SEC’s Linebacker Gauntlet Looms Over Oklahoma
The Sooners’ offense faces a titanic test in 2026, colliding with five elite SEC linebackers. Texas’s Ty’Anthony Smith steps up after Anthony Hill Jr.’s departure, boasting 60 tackles and two interceptions in 2025. Georgia’s Raylen Wilson, fresh off 74 tackles and a stellar PFF grade, anchors the Bulldogs’ defense. Texas A&M newcomer Ray Coney arrives from Tulsa with 129 tackles and an 87.6 PFF mark. Ole Miss gets Baylor transfer Keaton Thomas, whose 103 tackles and scoop‐and‐score proved his mettle. And Texas’s Rasheem Biles, a Butkus Award hopeful, tallied 101 tackles, two pick‐sixes, and an 89.3 run‐defense grade, ready to fill the void in Austin. These five are primed to make every OU snap a white‐knuckle ride.
Move over, sugar‐coated SEC hype videos—this is more like free‐range linebacker mayhem. Sooners fans, buckle up: it’s less “Boomer Sooner” and more “Boomer Sooner, duck fast!” If you thought one walk‐on special teams blitz was terrifying, wait until you meet this five‐man wrecking crew. In a daring up‐tempo twist, Oklahoma might try to blitz these boys instead, but rumor has it the linebackers have already written their own defensive playbook titled “How to Turn College QBs Into Therapy Clients.”
All-American Outfielder Heads to Lubbock
Kasidi Pickering, a 2025 NFCA All‐American, is leaving Oklahoma for Texas Tech with one season of eligibility remaining. The ex-Sooner slugger hit .384 over three seasons, belted 50 home runs, and drove in 169 runs. After shifting to designated player duties in 2026, she still managed a .370 average, 20 homers, and a postseason three-home-run burst. Her freshman career began with an opposite-field grand slam, culminating in a .389/.513/.705 slash line. With her Hotshots Fastpitch ties to Lubbock, Tech was the expected landing spot for the powerhouse bat.
In a shock that surprised exactly zero analysts, Pickering’s bat has migrated west—like an All-Star barnstormer following her gig clients. Oklahoma fans might ask “Why leave paradise?” To which Pickering probably answers “I need more tumbleweeds in my highlight reels.” Texas Tech, prepare for a one-woman highlight reel so bright you’ll need shades on the diamond. If she hits as hard on that dusty West Texas infield as she did in Norman, Bulldogs and Cowboys alike will weep Texas red tears.
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