Expectations are different in 2026 than a year ago; OU aims to contend for a national championship rather than just qualifying for the playoff.
The challenge to contend for, or even to win, a national title better matches the standard of a program with the second-most-AP-recognized national titles at seven. Sure, last season was successful at 10-3 and a College Football Playoff appearance after 6-7 in 2024. But the Sooners are far from satisfied.
“Pressure is never bigger than what it is internally, and I think that should drive you,” Venables said. “That pressure is part of your culture. It's a mentality that should be a shared belief system, and we should all feel that every single year. If you're comfortable, you're going to get beat, and comfort is something that we've got to resist.”
For OU to take the next step, it needs a consistent, strong ground attack, according to new tight ends coach Jason Witten. The Sooners severely lacked that a year ago, finishing No. 13 in the Southeastern Conference and No. 112 in the nation.
“Ultimately, look at the teams that are playing late in seasons at any level, (they) are able to control the line of scrimmage and establish a running game,” Witten said, “and we just have to do a better job of that.”
The Sooners have been working diligently all offseason to bolster the run game, from bringing in Witten and new running backs coach Deland McCullough to improving communication and blocking throughout the offense.
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle wants the Sooners to run violently and intentionally.
“I'm really excited about that room (and) continue to look for them, whenever they get the ball, to run violent (and) run with purpose downhill,” Arbuckle said.
Running backs sophomore Tory Blaylock and junior Xavier Robinson return after each recorded at least 400 rushing yards in 2025. Arbuckle anticipates them to make leaps of improvement under McCullough.
"I'm fired up to get Tory and X rolling again," Arbuckle said. "They have so much to learn and so much to improve on still, and I think Coach McCullough has all the expertise to give it to them and hold them to a certain standard of how we expect to play running back here at Oklahoma but also hold them to a standard of what is your best and delivering your best every single day."
McCullough added that he has been impressed with junior running back Lloyd Avant and that he would start if the season started now since Blaylock and Robinson were injured in the spring. Avant transferred from Colorado State in the offseason after recording 417 rushing yards in 2025.
Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh said the coaches’ need to be sharp for the players to execute. Bedenbaugh leads an experienced offensive line, including preseason all-SEC sophomore Michael Fasusi, after starting three freshmen a year ago.
“It starts with the coaches and us getting them into the right plays,” offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh said. “Like it's hard to run the ball, but then when you're running it into bad looks, it's damn near impossible. As coaches, we got to make sure that we formation it; we have the checks. We have those things that are going to help us run the ball better (and) put our guys in advantageous situations, and then again, they got to go do it.”
If they successfully put all the pieces together, the Sooners would better match up with what it takes to win in the SEC and Big Ten now: a sound ground attack. Indiana, who won conference and national titles last season, ranked No. 12 in run game production, while Georgia, the SEC champion, was No. 35. Both the Hoosiers and Bulldogs found more success in other areas, but winning still requires a run game that can pull its own weight.
OU is set to play the second toughest schedule in the nation in 2026 and needs a run game good enough to match its goal of national title contention.
“We know the margins are small; if they were small last year, they're smaller than they've ever been, …” Venables said. “There (was) some momentum that was created through the back half of the season; having some success (has) driven hunger. I think it (helps) our guys feel like they have more to have, if you will, and more to prove, certainly, prove to themselves, not to anyone else, what we're capable of when we put it all together.”
This story was edited by Joshua Franklin.
