Predicting which Oklahoma player will lead the Sooners in every major offensive stat in 2026

Nothing says college football is close but not close enough quite like season predictions.

We will eventually have our season predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners and reveal if we believe Brent Venables will get them back to the College Football Playoff, but a few weeks into fall camp, it's also worth trying to guess which player will lead the Sooners in every major offensive category, outside of the obvious passing categories that John Mateer should lead unless something catastrophic happens. But that also might not be the only stats Mateer leads the way in.

Who leads OU in important offensive stats?

Rushing yards: Lloyd Avant

Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant is poised to lead the backfield as of now, and although I believe Xavier Robinson will eventually take over as No. 1 again, I think running backs coach Deland McCullough will still at least go with Avant early on since he earned it during spring and fall camps. Even after Robinson leads the way eventually, Avant will still get plenty of work as the No. 2.

I predict Avant to bolster his numbers early against the likes of UTEP and New Mexico while Robinson gets going. Robinson will then have to deal with SEC defenses while also sharing touches with Avant, quarterback John Mateer, and even Jonathan Hatton Jr. or Tory Blaylock some. Those early stat-padding performances and keeping up the rest of the way will give Avant the slight edge over Robinson in rushing yards at the end of the season.

Bad news, though, is that OU's streak without a 1,000-yard rusher will continue.

Rushing TD: John Mateer

This isn't as bold of a prediction as it seems. Quarterback John Mateer also led the Sooners with eight rushing scores in 2025, even while battling injury and being used less as a runner down the stretch. He should be used in the running game even more this season since he's healthy and also built like a tank who can squat a pickup truck.

OU's running backs will also share carries near the goal line, so unless one of them just emerges as the bell cow back, they'll vulture touchdowns from each other enough that none of them will lead this stat.

This right here is why Mateer will be a Heisman Trophy contender in 2026.

Receptions / receiving yards: Isaiah Sategna III

Isaiah Sategna III led the Sooners in every receiving category last season and should be John Mateer's favorite target again in 2026 after returning. He'll once again catch more passes than anyone else on the team and use his speed to turn those receptions into more than 1,000 receiving yards. Unlike 2025, though, Sategna won't be the leader in receiving touchdowns.

Receiving TD: Parker Livingstone

Listed at 6-foot-3, Parker Livingstone will quickly become John Mateer's favorite red-zone target after transferring from Texas. Not only does Livingstone have the size and hops to bring down passes in the end zone, but he also has the speed to blow past secondaries and notch some long trips to paydirt.

Isaiah Sategna III and Trell Harris will get their fair share of explosive plays to the end zone, but Livingstone will be a vital target everywhere on the field. Better yet, more than one of those touchdowns for Livingstone will come against his old team in the Red River Rivalry.

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