Even though Oklahoma's entire starting defense and even most of the offense seemed to be figured out already all offseason, the Sooners' first depth chart of the 2026 college football season still didn't lack surprises.
Week 01 Depth Chart vs. UTEP pic.twitter.com/TaF1kEddpH
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) August 31, 2026
The first two-deep answered that Ryan Fodje will start at center and also left a few more questions still unanswered, but even all that was expected. Here are three things we didn't expect to see on the depth chart, though:
Elijah Thomas challenging Parker Livingstone to start at WR
It was another fall camp of hype for sophomore Elijah Thomas, but maybe this season, he actually will see the field as a receiver, unlike the last. Thomas was listed with Texas transfer Parker Livingstone as a co-starter at X. It was the only receiver spot with an "OR," as Isaiah Sategna is the sole starter at H and Virginia transfer Trell Harris at Z.
Livingstone was expected to immediately take over one of the three starting receiver roles alongside Sategna and Harris after being a massive transfer addition. Apparently, though, that's still TBD. Hopefully it's because Thomas has been so impressive, not because Livingstone has been underwhelming.
Regardless, even if Livingstone does take over as expected, this means Thomas is still next in line and will for sure have more production than he did last season, when he recorded just one five-yard catch as a freshman.
Deacon Schmitt quietly earned a spot in OL rotation
With fellow classmate and position mate Noah Best garnering all the headlines, freshman offensive lineman Deacon Schmitt flew under the radar. Schmitt apparently impressed enough during his first fall camp to quietly earn a backup role at right tackle behind Arkansas transfer E'Marion Harris. Junior transfer Fred Hinton was listed as the third-string and was expected to be the backup.
Even though Best drew all the attention, he and Schmitt still might end up in similar backup roles, with Best currently having "OR" next to his name with Heath Ozaeta to start at right guard. The Sooners started two true freshmen up front last season, so another pair immediately being ready to go speaks volumes to the way offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has been recruiting the last few cycles.
OU depth chart includes 12 defensive positions
It probably feels like to opposing offenses at times that Venables sends out 12 guys on his defense, but now his system apparently really does have 12 positions. The Sooners' depth chart had 12 defensive positions listed with the addition of SAM linebacker. Usually, Venables' hybrid cheetah position replaces SAM on the depth chart, but for the start of 2026, both are listed.
This is no different than when coaches also include an extra position that depends on particular formations, such as nickelback. This is the first time, though, that Venables has put both positions since cheetah is a staple in his defensive system and is always on the field. However, what type of player lines up at cheetah certainly varies based on situation, whether Venables wants another defensive back or extra pass rusher.
Michigan transfer Cole Sullivan likely prompted this new addition. He was expected to immediately start at linebacker after he transferred, but then Owen Heinecke gained another season and took back his starting role at MIKE. Now, Sullivan is listed as the starter at SAM and isn't listed under cheetah at all despite practicing there throughout fall camp. It looks like Sullivan will be out there as a SAM when it would used to still be considered a cheetah.
Starting at cheetah was Reggie Powers III, a natural safety, followed by Jeremiah Newcombe or LeBron Bauer. Junior James Nesta was listed as the backup at both SAM and WILL.
This likely won't be a change fans notice on Friday night, but was still attention-grabbing on the depth chart.
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