I'd say stop me if you've heard this before, but then I know I'd get interrupted. The Oklahoma Sooners will be shorthanded along the offensive line because of injuries this week.
There's usually some drama throughout the week about who could be healthy by Saturday, but OU already immediately ruled out Ryan Fodje and Eddy Pierre-Louis on Wednesday's initial availability report for the Sooners' Week 8 road trip to Mississippi State.
That likely won't be all the Sooners will be missing up front, as Michael Fasusi and Heath Ozaeta were listed as questionable. All four linemen listed on the availability report would start Saturday if healthy.
Other players OU will for sure be without against Mississippi State are linebacker Taylor Heim, receiver Trell Harris, tight end Trynae Washington, and cornerback Jacobe Johnson. Wide receivers Parker Livingstone and Elijah Thomas, running backs Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson, and cornerback Eli Bowen were also all listed as questionable.
It's also worth noting that Mississippi State starting quarterback Kamario Taylor was listed as questionable after being sidelined last week with turf toe.
Initial availability report ahead of Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State: pic.twitter.com/jr9cqW69gH
— Stormin In Norman (@StorminInNorman) October 22, 2026
Ryan Fodje and Eddy Pierre-Louis injury updates guarantee Oklahoma will need to shuffle offensive line once again
Injuries along the offensive line have been a frustrating storyline surrounding the Sooners, not just in 2026, but in the past three seasons. It does feel even worse than ever right now, though.
The Sooners are especially thin at offensive tackle heading into Week 8. Starting left tackleFasusi injured his shoulder during the first quarter of OU's season opener, and we haven't seen him on the field since.
Fodje, who would start at right guard if everyone were healthy, has filled in for Fasusi at left tackle in the past five games. He was injured late in the Sooners' loss to Kentucky. Fodje's injury made it clear how desperate OU is at the position, because even though Fodje was clearly hurt while hobbling around and getting beat, the Sooners still left him in for multiple series.
E'Marion Harris has started every game at right tackle this season since transferring from Arkansas, but he will likely have to go to the left side if Fasusi misses a sixth game in a row. Sophomore Peyton Joseph, who just made his first career start at right guard, would start again, but this time at tackle. Thankfully, Joseph is healthy, because he also exited the game during the final possession last week.
However, that only fills the Sooners' void on the exterior of the offensive line.
At guard, freshman Noah Best, who has surprised as the Sooners' most reliable lineman, will start in one of those spots as usual. Thank goodness Best stepped up early and has exceeded expectations as a former three-star recruit because, before fall camp, he was a reliable option the Sooners didn't know they would have.
If Ozaeta is out with Pierre-Louis again, then it could be sophomore Owen Hollenbeck getting his first start. Sophomore Sean Hutton, a former walk-on, is listed as the third-string left guard, but according to OU Daily, he left Wednesday's practice by ambulance after collapsing with a non-contact injury.
How or why all these injuries keep happening to the Sooners' offensive line is another discussion, but no matter what, it's something they have to deal with right now. It's clearly a hindrance to OU's success, which is only complicating the matchup against Mississippi State, too.
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