The Oklahoma Sooners begin their 2026 season on Friday night at home against the UTEP Miners. Though OU released an official depth chart earlier this week that gives us a good idea of who to keep an eye on this week, there have also been some injury developments since that release.
Today, we'll take a look at four Sooners that fans will want to keep an eye on in the season-opening contest on Friday. For this week, these are all players that are either new starters, or players who are being forced into more significant roles or action, due to injury. Fortunately for Oklahoma, it'll get a tune-up game to open the season, before hitting to road to take on Michigan next week.
Here are four players to keep your eyes peeled for against UTEP.
Caleb Nitta, OL
Projected
starting center Jake Maikkula was injured late in fall camp, and though his injury isn't projected to keep him out long-term, it began a shuffling of Oklahoma's offensive line. Projected starting right guard Ryan Fodje slid over to center, and a competition to take over his spot is still ongoing between Heath Ozaeta and Noah Best.
Then, Fodje was injured earlier this week. His injury is also not expected to be a long-term thing, but he won't play this week. That means Caleb Nitta is slated to draw the start at center against the Miners, with Ozaeta and Best also serving as options there. While it might fly this week against UTEP, the Sooners need Maikkula and Fodje to get healthy up front soon, as the schedule toughens up significantly from here. Nitta is the guy to watch this week, as he'll get the opportunity to settle down the fanbase a little bit on Friday night. Ozaeta and/or Best playing next to him will also have a lot of eyeballs on them.
Elijah Thomas, WR
While the Sooners have figured out their starting wideouts in the slot and an one of the outside positions, there was one spot that was still up for grabs on the outside. Now, with Texas transfer Parker Livingstone reportedly in the concussion protocol after an injury earlier this week, it could be Elijah Thomas earning the first start of his collegiate career this week.
Thomas was buried on the depth chart last year, and he played on special teams. However, he showed the coaching staff enough in fall camp to be named a co-starter with Livingstone heading into the week. Livingstone's status is currently unknown, so Thomas could very well be a big part of the offense on Friday night. He's the WR to watch in this game if Livingstone doesn't play.
Reggie Powers III, DB
The cheetah position looks a bit different this season in Norman, but Reggie Powers III is one of the few returning players in the mix from last year. Powers was the backup in 2025, but he'll start at this spot in 2026. While a lot of different players are in the mix at cheetah, it'll be Powers who is expected to get most of the reps at the most versatile position on Brent Venables' defense.
Venables will look to do a lot of different things with the Cheetah position, which requires different types of players. However, Powers has by far the most cheetah reps in-game on the Oklahoma roster. He's a new starter on an OU defense that doesn't have many, but he's already been a key member of this unit.
Cole Sullivan, LB
Cole Sullivan's role at Oklahoma has changed multiple times since he got to Norman. First, he was projected to be the starting middle linebacker for the Sooners, but once Owen Heinecke came back, Sullivan was relegated to the backup at that position. Then, he began taking more reps at the Cheetah position, especially after the spring ball injury to Taylor Heim, who was projected to factor into that position's rotation.
Venables said this week that he considers Powers and Sullivan co-starters on OU's defense, listing Powers as the starting Cheetah and Sullivan as the starting strongside linebacker, though it's essentially the same position for the Sooners. Under Venables, Oklahoma doesn't usually list a SAM linebacker, so clearly there's a lot of faith in Sullivan, and he'll be on the field a lot. With Powers as a smaller player who gives the Sooners greater coverage versatility at the position, Sullivan will use his size and run-stopping ability to counter Powers' skill set. Together, they are two underrated names to watch on the Oklahoma defense.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 4 Oklahoma Sooners to watch in Week 1 against UTEP
