After an unpredictable 2025 season that saw the Oklahoma Sooners go from 6-7 to 10-3 and in the College Football Playoff, anything is possible in 2026. Even the offseason since the season ended has been full of surprises between Transfer Portal chaos and coaching staff changes.
Regardless, with about seven months still left until the Sooners kick off against UTEP on Sept. 5 in Norman, it's never too early to start trying to boldly predict what could unfold during the 2026 season.
Trell Harris leads the Sooners in receiving yards
Even before the Sooners knew for sure they'd have top receiver Isaiah Sategna III back in 2026, they got Trell Haris from Virginia out of the Transfer Portal. Harris is coming off a season in which he earned Third-Team All-ACC honors after leading Virginia with 59 receptions and 847 receiving yards, plus caught five touchdowns, which was tied for the team lead. And, as he's done his entire career so far, those numbers should improve in 2026.
Defenses will focus on Sategna next season after what he accomplished in 2025, which will open up even more opportunity for Harris, who might even be more talented as a speedy, big-play receiver. Harris' ability and matchups will result in him being the Sooners' leader in receiving yards in 2026.
OU's coaching changes benefit the running game the most
Venables lost three assistants this offseason after firing tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley, and cornerbacks coach Jay Valai and running backs coach DeMarco Murray heading to the NFL. Murray's replacement hasn't been found yet, but the Sooners hired NFL great Jason Witten as their new tight ends coach.
After three portal additions, Witten has a more talented group of tight ends than Finley ever did. They all bring something to the passing game, but are also all major upgrades in blocking for the run game.
Whoever replaces Murray will have a potent returning backfield with Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock, but Murray failed to develop talent while at OU, so hopefully the next running backs coach is an upgrade in that area and can take the 1-2 punch of Robinson and Blaylock to the next level.
With upgrades all around, quarterback John Mateer has more weapons so the passing game will be better, but the biggest beneficiary of the offseason coaching changes will be the run game, which has struggled for multiple seasons.
Brent Venables has to replace Ben Arbuckle
Speaking of coaching changes, Venables will have do it again next year, too.
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was an early head coaching candidate in 2025 after getting the Sooners off to a hot start in his first season at OU. The offense was lackluster throughout SEC play, though, so the talks of Arbuckle getting a head coaching gig at only 30 were extinguished.
Like previously mentioned, though, the Sooners have upgrades all around the offense between returning starters and portal additions. Mateer, who was also Arbuckle's QB1 at his previous stop of Washington State, returns and will be healthy in his second time going up against SEC defenses. Mateer will have his favorite target back in Sategna, while OU also gave Mateer even more weapons from the portal with two great receivers and an entirely new tight end group. OU also returns four of five starters along the offensive line to block for Mateer and the Sooners' returning backfield duo of Robinson and Blaylock.
The Sooners' offense will reach a different gear in Year 2 under Arbuckle, which could not only lead to OU going back to the College Football Playoff, but other college football programs wanting to put Arbuckle in charge.