RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThe Oklahoma Sooners need their offense to take a big step in 2026 if they want to go further than they did in 2025 with their College Football Playoff appearance. Quarterback John Mateer will be healthier, which will give the offense a boost. But what will make a bigger difference for the Sooners this season is the development of the Oklahoma offensive line.
The Sooners were young in 2025, and they struggled to run the football. They finished No. 113 in the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging just 118.5 rushing yards per game. By comparison, Missouri led the SEC with 228.3 rushing yards per game, which was No. 8 in the nation.
Despite some of the struggles a year ago, there's a buzz about the Sooners' offensive line heading into 2026. With five guys returning that started at least six games and the addition of E'Marion Harris from Arkansas, there's an expectation that this season will provide an offensive line that looks more like what's expected at the University of Oklahoma.
"I don't know if I'm any more proud of a certain position group or unit on our offense than the offensive line," Arbuckle said at OU's media day on Tuesday. "Just their consistency, their work ethic, their hunger to attack knowledge. It's been incredible to see."
The offensive line has earned rave reviews for the work they've put in this offseason to try and take a big step in their development. But in addition to the work, Oklahoma's no longer starting three freshmen along their offensive line as they did a year ago with Michael Fasusi, Eddy Pierre-Louis, and Ryan Fodje. And that's because those guys are now sophomores. The trio of freshmen did a lot of good things and went through the fire of the SEC and will now be better prepared for what to expect in 2026.
"The other thing that you know, again going back, it's it's a lot cooler whenever you know Michael Fasusi isn't a true freshman anymore," Arbuckle said. "He's a guy who's played a whole season. He has all these different experiences. Been through the ringer, you know, gotten beat, had some great victories. all that's out of the way now, and you can see it out there in his play and in his confidence."
Going from playing high school football, even 6A Texas football like Fasusi did, to the SEC is a huge jump in competition. Yet Fasusi and Oklahoma's other true freshman, Fodje, went through the fire and had a lot of really good moments along the way. Now they'll be better prepared for what to expect in 2026 with a year of experience under their belt and a second offseason in the strength and conditioning program.
But simply being a year older and with another year of experience doesn't automatically lead to development. Arbuckle says they've been putting in the necessary work to be better this year than they were a year ago.
"And he's just one example of a whole unit of guys that you just see coming back and really attacking the mindset of what we want to be on offense, attacking the physicality of what we want to be on offense," Arbuckle said. "And a lot of times leading from the front on the mindset and the standards that we want on offense. So couldn't be more proud of that group, and excited to watch them get to put helmet pads on and work their way into this 26th season."
How good the offensive line is in 2026 will, in a lot of ways, determine how far the Oklahoma Sooners can go this season. Given their schedule and the talented defensive fronts they'll face, Oklahoma needs its offensive front to be a force to help elevate the offense this season.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners offensive line 'attacking the physicality'
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