Oklahoma
Despite More Changes, Oklahoma’s Offensive Line Must ‘Fix What We Need to Fix’
How many offensive linemen started at the same position in both of Oklahoma’s games so far this season?
As the slogan goes, there’s only one.
Right guard Febechi Nwaiwu is the Sooners’ only o-lineman who started at the same position against Houston that he did against Temple. Each of the other four positions have had a different starter.
Expect more changes when No. 15-ranked OU takes the field on Saturday afternoon against Tulane.
Bill Bedenbaugh has shifted his personnel here and there almost entirely out of necessity so far.
Jacob Sexton started at left tackle in the opener, but quickly moved to left guard and then started there in the second game. Michael Tarquin started at right tackle against the Owls, but shifted to left tackle and then started there against the Cougars. Branson Hickman started at center in Week 1, but got hurt and was replaced that game by Geirean Hatchett, then in the next game by Joshua Bates. After Spencer Brown replaced Tarquin at right tackle early in the opener, Jake Taylor stepped in last week.
Meanwhile, the Sooner offense has been among the worst teams in the nation at converting third downs (131st, per this week’s NCAA statistics). OU rushed for 220 yards against Temple but only managed 75 against Houston, its lowest output in three years. Quarterback Jackson Arnold was sacked three times in each game, which ranks 109th in the nation. The Sooners are also 100th or worse in total offense, passing offense, time of possession and first downs.
The wide receivers are enduring an injury epidemic. The running backs have not been explosive. Arnold has been inconsistent at best.
But the offensive line has been in the crosshairs since all five of Bedenbaugh’s starters last season departed. With five experienced newcomers via the transfer portal, four young returnees trying to break out and five true freshmen hoping to make an early impact, the group has been striving for consistency and chemistry since spring practice opened.
“I think it’s a group thing,” Bates said. “We showed flashes here and there but we need to be as a group together through everything this season. Game to game, we need to have a 1-0 mentality. Every single week we need to come out with that same mindset. How you play offensive line at the University of Oklahoma, it’s a group thing. It’s never an individual at this position. You have to fire on all cylinders as a group, as a team and as a unit especially.”
Bates, a redshirt freshman, has played 78 snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Most of those came last week as he replaced Hatchett, the Washington transfer who has been lost for the season after surgery to repair a torn biceps muscle. Bates posted an overall PFF grade of 55.9, which included 57.2 run blocking and 65.3 pass blocking.
It figures to be Bates again this week, unless Hickman, the SMU transfer, has recovered from his week one ankle injury. Hickman played just 10 snaps against Temple before going down.
Sexton and Nwaiwu lead the OU offense with 120 snaps each, per PFF, and Sexton, a junior, has posted grades of 62.7 overall, 57.9 on run blocks and 76.7 on pass blocks. Nwaiwu, a transfer from North Texas, has an overall grade of 57.7, with a 53.9 on runs and 64.8 on passes.
Tarquin, a USC transfer via Florida, has played 113 total snaps, fourth on the team, and has been terrific across the board: 78.2 overall, 74.0 on runs, 79.6 on passes.
Brown, a Michigan State transfer, got 57 snaps in the opener but didn’t play last week. His PFF numbers are 62.2 overall, 60.5 run and 61.9 pass.
Last week it was redshirt freshman Logan Howland who came in to play left tackle after Taylor went down and Tarquin went to right tackle, and after getting 16 snaps in the opener he got 39 last week. So far this season, Howland has graded out at 67.7 overall, 62.4 in the run game and 76.8 in the pass game.
Taylor, a third-year sophomore, returned from a preseason injury last week and played 23 snaps at right tackle — and, according to PFF, posted a 62.3 overall grade, 54.9 run blocking grade and team-high 79.9 pass blocking grade. But Taylor left the Houston game late in the first half with yet another injury, and his status for this week remains unclear.
And that’s what Bedenbaugh has had to work with through the first two weeks of the season.
“Injuries happen in sports,” Howland said. “We got to be a next-man-up kind of thing.”
Oklahoma currently has more offensive tackles (seven) playing in the NFL than any other college team. That’s the standard that Bedenbaugh has set, and this group is fighting a variety of adversities to try to live up to it.
“The offensive line here is a standard,” Howland said. “We have to live up to that standard every day. You see guys in the NFL doing well right now and we have to replicate them and try to get where they’re at.”
Chemistry doesn’t just happen because the o-line coach wants it to. It has to be organic — but it has to happen if an offense wants to reach its potential.
“We’re tight,” Bates said. “We’re a group that, we all hang out together. We love each other. We’ve gone through these summer workouts with Schmitty. We’ve done all the winter stuff. We feel like we’ve bled, we’ve sweat, we bleed together. And that’s something that, over the last couple of years, we’ve struggled with. And I think this year, this group is tight. But, you know, I think it comes to getting on the field and being able to execute at a high level.
“We’re just gonna keep working. You can’t sit here and say, ‘This happened, this happened.’ This sport, it’s week-by-week, man. You’ve got to take every week the same way. Come together, fix what we need to fix and get after it.”
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is competing once again in the American Association of State Troopers’ Best Looking Cruiser Contest, this time showcasing the agency’s history alongside its modern fleet.
The entry features OHP’s restored 1937 Ford patrol car paired with a current Chevrolet Tahoe, highlighting nearly nine decades of the agency’s patrol vehicle tradition.
