talked about how his view of Oklahoma has changed over time. He said he didn’t grow up knowing a ton about the program’s history, but once OU moved into the SEC, he started paying closer attention.
“I started hearing things about Oklahoma and obviously, Venables’ name always comes up,” Hansen said. “He’s one of the best coaches of all time.
You must be living under a rock if you haven’t heard about him. Over time, they moved to the SEC, at first, when they both moved, I was like, ‘Uh, let’s see how this works out.’
“Then Texas came in hot; then OU obviously last year made the playoff. So it’s been exciting to see that they’re kind of just a plug-and-play anywhere.
That’s kind of Venables’ whole identity. The secret’s in the dirt.
Spot the ball, predictions don’t matter, opinions don’t matter, we control and that’s kind of how they live life here.”
On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Bishop Thomas is ready for his first taste of a Norman game day too. The Georgia State transfer said the atmosphere itself is part of what makes Oklahoma different.
"The culture is just straight football, bro,” the Georgia State transfer said. “There's no NFL team here, so it's us.
We're the team that everybody grows up watching. You know, I'm not from Oklahoma, but I can assume if I was, I would have grown up watching Oklahoma ball.
“I mean, it says it in the name - 'Oklahoma drill.' I think this is what football is made from, honestly. Molded."
Center Caleb Nitta is also waiting for his chance, though his focus is a little more practical. With offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh sorting through injuries and minor setbacks, Nitta knows the lineup is still being shaped.
“I’m super excited,” Nitta said. “… I think Coach Bedenbaugh is going to put the best five out there, but if I'm able to get out there, then I'm excited.
You know, I have to be prepared and get ready to go and continue to improve every day. But I'm excited.”
OU’s opener comes with the national spotlight largely to itself on Friday, and Hansen said that matters when the Sooners step on the field against UTEP.
“There’s a standard we have to defend here, at all times,” he said. “No matter who’s in this stadium, we have to go out and attack. We have to put the OU brand in the spotlight and take care of business.”
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Oklahoma May Have Finally Found A Way To Unleash CJ Nickson
Oklahomas 2026 roster brought a notable update for CJ Nickson, who has officially been moved from defensive end to tight end ahead of the Sooners season opener. The position change, first reported by SoonerScoop and later confirmed by the teams updated roster, gives the former four-star recruit a fresh runway after arriving from Weatherford High School with a reputation for handling just about anything asked of him.
For Oklahoma, the move is a reminder of why Nickson drew attention as a prospect in the first place. He was known for playing multiple spots on both sides of the ball in high school, and the Sooners are now betting that versatility can translate into a more natural fit on offense. Whether the change unlocks his best role will be one of the more interesting subplots as the roster takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Fans Need To See OUs Friday Game Day Traffic Plan
With the Sooners opening the season at home, Norman is bracing for the kind of Friday traffic that can turn a game week into a logistics test. The University of Oklahoma and Norman Public Schools both announced in-person classes will be closed that day, and OU has rolled out a new game day driving map along with traffic protocols it developed with local police to help keep cars moving around the stadium.
For fans headed to Oklahoma vs. UTEP, the message is simple enough: plan ahead and pay attention to the updated routes before you leave. The schedule release and ticket information may have the spotlight for now, but the traffic plan is the part that could matter most to anyone trying to get in and out of town without losing half the afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Finally Gets A Real Elijah Thomas Test In The Opener
Elijah Thomas is in line for a much bigger stage when Oklahoma opens against UTEP, and it comes at a time when the Sooners have already had to adjust their receiver picture. Listed as a co-starter at X, Thomas is expected to make his first career start with Parker Livingstone in concussion protocol, giving Oklahoma an early look at one of its more intriguing young talents in a real game setting.
Thomas arrived as a highly rated recruit and drew attention during fall camp, but his freshman year has brought only limited snaps at receiver so far. The opener now offers the Sooners a clearer read on where he stands, and on whether the promise he flashed in camp can start showing up when the lights come on for real. [Read more 🡒]