The Transfer Portal is already taking from the Oklahoma Sooners, but eventually, it will also give back, and when it does, they already have some positions at the top of the wish list.
The Sooners can't sign anyone until the portal officially opens on Jan. 2, but fans can bet OU general manager Jim Nagy and his staff are already hunting portal talent to fill the Sooners' needs before the 2026 season, and a few positions should be a high priority to get back to the College Football Playoff.
OU's biggest Transfer Portal needs in 2026
Tight end
This could look like a recycled list as the Sooners were also looking for talent at tight end last year, but after essentially just getting warm bodies then, hopefully Nagy can help Joe Jon Finley get real contributors for 2026. Converted linebacker Jaren Kanak was the Sooners' TE1 this season and is out of eligibility. Promising talent Kaden Helms is already expected to transfer. And none of the Group of Five players Finley added last offseason contributed much, and a few could also be hitting the portal soon.
Basically, Nagy might have to use the portal to create an entirely new tight ends room in Norman.
Linebacker
More than likely, none of the Sooners' starting linebackers will be back in 2026. Starting cheetah Kendal Daniels is out of eligibility, middle linebacker Owen Heinecke is fighting for another year, but that doesn't look promising, and Kip Lewis is probably NFL bound. Kobie McKinzie also started games at middle linebacker this season, but he's already headed to the portal. If Sammy Omosigho also leaves, then the Sooners are really in trouble.
First, Nagy needs to retain Omosigho, but then he needs to add at least one more veteran to go with OU's inexperenced linebacker group next season.
Elite wide receiver
The Sooners have plenty of young receivers with talent, but none of them got much valuable playing time this season to really develop. Isaiah Sategna III had a breakout season, and the Sooners definitely need him back, but for a season when basically everyone else at the position will be developing, OU doesn't just need more bodies, but finally an elite wideout that can be a real difference maker in games like the Sooners used to always have. OU's list of needs is rather short, so if there's a position to splurge on for just one player, this is it.