NORMAN - Oklahoma’s week-two spotlight is already shining straight at Ann Arbor, and Brent Venables didn’t waste much time Tuesday making it clear what stands out about the next challenge.
The No. 10 Sooners, fresh off a 51-0 win over UTEP, head to No.
16 Michigan for an 11 a.m. kickoff Saturday at Michigan Stadium on FOX. Before that trip, Venables and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle spent part of Tuesday’s media session talking about injuries, new faces, and a quarterback they know all too well.
On offense, the line remains the biggest moving part. Freshman Noah Best started at center against UTEP after injuries knocked sophomore Ryan Fodje and senior Jake Maikkula out of the lineup, and Arbuckle said getting both veterans back would matter in more ways than one.
"You can't put a value on you know what Jake Maikkula means to this football team," Arbuckle said. "Just the person that he is, the teammate that he is, and you know the player that he is (Maikkula) is awesome."
Arbuckle also pointed to Fodje’s flexibility, noting how much the Sooners like having a player who can move across the line and handle it without much drop-off.
"The kind of athlete that he is, just being able to flip from one side to the other, and you know, almost seamlessly make the transition there, just from a physical and athletic standpoint," Arbuckle said. "I think the challenges that come with that…I think Ryan has handled them beautifully."
If Maikkula and Fodje are back at full strength, Oklahoma still expects to lean on Best and senior Caleb Nitta as depth pieces.
The defensive conversation quickly turned to Cole Sullivan, the former Michigan linebacker who now finds himself preparing to face the school where he began his career. Sullivan had 48 tackles in maize and blue before transferring to OU in the offseason, and Venables said the junior keeps trending upward.
"The more he plays the better he gets," Venables said. “He's still a young guy, so he's going to be a pivotal piece to what we're doing and our success here.”
That defense already put together a shutout against UTEP, but Venables said the performance still left room for improvement. He liked the energy. He wanted more precision.
"Their hair was on fire; we just didn't play with the cleanliness and discipline that you have to play with," Venables said. "We were overly anxious and had a great, great effort. (We) just (have) to play a little cleaner."
Oklahoma should have more help this week, too. Multiple players who won temporary restraining orders from the NCAA to suit up in Sooner uniforms are expected to add depth, with senior defensive lineman Braxton Fely and Danny Saili leading that group.
"These are experienced guys that played a ton of football, and between their positions that they play and special teams, we feel like they'll be able to bring us experience (and) depth," Venables said.
Saturday also brings a notable first: Oklahoma will play Michigan at the “Big House” for the first time in program history. It’s a rematch of the Sooners’ 24-13 win a year ago, but the Wolverines now come with a different coaching setup after a full overhaul that included hiring former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Venables called the new staff a "championship pedigree staff", and he was complimentary of what that group brings to Michigan.
"I loved watching those guys play for all those years in Utah," Venables said. "The physicality, assuredness, the passion, the energy you can see, they have a great culture.
He also singled out second-year quarterback Bryce Underwood, who was limited to nine completions in the matchup against Oklahoma a year ago. Venables didn’t hesitate to put him among the sport’s elite talents.
"(Bryce is) one of the most talented players at any position in all of college football," Venables said. "All of his best days are still in front of him."
In Other News...
Oklahomas Backfield Picture Changed Faster Than Sooners Fans Expected
Oklahomas backfield has already taken on a different shape after the season opener against UTEP, with transfer Lloyd Avant quickly moving into the lead role. The Colorado State import gave the Sooners a steadier presence than many expected heading into the year, while Xavier Robinson and freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. were used sparingly as the staff sorted through options behind him.
Brent Venables also said Tory Blaylock could be back soon after sitting out Week 1 with a hamstring issue, which adds another layer to a rotation that still looks unsettled. For Oklahoma, the early takeaway is not just who carried the load in the opener, but how quickly that depth chart could keep shifting once the rest of the backs are fully available. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Gets O-Line Boost But One Worry Looms At Michigan
Oklahoma is trending toward getting some needed help up front just in time for a marquee trip to Michigan, with injured starters Jake Maikkula and Ryan Fodje both taking full reps in practice. For a team still trying to settle in along the offensive line, that kind of reinforcement matters, especially with a nonconference test that will demand cleaner protection and more stability than the Sooners have had at times early.
The one concern hanging over the group is left tackle Michael Fasusi, whose shoulder injury left his status uncertain after he did not practice fully. Oklahoma is even weighing the possibility of holding him out not just for this game, but for the next one as well, a sign the staff is thinking beyond one matchup and toward the conference stretch that follows. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Nagys Latest OU Adds Could Matter More Than Fans Realize
Jim Nagys latest work for Oklahoma has been a little different from the usual transfer-hunt hustle. The Sooners landed four additions in Danny Saili, Braxton Fely, DYoni Hill and Jaydon Southard after each gained eligibility through temporary restraining orders against the NCAA, and the common thread in all four cases is that they were part of legal efforts seeking a fifth year on the field. For Oklahoma, the move was less about chasing headlines than identifying players who could fit what the program needs while adding depth in spots the staff had already kept open.
Nagy said the evaluation went beyond talent, with cultural fit part of the equation and the roster construction done with intent rather than impulse. The bigger question now is how quickly, or even whether, those newcomers will be pushed into action once they settle in with the Sooners. For a team that has been willing to be patient with its approach, the next step is seeing which of these late additions becomes more than just a name on the summer board. [Read more 🡒]