The Oklahoma Sooners' running game, or lack of, has been the biggest frustration of fans the past few seasons, and although OU has done just about everything to ease that headache this offseason, OU insider and former linebacker Teddy Lehman still isn't buying it until he sees proof.
Lehman during his podcast, "The Oklahoma Breakdown," this week was asked by co-host Gabe Ikard what he believed the Sooners' biggest weakness will be in 2026, and until proven otherwise, Lehman made it clear that he thinks it will still be the same it has been.
Teddy Lehman like many OU fans still doubting Sooners' run game until change is proven
"I guess, until we see it in the fall, until we can run the ball on Michigan, run the ball on Georgia, Texas, you still have to say that the run game is, has been, a weakness," Lehman said. "I think we've done a lot of great things to address it -- the tight end room, the O-line, the running back room, philosophy and kind of what we've changed over the offseason, some of the schematic things that we're doing.
"We've done everything possible to address it, but until we see it, it has been a weakness of this football team."
What is OU's "biggest weakness" heading into the 2026 season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/AaJlvLOPvJ
— The Oklahoma Breakdown with Ikard and Lehman (@OK_Breakdown) April 30, 2026
The running game was the obvious issue that OU head coach Brent Venables had to address over the offseason, and give him credit, he's really done all he could do. First, tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley was fired and replaced by Jason Witten, who has led a complete overhaul at the position that has emphasized improving the ground game.
Read more: Hayden Hansen ignites real hope for Oklahoma run game revival
It wasn't a forced move, but the Sooners also had a change at running backs coach, which many fans had clammored for. DeMarco Murray left for the same position with the Kansas City Chiefs before being replaced by Deland McCullough, who immediately seemed like an upgrade for the Sooners.
The Sooners also have the returning personnel to pair with all that new tight end talent to reach a new level in 2026. OU returns both young running backs from last year in Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock. There's also four returning starters along the offensive line, with the addition of Arkansas transfer E'Marion Harris. Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle will lead all that after a year of experience in the SEC.
There's certainly plenty of reason for OU fans to be optimistic about the Sooners' run game in 2026, but many are also probably like Lehman, where seeing is believing.
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