There’s no Bedlam on the football field this season, but the Oklahoma Sooners could still get a win thanks to an Oklahoma State loss.
On3’s Pete Nakos reported on Thursday that OSU starting right guard Noah McKinney, who plans to transfer after the season, is down to five schools as his next destination, including OU, North Carolina, TCU, Virginia and Kentucky.
Sooners among top options for Noah McKinney
McKinney is part of a mass exodus in Stillwater since head coach Mike Gundy was fired and opened up the transfer window for OSU players for 30 days. However, unlike most, even though McKinney plans to leave the program, he will reportedly finish the season with his current team while still weighing his future options.
This will be McKinney’s second time in the Transfer Portal after transferring to OSU from UNLV in 2022. McKinney made his decision this time just over a week ago and already drew this much interest.
There are few players in the Transfer Portal at this time, but according to 247Sports, McKinney is the No. 1 overall player available. He missed the Cowboys’ last game against Cincinnati, but he has five starts this season. He’s still a potential starter on OSU’s Week 9 depth chart, but was listed as doubtful on Thursday’s availability report.
According to Pro Football Focus, McKinney, listed at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, has the fourth-best pass blocking grade among all offensive guards in the Big 12.
77 days until Oklahoma State Cowboy football
— BuffalOKstate (@BuffalOKstate) June 12, 2025
#77 Noah McKinney… another promising young offensive lineman with some experience the last 2 years. Here’s a clip playing LT against Cincy in 2023. #GoPokespic.twitter.com/LuZZlr5Kzv
Although it’s hard to look that far ahead with the Sooners still contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff, OU will lose starting right guard Febechi Nwaiwu at the end of this season. Nwaiwu has been the Sooners’ most consistent and healthy offensive lineman the past two seasons.
OU has a lot of depth behind Nwaiwu at the interior offensive line to step up, so it won’t necessarily be a priority from the Transfer Portal this offseason for the Sooners. However, even a glimpse at the Sooners’ current injury report will show they need all the depth they can get along the offensive line.