OHP highlights historic patrol car
According to OHP, the contest entry celebrates the agency’s original 1937 Ford patrol car and its connection to the modern Chevrolet Tahoe used by troopers today.
The agency says the iconic black-and-white “dovetail” paint scheme debuted on the 1937 Ford, with the white paint wrapping over the rear wheel wells. OHP says that design became the foundation for the look that continues to represent the agency today.
How voting works
The Best Looking Cruiser Contest is decided by public vote here.
OHP says each device is allowed one vote, and every vote is important as the agency competes against perennial favorites for a chance to earn a spot in the 2027 American Association of State Troopers calendar.
Looking to improve on last year
Oklahoma finished eighth in the nation in last year’s Best Looking Cruiser Contest.
The agency is hoping this year’s entry featuring both its historic 1937 Ford and modern Chevrolet Tahoe will help improve its finish and secure a place in the 2027 calendar.
“As Route 66 celebrates its 100th birthday, we wanted to honor the most iconic highway in America and the Oklahoma Troopers who have patrolled it for generations,” OHP said. “Since 1937, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers have traveled its pavement, assisted stranded motorists, investigated crashes, enforced traffic laws, and answered calls for service along the Mother Road. Route 66 isn’t just a historic highway to us—it’s part of our history.”
In this week’s Your Vote Counts, Oklahoma’s Own Scott Mitchell leads Jason Dunnington and Sen. Paul Rosino in a discussion about new Oklahoma laws, including those addressing data centers. Other topics include inflation and the ongoing impact of the war in Iran.
Looking for the perfect spot to celebrate Independence Day in Oklahoma this year? From massive fireworks displays over Grand Lake to food truck festivals and live music across the OKC metro, communities are pulling out all the stops to celebrate the Declaration of Independence. Grab your lawn chairs, round up the family, and get ready for an unforgettable week of summer fun. Here is your ultimate guide to the best Fourth of July events happening right in your backyard!
Key takeaways
- The bigger picture: Oklahoma communities are going all out for Independence Day in 2026, with celebrations spanning from Norman’s four-day Fourth Fest to major fireworks displays in Edmond, Tulsa, and on Grand Lake — giving families across the state plenty of options close to home.
- More details: Highlights include Liberty Fest in Edmond, one of the largest fireworks displays in the metro area, the Duck Creek Fireworks on Grand Lake featuring a War Bird flyover tribute synchronized to patriotic music, and Tribute to Liberty in Midwest City, which combines live music, a laser show, and fireworks in honor of the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary.
- Why this matters: This year’s celebrations carry extra weight as part of America’s semiquincentennial, with several events — including Tribute to Liberty and the Duck Creek Fireworks — built around honoring both the nation’s founding and the service members who’ve defended it.
- Date: 9:45 p.m. July 1-4
- Location: Reaves Park; 2501 S Jenkins Ave., Norman
This year’s Fourth Fest is bigger than ever before, spanning four days. The city has added additional programming across multiple parks. Before the fireworks, enjoy a wide range of attractions including bouncy houses, local vendors, food trucks, pony rides, and a petting zoo. The fireworks show begins at 9:45 p.m. on July 4.
- Date: 8:30 p.m. July 3
- Location: Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., Oklahoma City
OKCPHIL’s Red, White, and Boom concert is a high-energy celebration that brings the community together for an unforgettable summer evening of music. The Oklahoma City Philharmonic performs a vibrant program of American classics, fan favorites, and patriotic anthems.
- Date: 6-10 p.m. July 3
- Location: Boomer Lake Park; 2310 E Lakeview Road, Stillwater
This Independence Day celebration will include area vendors, food trucks, hometown hospitality, and a fireworks show. Free parking will be available at Stillwater High School’s Pioneer Stadium.
- Date: July 3-4
- Location: Yukon City Park & Chisholm Trail Park, 2200 S Holly Ave., Yukon
Bring the whole family to Freedom Fest in Yukon! Experience a lineup of live outdoor concerts, peruse the food trucks on site, and enjoy the activities for kids.
- Date: 2-10 p.m. July 4
- Location: Buck Thomas Park, 1903 NE 12th St., Moore
Enjoy one of the largest fireworks shows in the state with food trucks, vendors, and activities throughout the day. Admission is free. Fireworks will begin around 9:45 p.m.
- Date: 7-10 p.m. July 4
- Location: Joe B. Barnes Regional Park, 8700 E Reno Ave., Midwest City
Bring your chairs and join Midwest City in its celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Enjoy food trucks, games, The Wise Guys performing live on stage, a huge fireworks display, and a laser show.
- Date: 9:30 p.m. July 4
- Location: University of Central Oklahoma; 100 N University Drive, Edmond
Liberty Fest’s grand finale is one of the largest fireworks displays in the metro area. Bring your entire family to witness the spectacular show. Parking is available in lots on campus.
- Date: July 4
- Location: Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, 32888 S 4507 Road, No. 8123, Afton
Duck Creek Fireworks is the longest-running tradition on Grand Lake. Keep an eye out for the highly anticipated War Bird flyover, a tribute to the men and women serving overseas. The fireworks, beginning at sunset, will be synchronized to patriotic music.
- Date: July 4
- Location: River West Festival Park, 2100 S Jackson Ave., Tulsa
Celebrate America’s independence at Tulsa’s annual FreedomFest celebration. This celebration includes all-ages entertainment and a variety of activities and tasty concessions. FreedomFest features one of the largest free fireworks displays in Oklahoma.
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