Oklahoma will be without offensive lineman Ryan Fodje again this week, with the Sooners also carrying a handful of key injury questions into Saturday’s matchup with South Carolina.
Fodje, who got hurt in Oklahoma’s win over Kentucky, was ruled out for a second straight week on Wednesday’s initial SEC availability report. The Sooners also listed several players as questionable after injuries suffered against Mississippi State, including safety Peyton Bowen and center Jake Maikkula. Brent Venables said on his Monday coach’s show that Bowen “is good.”
If Maikkula can’t play, Oklahoma would likely turn to Western Kentucky transfer Caleb Nitta at center.
Linebacker Cole Sullivan, who left the Mississippi State game and did not return, is out. Defensive back Eli Bowen, who first appeared on the availability report ahead of the Texas game and has been out since, is questionable. Defensive back Reggie Powers III, who was banged up against the Bulldogs, is available.
Oklahoma hosts the Gamecocks at 3:15 p.m. Saturday at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on SEC Network.
Here’s the full report for the game:
Oklahoma
LB Taylor Heim: Out
DB Dakoda Fields: Out
WR Trell Harris: Out
LB Cole Sullivan: Out
TE Trynae Washington: Out
DB Jacobe Johnson: Out
OL Eddy Pierre-Louis: Out
OL Ryan Fodje: Out
WR Elijah Thomas: Doubtful
DB Peyton Bowen: Questionable
DB Eli Bowen: Questionable
OL Jake Maikkula: Questionable
OL Fred Hinton: Questionable
RB Xavier Robinson: Probable
OL Heath Ozaeta: Probable
South Carolina
WR Jayden Sellers: Out
EDGE Kobby Sakyi-Prah: Out
OL Josiah Thompson: Out
OL Dayne Arnett: Out
OL Seth Smith: Out
DB Quay'sheed Scott: Doubtful
RB Jawarn Howell: Doubtful
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Oklahoma Faces Another Injury Crunch Before South Carolina Test
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Several players have already been ruled out, including Eddy Pierre-Louis and Ryan Fodje, leaving the Sooners to sort through more lineup adjustments before a game that could test their depth early and often. However the final availability shakes out, this is the kind of week where Oklahoma's margin for error gets a little smaller and every healthy body matters a little more. [Read more 🡒]
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Lincoln Rileys USC Slide Now Highlights What Oklahoma Fans Knew
Lincoln Rileys USC tenure has reached another uneasy checkpoint, with the Trojans second loss of the season putting even more attention on an offense that was supposed to be the programs calling card. The criticism has centered on the run game, or lack of it, and on an offensive line that has struggled to create the kind of balance Riley teams were known for during his years at Oklahoma.
Joel Klatt pointed to USCs poor national standing in yards per carry as a sign the problems run deeper than a bad afternoon, and the schedule ahead only sharpens the concern. Even with talented running backs and Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, the Trojans are staring at a narrow path to the playoff, which is exactly the sort of pressure Oklahoma fans remember from the other side of Rileys coaching arc. [Read more 🡒]