Oklahoma Sooners news: Positive injury update, Mateer draft stock, Freeze on OU defense

Positive injury update

After having seven offensive linemen listed as either out or questionable on the initial injury report before playing Auburn on Saturday, the Oklahoma Sooners had three upgraded from questionable to probable on Thursday's report.

Center Jake Maikkula, left tackle Michael Fasusi and right guard Febechi Nwaiwu are now all expected to play after being elevated to probable. All three should start against Auburn, so it was vital the trio was healthy enough to play.

Wide receiver Zion Kearney was also upgraded from questionable to probable. Offensive lineman Isaiah Dent and defensive end Marvin Jones Jr. are the only players' statuses left still in question for Saturday.

John Mateer top draft prospect

This week on the "Always College Football" podcast, ESPN's Greg McElroy and David Pollack both agreed that OU quarterback John Mateer should definitely be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

"I'm honestly not sure it's that close at this point," McElroy said. "Now, I'll be honest with you, I like a lot what I've seen from (Miami QB) Carson Beck. I like a lot what I've seen from other guys, for sure. But at this point, knowing the competition he's faced against Michigan and how good they are defensively and the fact he left some plays on the field that game, yeah, it's Mateer."

OU's defense makes Hugh Freeze sick

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze admitted on the "Dari Nowkhah Show" on The Ref ahead of the Tigers' trip to Oklahoma that Brent Venables' defense is so good that it makes him sick.

"First, I need some Pepto or some Tums," Freeze said. "Your stomach starts turnin', because, their first three games, they've dominated, I mean really dominated and allowed one touchdown, and it was really on a bust (a 75-yard touchdown run by Michigan's Justice Haynes).

"They're physical. They're fast. They do a lot of things that present you issues in both protection and run game. And (head coach) Brent (Venables) does a great job, and he's got great players. It's a great challenge. I do think they're one of the better defenses I've seen the last few years."

The No. 11 Sooners will host No. 22 Auburn at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC.

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