Oklahoma’s first official depth chart of the 2026 season answers a few of the biggest camp questions before Friday’s 7 p.m. opener against UTEP - and the clearest answer comes up front.
With projected starter Jake Maikkula unavailable to begin the year, the Sooners are turning to Ryan Fodje at center against the Miners. Fodje, a former four-star and top 10 offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class, started six games as a true freshman last season and spent time helping Oklahoma at both guard and center.
He entered camp expected to open at right guard, then moved to left tackle while Michael Fasusi was limited by injury. That shuffle opened the door for true freshman Noah Best to get work at right guard, and Best now sits as an “or” starter with veteran Heath Ozaeta.
The rest of the offensive line is set for Week 1: Fasusi at left tackle, Eddy Pierre-Louis at left guard, Fodje at center, and E’Marion Harris at right tackle. It’s a veteran-looking group, and Oklahoma is clearly counting on that stability to shape the offense early.
There’s also movement at receiver, where Elijah Thomas has pushed his way into the conversation. The preseason expectation had Trell Harris, Isaiah Sategna and Parker Livingstone as the top three, but Thomas has earned a chance to carve out real snaps and possibly crack the starting lineup.
A four-star prospect in the 2025 class, Thomas brings the kind of outside explosiveness that can flip a game in one touch. Brent Venables already praised him last season for his work on special teams, and now he’s positioned for a bigger offensive role.
Up front on defense, the Sooners still have a decision to make. Adepoju Adebawore and Danny Okoye are both expected to play major roles after the departures of R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones, Jr., and the depth chart doesn’t make the start-or-not-start question feel especially important. Oklahoma plans to rotate four defensive ends, so both players should be involved regardless of who gets the first snap.
In the backfield, Oklahoma is going with a shared approach from the jump. Xavier Robinson and Lloyd Avant are listed as co-starters, and both bring different things to the table.
Avant drew offseason praise for his consistency and his ability to create plays. Robinson has already delivered big games over his first two seasons, though health has been an issue.
The split should be defined by situation: Avant likely handles most of the third-down work, while Robinson gets the short-yardage and goal-line carries.
True freshman Jonathan Hatton is also expected to mix in with the first-team offense as Oklahoma looks to take advantage of his size and speed. Tory Blaylock could join the mix too once he’s fully healthy, but with Avant and Robinson at the top of the chart, the Sooners don’t need to rush him.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Fans Need To See OUs Friday Game Day Traffic Plan
With the Sooners set to open the season on a Friday, the University of Oklahoma and Norman Public Schools have already taken the unusual step of closing in-person classes that day because of the traffic load expected around campus and the stadium. It is the kind of early warning that tells fans this is not just another home game arrival, but a full game-day exercise with the city, the university and local police all trying to keep traffic moving.
OU has also rolled out a new driving map and traffic protocols for the opener, giving fans a fresh look at how to get in and out around the stadium. Along with ticket prices for Oklahomas game against UTEP and the full 2026 football schedule, the message is clear: anyone heading to Norman that day will want to plan ahead and study the route before setting out. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma May Have Finally Found A Way To Unleash CJ Nickson
Oklahomas updated 2026 roster offered one of the more interesting personnel notes heading into the season opener: CJ Nickson is now listed at tight end. The move was first reported by SoonerScoop and then confirmed when the Sooners released their latest roster, giving the staff a new look at a player who arrived as a versatile four-star recruit out of Weatherford High School and spent his time in Norman as a defensive end.
Nickson has long been the kind of athlete who could fit in several places, with a prep rsum built on playing both sides of the ball. Now Oklahoma is giving him a clearer offensive home, and the switch at tight end suggests the program sees a path to using his size and skill set in a different way. The real question is how quickly that transition can turn into a meaningful role once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma May Need Omarion Robinson Sooner Than Fans Expected
The Sooners open their 2026 college football season against UTEP, and one of the quieter names to watch is second-year safety Omarion Robinson. After working mostly on special teams a year ago, Robinson is slated for a bigger backup role this fall, giving Oklahoma another option in a defensive backfield that will need dependable depth from the start.
Brent Venables has pointed to Robinsons growth this offseason, especially the confidence and consistency that have made him more noticeable in camp. For Oklahoma, that matters because the safety rotation can change quickly once the season starts, and Robinson may be asked to do more than fans expected before the schedule even settles in. [Read more 🡒]