Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy didn't have a very long shopping list for the Transfer Portal, but then the end of 2025 came.
The Sooners on New Year's Eve had 11 players reveal plans to enter the Transfer Portal once it officially opens on Friday, escalating OU's total portal departures to 21. Wednesday's future transfers included more than one player at multiple positions, including offensive lineman, wide receiver and cornerback. So far, none of the Sooners' losses were solidified starters, but OU has plenty of holes to fill behind the starting 11 on both sides of the ball.
After a day of true portal chaos, it's now more known than ever what Nagy should be after in the portal to fill the Sooners' needs once he can officially start hunting on Friday.
Offensive line depth
The Sooners should return four of five solidified starters from this season, but with six offensive linemen currently expected to transfer, plus starting right guard Febechi Nwaiwu exhausting eligibility, depth at the position has become a massive concern that will take the portal to fix.
Freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje are the pillars of the O-line, but they're the only tackles left on the roster. That is probably priority No. 1 for Nagy, and more than one tackle is definitely needed, as well as more depth at every other spot.
Backup cornerback
Depth at cornerback was a need created after the New Year's Eve mass exodus. It was announced on Wednesday alone that three OU cornerbacks will transfer, joining Kendel Dolby, who had already made his intentions known.
The Sooners are expected to return starters Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory, but other than Jacobe Johnson with two career starts, there's almost no experience left behind those two, so unless it's all baptism by fire next season, the Sooners need to add a veteran to this group.
Everything tight end
This was already a known need, but with Carson Kent's expected transfer after Wednesday, it's confirmed the Sooners will need a complete overhaul at tight end. No one who actually contributed to the position this season is expected to return, so even with two solid incoming freshmen, the Sooners need multiple players with the ability to immediately step in.
Backup quarterback
The headliner of Wednesday's future departures was backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who had five starts under his belt between briefly taking over as the starter last season and filling in for an injured John Mateer this season.
Hawkins' departure signifies Mateer should be back, which is really the best case for the Sooners. Other quarterbacks still on the roster include sophomore Whitt Newbauer, who transferred from Mercer last year, and 2025 signee Jett Niu. The reality is both of those players were last-minute fill-ins when the Sooners needed a body to fill a spot, so if Mateer goes down, fans don't want either taking over the offense, especially longterm. Incoming freshman Bowe Bentley will one day be QB1, but he also won't be ready yet in 2026.
The Sooners don't need an eye-popping addition here, nor should they spend the money on that, but they do need a more seasoned quarterback to fill in if necessary.