Michael Fasusi's looming absence could doom Oklahoma against Texas' top-5 pass rush

With starting left tackle Michael Fasusi in doubt, there's now no doubt at all that the Oklahoma Sooners' offensive line will be overmatched against the Texas Longhorns' pass rush this weekend.

The initial SEC availability report was released Wednesday evening ahead of the Red River Rivalry at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. There were a few surprises and even more "of courses," but the biggest letdown was seeing Fasusi's name under "doubtful," which means fans should expect him to be out for the fourth game in a row after injuring his shoulder in the first quarter of the season opener.

That was on track with an earlier report from CBS Sports national college football senior report Matt Zenitz, who posted that "It's considered more likely than not" that Fasusi will be unavailable against Texas.

Sooners will be shorthanded while trying to stop Colin Simmons in Red River Rivalry

Texas will be the best pass rush the Sooners have faced yet this season, and as if that already didn't spell doom for them, OU could also be down starting left guard Eddy Pierre-Louis, who was listed as questionable. A questionable status gives a player a 50% chance of playing that week.

Tight end Jack Van Dorselaer was also listed as questionable. He's behind Hayden Hansen and Rocky Beers on the depth chart, but he still gets a lot of meaningful playing time, especially if the Sooners decide to use more 12- or 13-personnel again after the bye week to adjust.

Van Dorselaer being out would make the Sooners extremely thin at the position, with tight end Trynae Washington also listed as doubtful.

Other names on the availability report included linebacker Taylor Heim, wide receiver Trell Harris, running back Xavier Robinson, and cornerback Jacobe Johnson, all already considered out. Johnson was injured in the game against Georgia, but Robinson was a surprise addition after getting fewer carries in the last two games, as freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. has emerged as RB2.

Offensive lineman Fred Hinton is doubtful, while wide receiver Jer'Michael Carter, linebacker Cole Sullivan, and safety Michael Boganowski are all questionable. Linebacker Owen Heinecke is probable.

That group includes 10 players who would be starters or at least major contributors if healthy, but the potential absences on the offensive line will definitely be the most consequential in the Red River Rivalry.

Texas is ranked fourth in FBS, averaging 3.75 sacks per game with 15 total. Edge rusher Colin Simmons leads the group with 7.5 sacks, which is the second most in the country. In his last outing against Tennessee, Simmons set the Texas single-game sack record with 5.5, plus a career-high nine tackles.

OU head coach Brent Venables said that Simmons should be the first defensive player selected in the next NFL Draft, and not many people know defensive talent better than Venables.

On the other side, the Sooners are so bad up front that Venables called the offensive line's development "very disappointing" during this week's press conference. According to PFF, OU's offensive line ranks No. 120 in pass blocking among 138 FBS teams. The unit has given up nine sacks so far this season, but that doesn't tell the whole story of how much pressure quarterback John Mateer is consistently under.

The only real hope the Sooners had for their offensive line to all of a sudden get better was to return Fasusi. He's the best OU has to line up across from Simmons. That also likely could have put Ryan Fodje at right tackle to replace E'Marion Harris, who has struggled, but there's no one better behind him right now with Fodje on the left side.

With the latest update, it's not only looking like the Sooners will be without Fasusi, but also maybe the entire left side of the line if Pierre-Louis can't go. If that's the case, then don't expect Mateer or OU's running game to also look any better against Texas behind a makeshift line that has been struggling against much weaker competition.

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