Pass-Rush Panic: OU’s Next Wave After Mason Thomas
Oklahoma’s dominant edge rusher R Mason Thomas has moved on to the NFL, leaving a gaping hole in the Sooners’ defense. As Thomas joins the Kansas City Chiefs, OU turns to Taylor Wein—fresh off a Second Team All-SEC nod—alongside rising talents James Nesta, Danny Okoye and safety-turned-blitz-specialist Michael Boganowski. Wein led the team in tackles for loss and sacks in 2025, while Nesta impressed on a limited snap count last season. Okoye flashed “pound-for-pound athlete” potential across 107 defensive plays, and Boganowski, OU’s hardest hitter, is poised for a bigger role. With Robert Spears-Jennings also in the NFL, the Sooners’ backfield blitz package looks both unpredictable and thrilling in 2026.
Welcome to “Defensive Musical Chairs,” Oklahoma edition—where every day is hole-digging practice for whoever survives the depth chart free-for-all. Fans can’t wait to watch Taylor Wein haul in sacks like he’s collecting frequent-flyer miles, while James Nesta learns that sometimes “sample size” isn’t just for IKEA meatballs. And let’s not forget Danny Okoye, who’ll likely need an actual map to navigate between the bench and the field. Meanwhile, Michael Boganowski’s about to discover that being the team’s “hardest hitter” is just code for “professional tackle-surprise-machine.” If the Sooners pull this off, they might just invent a new defensive weapon: sheer chaos.
Big 12 Bargains: OU’s 2028 Non-Conference Shopping Spree
Oklahoma has added Missouri State to its 2028 football slate, joining previously scheduled Temple, Colorado State and Big Four opponent Houston. The Bears will travel to Norman on Sept. 9 for a $1.2 million payday. The Sooners face potential cancellation fees—$700,000 to drop Temple, $1 million for Colorado State—but scrapping Houston seems unlikely given its SEC requirement. Future seasons include matchups with Utah State, San Diego State and neutral-site SMU, plus a revived Nebraska rivalry in 2029-30. Oklahoma’s long-term lineup also features lone showdowns with Clemson in 2035 and 2036 as conference scheduling and Power-Four mandates reshape the landscape.
Behold the art of college football budgeting: OU isn’t just scheduling opponents; it’s playing financial Sudoku. Want to see Missouri State roll into Norman and cash in like a surprise lottery winner? Check. Thinking about canceling Temple but writing a $700,000 check like it’s Monopoly money? Double check. Colorado State better hope OU’s accountants have a soft spot for spreadsheets. And if anyone dares try dropping that Houston trip, they’ll face a cool million-dollar penalty—because nothing says “we care” like a ludicrous buyout clause. Meanwhile, the only consistent rival for 2035 is Clemson, proof that Oklahoma’s future schedule is less about tradition and more about “Where did my budget go?”
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