The Oklahoma Sooners released their first depth chart of the 2026 college football season on Monday, and although it answered a lot of offseason position questions, it still didn't all of them.
Just like every debut depth chart, no matter the program, there were some "ORs" scattered throughout the Sooners' two-deep before their season opener against UTEP at 7 p.m. CT Friday night in Norman. And some of those remaining questions still won't be answered Friday night.
Week 01 Depth Chart vs. UTEP pic.twitter.com/TaF1kEddpH
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) August 31, 2026
These are the three most glaring questions that still need to be answered, even after that first depth chart:
1. Who will actually lead OU's backfield?
Injuries and the offseason emergence of Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant suddenly turned the Sooners' running backs from an exclamation point to a question mark heading into fall camp.
With Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock coming back after after being a solid 1-2 punch in 2025, it was immediately assumed the Sooners' backfield would operate the same way again this season. But then, both missed spring camp with injuries, and while they were sidelined, Avant impressed enough for new running backs coach Deland McCullough to declare him as RB1 at the start of fall camp. There's also freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. in the mix after prompting a lot of offseason buzz.
The depth chart listed Avant or Robinson as the potential starter at running back, while Blaylock and Hatton were listed together with an "OR" below that as RB2. Other than Blaylock being hobbled most of the offseason, everyone else earned at least a shot to show what they can do in games. Blaylock deserves his chance, too, after leading the Sooners in rushing yards last season.
This running back depth chart mess isn't just to throw off opponents. The backfield pecking order likely won't get solidified until a few weeks into the season and could be any of these four.
2. Will experience or talent prevail at RG?
Ryan Fodje was the answer to the Sooners' most glaring need along the offensive line of replacing the injured Jake Maikkula at center, but Bill Bedenbaugh still doesn't have the entire front solidified yet.
With Fodje sliding over to center, OU created a new hole at right guard, where Fodje was initially expected to start. The depth chart had an "OR" between Heath Ozaeta and Noah Best as the starter at right guard to replace Fodje.
Ozaeta is the more experienced of the two players as a senior with 15 starts and 21 career appearances on his resume. If he gets the nod on Friday night, every player on OU's offensive line will have multiple starts under their belt.
Best was one of the biggest surprises of fall camp when he impressed after getting an opportunity with the starting unit because of some minor injuries to other players. Considering he's already at the same level as Ozaeta without a college snap yet, it's fair to assume Bedenbaugh sees more talent and potential in Best. Bedenbaugh has also proven he's not afraid to throw his young players to the wolves after starting three freshmen most of last season.
Both guys will likely get a lot of time on Friday night, and with an opponent like UTEP, both should also look solid. Bedenbaugh, though, will still need to use that as a final audition to decide who will start Week 2 against Michigan if Maikkula is still sidelined.
3. Who won the fall camp battle at DE between Adepoju Adebawore and Danny Okoye?
The biggest position battle on the defensive side of the ball was for the starting defensive end spot opposite of Taylor Wein. The battle would clearly be between Adepoju "PJ" Adebawore and Danny Okoye, but who would come out victorious was anyone's guess, and it apparently still hasn't been decided.
Adebaworea and Okoye had an "OR" between their names at right defensive end, which really wasn't a shock. Both players are proven backups who have been patiently waiting for their first career starts. Adebaworea is a former five-star recruit who still hasn't reached his potential heading into his senior campaign. Okoye is just as talented as a junior.
It doesn't matter who takes the field first Friday night, both players will likely rotate pretty evenly until one asserts his dominance. And with the way Brent Venables likes to rotate on the edge, there may never be the guy at the position all season.
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