⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Eli Bowen enters 2026 healthy for the first time, has become a major locker-room leader and possesses the playmaking ability to produce a high interception total if he remains available. - Oklahoma's primary edge rotation is expected to feature Taylor Wein, PJ Adebawore, Danny Okoye and Wyatt Gilmore, with Okoye having gained experience when R Mason Thomas was injured.

- John Mateer is projected to lead every Oklahoma passing category and move closer to his 44-touchdown 2024 form after producing 22 total touchdowns in 2025, aided by another year in Ben Arbuckle's system and a healthier supporting cast. - Freshman running back Hatton is projected to overtake Lloyd Avant and Xavier Robinson as Oklahoma's rushing and touchdown leader because his 235-pound frame combines short-yardage value with explosive speed. - Virginia transfer receiver Harris is projected to lead Oklahoma in catches after returning from a limited offseason, while Isaiah Sategna remains the yardage favorite because of his established explosive-play role. - Wein is the safest projection to replace R Mason Thomas as Oklahoma's sack leader after recording seven sacks in 2025 and entering 2026 ahead of a deeper edge rotation. - Powers is projected to lead Oklahoma in tackles after moving into a full-time starting role at Cheetah, where he will play against the run, in coverage and near the line of scrimmage.

- Ryan Fodje will start at center against UTEP while Jake Maikkula recovers from a short-term knee injury, extending Fodje's preseason movement across right guard, left tackle and center. - True freshman Noah Best is listed as a co-starter with Heath Ozaeta at right guard after his consistency, strength, maturity and performance against top defenders made him one of Oklahoma's biggest preseason risers. - Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant and Xavier Robinson are co-starting running backs, with Robinson reestablishing himself as a leading playmaker after recovering from the calf strain that limited him in spring. - Hayden Hansen and Rocky Beers are listed as co-starting tight ends, a depth-chart signal that Oklahoma intends to use more 12-personnel packages with both transfers on the field. - Adepoju Adebawore and Danny Okoye remain co-starters at defensive end opposite Taylor Wein, and both are expected to hold significant edge roles regardless of who takes the first snap.

- Bishop Thomas earned a backup defensive-tackle role behind David Stone after progressing from spring difficulty with Oklahoma's complex defense to a trusted two-deep assignment. - Thomas supplies the reserve interior with 574 career snaps and 17 pressures from 2025, substantially more experience than Oklahoma's other non-starting defensive tackles. - Brent Venables said Thomas earned trust through disciplined execution of his role rather than freelancing, allowing the staff to tailor calls to the veteran's strengths.

- Oklahoma's projected 11 defensive starters all began their careers with the Sooners, and 16 of the other 28 players on the Week 1 defensive depth chart are in at least their third year in the system. - David Stone and Jayden Jackson are the expected starting defensive tackles, with Taylor Wein starting at one edge and Adepoju Adebawore or Danny Okoye competing opposite him. - Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke form Oklahoma's veteran inside-linebacker tandem, while Michigan transfer Cole Sullivan is listed at a new Sam position that can interchange with Cheetah. - Oklahoma's expected secondary starts Courtland Guillory and Eli Bowen at corner, Peyton Bowen and Michael Boganowski at safety, and Reggie Powers III at Cheetah. - The Sooners improved to seventh nationally in scoring defense at 15.5 points allowed per game and fourth in defensive SP+ last season, supporting another top-tier preseason projection for the experienced unit.

- DL: Oklahoma-bound DL Elija Harmon with the pressure on this pass attempt.