Oklahoma walks into Friday’s opener with a chance to put its offseason talk on the field, and the biggest question is whether a revamped rushing attack can look as different in a game as it has sounded all summer.
Brent Venables made the ground game a point of emphasis after a year in which the Sooners ranked 113th nationally at 118.5 rushing yards per game. Since then, Oklahoma has added pieces and reshaped the approach, and the people inside the program are sounding plenty confident about what comes next.
“It's not talk at all,” sophomore offensive lineman Ryan Fodje said on Sunday. “We are going to run the ball this year and that is a fact.”
That belief is being backed by personnel changes. Oklahoma brought in experienced right tackle E’Marion Harris and three new tight ends, all with the goal of helping the offense lean into a more physical identity at the line of scrimmage.
“We've got a lot of new schemes. A lot of everything going in,” Fodje said.
“It's awesome. I can't wait.
I can't wait.”
The optimism started building in spring football and, according to new tight end Hayden Hansen, never really cooled off once fall camp began. Hansen said the attitude in the run game has stayed aggressive, and he believes the group is ready to handle whatever personnel package is called.
“It’s a beautiful thing, man. I know I touched on it in the spring.
It continued in fall camp. Just the pure aggression in the running game,” Hansen said.
“I take a lot of pride in that. I knew walking in these doors, that’s a big reason I was brought here.
Obviously, game-to-game is going to be different, but we know 12 personnel, 13 personnel, 11 personnel, whatever number’s called, we’re ready to go out there and pound the rock.”
The Sooners will also have quarterback John Mateer under center more often, while the backfield features veteran Xavier Robinson, Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant and 235-pound freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr.
Up front, five offensive linemen return from last season’s group, giving Bill Bedenbaugh a familiar base to work with alongside Harris and freshman Noah Best.
For Hansen, the most important part has been how quickly the group has clicked.
“The key is playing-together experience. You can’t beat that,” Hansen said.
“Especially with E (Harris) coming in from Arkansas, we’ve really hit it off. Our chemistry is top-notch.
Communication’s been really good. I kind of have a feel for what he sees.
He can play really fast. That really ignites the run game.
(Michael) Fasusi obviously is just a freak. I love playing with that guy.
… Brings the energy all the time. We all feed off of him.”
The change hasn’t gone unnoticed on the other side of the ball. OU defensive tackle David Stone said the difference shows up in practice, especially in the way the offensive line is finishing blocks and moving as one unit.
“I’m right there in the action, and I can feel it,” Stone said. “Like, I feel the difference in the pad level of the O-line, the way they come off the ball and they come downhill.
I’m like, ‘OK, this is completely different.’ I can feel the thump of the guys and how they move together and make combo blocks, climb to the next level.”
Friday against UTEP won’t settle everything, and Oklahoma’s offense knows a strong showing on the ground is only the beginning. Still, it is the first live test for a unit that has spent eight months talking about change and is now eager to show it.
“I’m ready for it. We're going to get after them,” Fodje said.
“They're a good team. They have good players.
You have to respect the opponent, you know what I'm saying, but it's going to be fun playing someone else.”
In Other News...
Oklahoma Just Rewarded Five Under-The-Radar Sooners Before The Opener
Ahead of the 2026 season opener, Oklahoma made one of those quiet but meaningful roster moves that says plenty about a programs internal culture. The Sooners awarded scholarships to five walk-ons, giving well-earned recognition to offensive linemen Sean Hutton and Kenneth Wermy, defensive back Casen Calmus, wide receiver Trey Brown and kicker Liam Evans. A few of them were already showing up on the initial depth chart, which made the decision feel less like a formality and more like a nod to players who have already pushed their way into the conversation.
For a team trying to sharpen its identity before the games begin, these kinds of moves matter because they reinforce the standard inside the building. Walk-ons rarely get the spotlight, but they often set the tone in practice, on special teams and in the kind of depth work every season eventually demands. Oklahomas decision leaves no doubt that these five have earned real trust, and it also adds another layer of intrigue to how the Sooners roster will sort itself out once the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Injury Pileup Is Hitting Two Crucial Spots Early
Oklahomas early camp health picture keeps getting murkier, and two more important names have now landed on the sideline at key spots. Replacement starting center Ryan Fodje is out for at least the season opener against UTEP after a knee injury, while projected starting wide receiver Parker Livingstone is in concussion protocol and still not certain to be available when the Sooners open the season.
For a team already dealing with a growing list of players sidelined before the first game, the timing is especially frustrating because both losses hit areas where continuity matters immediately. Center is one of the most important jobs on the field, and Oklahoma was counting on Livingstone to be part of the receiving mix from the start, so the coming days will help determine how much reshuffling the Sooners need before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Just Got A Jordan Brand Flex Fans Will Envy
The Sooners got a little extra shine this week when the program received the upcoming Air Jordan 9 Space Jam colorway before it officially hits stores. It is the kind of early sneaker flex that tends to land well in a football facility, especially with a Friday night matchup against UTEP giving the team a chance to wear them right away.
Oklahoma will lace up the shoes for that game, adding a bit of Jordan Brand buzz to an otherwise straightforward nonconference week. For fans who have been eyeing the release, the wait is not long, with the pair scheduled to arrive on September 19 through the Nike SNKRS app and select retailers. [Read more 🡒]