Oklahoma’s offensive line has picked a clear slogan for fall camp, and it’s as blunt as it gets: run the ball.
That message has been repeated inside the room as the Sooners get ready for the 2026 season, with right tackle E'Marion Harris putting it plainly: "Everybody's coming in, day to day, just setting their mindset, like, 'We're going to run the damn ball,'" Harris said. "That's our No. 1 thing in the offensive line room - is running the damn ball."
It’s not hard to see why that has become the mission. Oklahoma spent last season trying to survive an offense that never got enough traction on the ground, and Brent Venables made no secret of how he felt about it. At one point, he called the run game "pathetic."
The numbers backed up the frustration. In 2025, Oklahoma finished 113th nationally in rushing yards per game at 118.46 and 118th in yards per carry at 3.54, making it one of the least efficient rushing teams in the country even while pushing for the College Football Playoff.
Inside the SEC, the Sooners were 13th in rushing yards per game and 14th in yards per carry. They also tied for 101st nationally and ranked 12th in the conference with 48 runs of 10 yards or more.
Those struggles helped drag down Oklahoma’s offense in its first season under coordinator Ben Arbuckle, which is why the line’s new mantra sounds less like a slogan and more like a direct answer to last year’s biggest problem.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Already Has A Fall Camp Concern Fans Will Feel Fast
Early in fall camp, the Sooners are already dealing with the kind of injury run that can complicate an entire preseason. Multiple players have been limited or kept out of practice as Oklahoma tries to build toward the season opener, and the absences have touched several spots on the roster, from the offensive line to running backs and even defensive backs.
The most immediate concern comes up front, where the team is trying to sort out depth and get everyone ready for live action. When injuries start piling up this early, every missed rep matters, and Oklahoma will be watching closely to see how quickly it can get its roster closer to full strength before the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Freshman Is Turning An Early Camp Concern Into Opportunity
Fall camp has given Oklahoma an early look at Noah Best, and the freshman offensive lineman has taken advantage of the opportunity. With the Sooners working through a few minor bumps up front, Best has been able to get reps with the starting group at right guard, giving the coaching staff a closer look at a young player who is already making himself part of the conversation.
The timing matters because depth on the offensive line is always one of the first things tested in August, and Oklahoma would rather sort out those questions now than later. The expectation is that the full starting unit will be healthy for the opener against UTEP, but Bests emergence has already turned a camp concern into a useful development for a line that can never have too many reliable options. [Read more 🡒]
EMarion Harris Just Offered A Telling Oklahoma Reality Check
EMarion Harris didnt take long to notice the difference after transferring from Arkansas to Oklahoma for his fifth season. The veteran lineman, who started 24 games with the Razorbacks, has settled into a new room and a new standard, and hes been quick to praise the daily effort around the Sooners as well as the talent he sees across the line of scrimmage in practice.
Harris is expected to step in at right tackle, which makes his adjustment especially important for Oklahoma as it reshapes its offensive front. For a player looking to sharpen his game in his final college stop, the appeal is obvious: a more demanding competitive environment, a higher level of resistance every day and teammates who seem to have matched the urgency he was looking for. [Read more 🡒]