Sooners could face nightmare offensive line crisis before Auburn clash

The Oklahoma Sooners’ first SEC availability report of 2025 was not a fun read for OU fans, but it was almost a novel.

OU’s first availability report of the season and week was released Wednesday evening ahead of the No. 11 Sooners’ SEC opener against the No. 22 Auburn Tigers at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Norman. The report was made up of four players out, two doubtful, six questionable and three probable, including seven offensive linemen who are either out already or questionable for Saturday.

Auburn also had a few key players included on its half of the report.

First SEC availability report released ahead of Oklahoma vs. Auburn

The Sooners will for sure be without three offensive linemen in center Troy Everett, tackle Jacob Sexton and tackle Jake Taylor. Everett and Sexton started Week 1, but Sexton was injured on the sixth play of the season opener and hasn’t seen the field since.

OU head coach Brent Venables also announced Tuesday that Everett will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury. Stanford transfer Jake Maikkula has taken over the center spot since and has been outstanding, but he’s listed as questionable. If Maikkula is ultimately out, that leaves only true freshman Owen Hollenbeck, who is probable, to make his first start in OU’s SEC opener.

Left tackle Michael Fasusi and right guard Febechi Nwaiwu are also questionable. Both would likely start if healthy.

Fasusi, the highest-rated recruit in OU’s 2025 class, was also out Week 1 before starting Week 2, then also missed last week against Temple. Fasusi was battling with Sexton for the starting left tackle spot during fall camp, but last week with both hurt, Logan Howland got the nod there.

Nwaiwu is arguably the Sooners’ best offensive lineman and the only one who didn’t really battle for his job during fall camp. His backup on the depth chart is highly touted freshman Ryan Fodje.

There’s a possibility the Sooners could start three freshmen on the offensive line in their SEC opener.

The Sooners could also be thin on the other side of the trenches if defensive end Marvin Jones Jr.’s status doesn’t improve. OU will already be without other starting defensive end R Mason Thomas for the first half because of a targeting call last week. However, it at least looks like Danny Okoye will be back to fill one of those spots.

After all that bad news, some good news is that wide receiver Keontez Lewis is probable after taking a big hit against Temple in the second quarter and not returning.

The Tigers aren’t in the clear either, though. Auburn also has top wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. questionable.

Updated SEC availability reports will be released each day until just before kickoff on Saturday.

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