Oklahoma heads into 2026 with a lot to prove, and the run game sits right at the center of that conversation.
The Sooners made it back to the College Football Playoff in 2025, but they did it while leaning on a defense that carried a shaky offense. Oklahoma finished No. 92 in total offense and No. 113 in rushing offense, numbers that leave plenty of room for doubt as the new season approaches.
That’s why this offseason has been all about the ground game. Oklahoma has put a major emphasis on running the ball more efficiently, believing that a better rushing attack will make the offense far tougher to defend.
On3’s J.D. PicKell thinks that improvement is coming, and he pointed to new tight ends coach Jason Witten as a big reason.
"I don't believe it's going to be as bad as it was a year ago," PicKell said on 'The Hard Count.'" On one hand, it just can't be.
There's no way it can be as bad as it was a year ago. Last year was atrocious.
It was an embarrassment. You bring back (four) of your starting five offensive linemen.
You bring in E'Marion Harris, who allowed three sacks in 400 snaps at Arkansas... most importantly, you've got Jason Witten on your staff. He wasn't there last year...
Jason Witten walks into a room and… changes the overall intensity, intentionality, feeling like he is a guy. He walks in there, and you know it's time to go."
There’s real reason to expect the offensive line to be better simply because so much of it is back. Oklahoma returns four of five starters, including three young linemen who logged meaningful snaps as freshmen last season.
The Sooners also added E'Marion Harris, giving Bill Bedenbaugh another experienced piece up front. With that kind of returning production and added depth, Oklahoma has a sturdier base to build on in the run game.
Still, the line can’t do everything by itself. The tight ends matter too, and that room has been a problem in the blocking game over the last couple of seasons.
That’s what made the Witten hire such an important move. A coach with his background brings credibility, and the Sooners are clearly betting that his presence can help unlock a more complete, more dangerous offense.
In Other News...
John Mateer Suddenly Puts Oklahoma In An Unwanted Spotlight
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Mateer has already denied ever participating in sports gambling, but the online chatter has only added to the intrigue around the situation. For Oklahoma, the issue is as much about managing the noise as it is about the substance of the allegations, with the school now waiting for the investigation to play out before there is any clearer picture of where things stand. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Backfield Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Didnt Expect
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Avant arrived after stops at Colorado State and Tulsa, and his ability to help on special teams adds another layer to his case. For Oklahoma, the interest is not just in whether he can carve out a role, but whether his camp performance can help steady a rushing attack that is still looking for the right combination in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma May Be Getting A Different Parker Livingstone This Season
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Since joining the Sooners, Livingstone has spent his time working closely with the coaching staff and quarterbacks to get comfortable in the system and build those relationships that matter once the games start counting. He says he feels more confident in his abilities now, and more at home in the Oklahoma offense, which is exactly the kind of late-summer development that can turn a transfer from a roster addition into something more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]