Thanks to EA Sports' College Football 26, we get an early look at the 2025 Oklahoma Sooners and how their transformed roster could look when the season kicks off against Illinois State on Aug. 30.
After spring ball, I projected what OU's two-deep depth roster could look like when the season starts. Now, we have CFB26 ratings for a look at even more possibilities.
CFB26 ratings proved last year to be pretty accurate most of the time. However, there are some catches when using these ratings to predict, as is the case with any predictions. First, some players are missing, especially incoming freshmen and new transfers. OU's roster is currently without possible contributors Javonnie Gibson, Zion Ragins and Derek Simmons.
Brent Venables has made the cheetah position a staple on the Sooners' defense, but CFB26 doesn't have the spot available, so OU's likely cheetahs are labeled elsewhere.
With that considered, here's how OU's two-deep depth chart could look based on CFB26 ratings, with overall ratings in parenthesis and notes for each position.
EA Sports College Football 26 projects OU's lineup
QB: John Mateer (91), Michael Hawkins Jr. (80)
Notes: John Mateer is the highest-rated player on OU's roster as a top-5 QB in the game. Mercer transfer Whitt Newbauer isn't in the game yet, but still likely won't be rated higher than Hawkins.
RB: Jaydn Ott (90), Jovantae Barnes (86)
Notes: The CFB26 rating further back up our expectations that OU is loaded at running back. Ott is the second-best player on the roster, but even behind Ott and Barnes are Xavier Robinson (85) and Taylor Tatum (83). You could certainly steal Joe Jon Finley's game plan and beat Alabama without even throwing a pass with those four backs.
WR-X: Keontez Lewis (80), Elijah Thomas (75)
Notes: When I created my post-spring depth chart, I had Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer Javonnie Gibson starting here, but he's not in the game, at least not yet. Then behind him, I had McNeese transfer Jer'Michael Carter, who's also missing. For reality sake, you could ignore this spot.
Slot: Deion Burks (88), Isaiah Sategna (81)
Notes: Burks is OU's best WR in the game and the Sooners seem to be deep at the slot. There's also Jacob Jordan, who got a 69 overall rating despite an impressive freshman campaign as a walk-on.
WR-Z: Jayden Gibson (84), Zion Kearney (73)
Notes: Gibson seems to be a lock here after missing last season with an injury, but I had Ivan Carreon behind Gibson. However, Kearney had a better rating than Carreon's 70. Zion Ragins, who started five games last season, could also have a better rating than both if in the game.
TE: Carson Kent (76), Kaden Helms (75)
Notes: This is a shot in the dark. However, I had Will Huggins starting here, but he's missing from the game. I did have Helms as the No. 2, though. It's also worth noting that Jaren Kanak got a 74 overall rating -- third-best among OU TEs -- after converting from linebacker.
LT: Logan Howland (79), Jacob Sexton (79), Michael Fasusi (79)
Notes: According to CFB26, this could be any of these three guys' spots as the closest position battle. Just pick your favorite when playing the game.
LG: Eddy Pierre-Louis (77), Heath Ozaeta (73)
Notes: This game did not do Ozaeta any favors. However, he will still have to battle for a starting job even if he's actually better than his rating shows.
C: Troy Everett (80), Jake Maikkula (79)
Notes: Another close position battle on the offensive line. Both of these guys are also versatile so could end up somewhere else.
RG: Febechi Nwaiwu (80), Ryan Fodje (77)
Notes: Nwaiwu might be the only offensive lineman with a starting spot locked up heading into fall camp.
RT: Jake Taylor (81), Luke Baklenko (76)
Notes: Western Carolina transfer Derek Simmons isn't in the game and could likely start here. That means Taylor could join that crowded battle on the left side.
LDE: Marvin Jones Jr. (84), Danny Okoye (74)
Notes: It looks like Jones will immediately have a starting spot after transferring from Florida State this offseason. But he could also have to beat out Adepoju Adebawore, who's listed on the right side.
DT: Gracen Halton (87), Jayden Jackson (83)
DT: Damonic Williams (87), David Stone (83)
Notes: Both of these spots set up the exact same with solid starters and talented sophomores behind them. However, it is a surprise Jackson didn't get a slightly better rating than Stone.
RDE: R Mason Thomas (89), Adepoju Adebawore (84),
Notes: Thomas is OU's best defender in the game. Adebawore will either back up Thomas or start on the other side.
MLB: Kobie McKinzie (80), James Nesta (73)
Notes: CFB26 ratings make the depth behind McKinzie here look worrisome. Maybe you can move Kanak back to LB in the game, and maybe he'll also have to in real life.
WLB: Kip Lewis (87), Sammy Omosigho (80)
Notes: Lewis deserved a favorable rating and could be the Sooners' leading tackler to step up for Danny Stutsman.
Cheetah: Kendal Daniels (85), Kendel Dolby (84)
Notes: Again, CFB26 doesn't have CHEETAH, so Daniels was at SS and Dolby at CB. I went off what they were rated at their respective positions, but Dolby will likely still get the nod here in real life.
CB: Eli Bowen (88), Devon Jordan (74)
Notes: EA Sports raters loved what they saw from Eli Bowen. However, behind him, oof.
SS: Peyton Bowen (81), Jaydan Hardy (76)
Notes: CFB26 actually has Daniels starting here, and he still could if he doesn't play cheetah after all. If not, it'll be Peyton Bowen again.
FS: Robert Spears-Jennings (89), Michael Boganowski (73)
Notes: Spears-Jennings makes this one of OU's strongest positions, but definitely not the deepest.
CB: Gentry Williams (79), Jacobe Johnson (78)
Notes: This is where CFB26 would have Dolby starting, but his move to cheetah, Williams barely beats out Johnson.
K: Tate Sandell (76), Austin Welch (75)
Notes: This is just an educated guess by anyone and could be a battle into the season. Punter Jacob Ulrich also got a 79 overall rating.
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