Oklahoma's run game must improve after setback loss to Michigan
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The Oklahoma Sooners entered the season hoping to display a revamped rushing attack. The Sooners were one of the worst rushing teams in college football in 2025, averaging just 118.5 yards per game.
Oklahoma showed flashes in its dominant 51-0 win over the University of Texas at El Paso Miners in Week 1. Oklahoma gained 170 yards on the ground on 4.4 yards per carry. The Sooners mostly operated in 12 personnel (two tight ends on the field).
However, Oklahoma took a step back against the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2. The Sooners rushed for just 100 yards on 3.4 yards per carry, and operated mostly with one tight end on the field. Head coach Brent Venables revealed in his press conference that Oklahoma has to establish the run game.
"We've got to be able to establish the running game," Venables said via Sooners Illustrated. "That's the bottom line. We've got to be much better at doing that, and sticking to it as well."
The Michigan game reinforced that Oklahoma's rushing attack remains a work in progress. One strong performance against UTEP will never erase everything that went wrong on the ground in 2025, and the Sooners now have to show they can produce against better competition.
That doesn't necessarily mean Oklahoma needs to abandon what worked in the opener. In fact, the contrast between the two games could give the coaching staff useful information as it determines which personnel groupings and concepts best fit the offense.
The opportunity to make those adjustments comes against the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's run game must improve after setback loss to Michigan
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