The Oklahoma Sooners have made significant additions this offseason, attacking the transfer portal to upgrade an offense that ranked No. 79 in scoring, averaging 26 points per game. Oklahoma added weapons to the passing attack in Trell Harris, Parker Livingstone, Hayden Hansen, Rocky Beers, and Lloyd Avant. And while the passing game needs to take a step this year, it’s the running game that needs to make the bigger leap.
Oklahoma’s rushing attack averaged only 118 yards per game. That was tied for 113th in the nation with Oklahoma State. Only two SEC teams were less effective than Oklahoma running the football: Alabama and LSU. The Sooners had just four games in which they ran for more than 150 yards, and only two of those came in SEC play. They averaged more than four yards per carry just five times in a game, three of which came in SEC play.
Advertisement
Although Oklahoma invested heavily in improving the passing game, strides in the running game this offseason will be the biggest factor in the Sooners’ offensive improvement.
It’s a critical offseason for the Oklahoma offensive line and running game. A unit that started two true freshmen in Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje, along with redshirt freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis, was young and not quite physical enough for the defenses they faced in Michigan and in their SEC schedule. But they can make strides this offseason to improve on that front.
This will be the second full offseason program for Fasusi, Fodje, Pierre-Louis, and starting center Jake Maikkula. Pierre-Louis didn’t join the Sooners until the summer before his true freshman season in 2024. Center Jake Maikkula didn’t get to Norman until last summer.
Some of it is simply youth. But as Oklahoma’s offensive line physically matures along with the addition of veteran SEC starter E’Marion Harris, the group has a chance to take their game to the next level with their work this offseason.
Advertisement
As Oklahoma began winter workouts on the first day of classes, this is a critical time for the offensive line to take a step. If they can get stronger, faster, and more explosive, it will help springboard the group into the type of unit that will be more effective running the football against SEC defenses next fall.
If Oklahoma can be more effective running the football, that will make the biggest difference to an offense that’s loaded with the talent to make a deep run in the College Football Playoff in 2026.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Offensive line physically maturing the biggest key to run game growth
