Projecting the Oklahoma Sooners starting lineup for 2026

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Projecting the Oklahoma Sooners starting lineup for 2026

The Oklahoma Sooners have done big work in the transfer portal to upgrade a roster that went 10-2 in 2025 and made the College Football Playoff. Most of the new additions came on the offensive side of the ball, but Brent Venables and Jim Nagy have added difference makers on the defensive side of the ball as well.

The roster isn't necessarily complete at this point, with the transfer portal window still open. But the Sooners have done enough in the portal to have a pretty good idea of what the starting lineups could look like when Oklahoma opens the 2026 season against the UTEP Miners on Sept. 5.

Here's a way-too-early projection of the Oklahoma Sooners starting lineup.

Projecting the Oklahoma Starting Offense

Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) scores a touchdown in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Gaylord Family OK Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma Sooners have made it a point to add to the offense via the transfer portal. They added four players that should step in and start for the Sooners on day one: Hayden Hansen, Trell Harris, Parker Livingstone, and offensive tackle E'Marion Harris.

Expect key position battles at running back, right guard, and tight end to lead the discussion this offseason. The good news for the Sooners, they bring back their quarterback, presumably their No. 1 wide receiver, and four offensive linemen who started at least six games for the Sooners in 2025.

At running back, we're going with Xavier Robinson for the Sooners. His physicality and ability as a pass protector gives him the slight edge over the explosive Tory Blaylock.

Quarterback: John Mateer

Running back: Xavier Robinson

Tight end: Hayden Hansen

Wide receiver (slot): Isaiah Sategna III

Wide receiver (Z): Trell Harris

Wide receiver (X): Parker Livingstone

Left tackle: Michael Fasusi

Left guard: Eddy Pierre-Louis

Center: Jake Maikkula

Right guard: Heath Ozaeta

Right tackle: E'Marion Harris

Projecting the Oklahoma Starting Defense

Sep 20, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman David Stone (0) celebrates with Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis (10) and Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Taylor Wein (44) during the first half against the Auburn Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma Sooners lost a number of key contributors from the 2025 defense. Gone are R Mason Thomas, Gracen Halton, Marvin Jones Jr., Damonic Williams, Kendal Daniels and Robert Spears-Jennings to the NFL. Kobie McKinzie, Devon Jordan, Gentry Williams, Jaydan Hardy, and Markus Strong left via the transfer portal. That's a lot of snaps the Sooners have to replace from one of the best defenses in the country.

But Oklahoma's recruited well on that side of the ball and has players ready to step into bigger roles. The only question at this point is what the depth behind the starting lineup looks like. David Stone, Adepoju Adebawore, Reggie Powers III, and Michael Boganowski will see a significant uptick in snaps and the Sooners need them to have breakout seasons in 2026. Incoming transfer linebacker Cole Sullivan assumes one of the inside linebacker spots next to Kip Lewis if Owen Heinecke isn't granted another year of eligibility.

Defensive end: Taylor Wein

Defensive tackle: Jayden Jackson

Defensive tackle: David Stone

Defensive end: Adepoju Adebawore

Linebacker: Kip Lewis

Linebacker: Cole Sullivan

Cheetah hybrid position: Reggie Powers III

Cornerback: Eli Bowen

Cornerback: Courtland Guillory

Safety: Michael Boganowski

Safety: Peyton Bowen

Projecting Oklahoma's Key Starting Special Teamers

Sep 13, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Oklahoma Sooners kicker Tate Sandell (29) kicks a field goal against the Temple Owls in the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Special teams was a weapon all season long for the Oklahoma Sooners up to the most important game of the season against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff. Talk about the worst time to have your worst day. But don't let that take away from the reality that without Doug Deakin's special teams units, the Sooners probably don't make the College Football Playoff.

Pretty much everything will be the same. The only change is who returns kickoffs for Oklahoma in 2026. The Sooners returned just two kicks in 2025 for a combined 16 yards. Nobody returned fewer kicks last season than the Sooners and just one team had a lower average than the Sooners eight yards per return. Colorado State transfer running back Lloyd Avant was brought in to help change that.

In two seasons, Avant has returned 25 kicks for 660 yards and a touchdown. An average of 26.4 yards per return. With the legs that exist in the SEC, it's unlikely he'll get a ton of opportunities to return a kick, but when he does, it should be a good thing for the Sooners.

Kicker: Tate Sandell

Punter: Grayson Miller

Long Snapper: Ben Anderson

Kickoff Returner: Lloyd Avant

Punt Returner: Isaiah Sategna

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners starting lineup projections for 2026 season

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