Looking forward for the spring game. Will be watching for teams focus, hunger, attitude, and other intangibles. 3rd head coach in as many years is tough on any program. Recapping last year according to MAC Conference Football STAT Rankings of the 14 teams and units. OU was 2nd in points scored at 27.8 and 4th in points allowed at 21.9. OFFENSE: OU was 2nd in time of possession, 1st in number of 1st downs, 1st in 3rd down conversions, while 3rd in 4th down conversions. OU was 7th in passing yards while 1st in rushing yards. OU was 3rd in red zone efficiency. OU finished 2nd in total yards while finishing 4th in offensive efficiency. And finally 5th in giving up the most sacks. DEFENSE: Took a step back from championship run. However I believe kept them in and won many games for them minus two crucial plays (Ball St Td and WMU TD) D was 6th in total yards allowed. 5th in rushing yards given up. 8th in passing yards given up. And 10th overall in Defensive Efficiency.
5th in red zone defense. Sacks, Ints, Fumble caused etc can be seen on the MAC site. Opponents getting 1st downs, 3rd down conversions, and 4th downs OU was 4th, 3rd, and . SPECIAL TEAMS: has to improve all over. Stats are misleading and don’t tell the entire story. In Kickoffs OU ranked 2nd however out of 70 kickoffs only 15 were touchbacks. PAT and Field Goals were both ranked 12th missing 5 of each. Punting OU ranked 10th with 36 yard net. Punt return OU ranks 1st with 12 returns of 13.3 yards. That however is 12 returns out of 55 punts to OU. One non-fielded punt rolled inside the five and totally changed the BSU game. Up 14-0. Offense shortly after fumbled in endzone you know the rest. Kick returns, OU is 3rd with 17 returns out of 59 kickoffs for a net of 23 yards returned.
2026 thoughts/concerns - 2025 team like the 2024 team had MAC elite running backs and a darn good qb and a good core of receivers/te’s. Offense is a major concern. Running game and time of possession the past two years kept the defense off the field and wore teams down. Can 2026 repeat the success with many question marks.
Defense: will be the team’s strength, might not return to 2024 glory but has potential. Front 7 is solid with excellent linebackers with solid secondary. The ends and line may be younger but athletic and quick. Special Teams - 3rd of the game. Has to improve in all phases in order for the team to repeat overall success started by Solich and improved upon by Albin. Have to flip the field with punts, help the defense out! Have to have touchbacks. Can’t pass on field goals in the red zone because of shaky kicking game, have to preserve field position with punt returns. Pressure is on Offense and Special Teams. Scrimmage can’t get here quick enough, as I stated, the intangibles make a huge difference!
I don’t think the running back room will be a problem.
We might not have a 1000 yard rusher in 26, BUT Brune is more than capable of shouldering the load until we see what Rosa has. And the stable behind them is strong. MTJ I thought could push for time last season, so this season I hope he gets some carries. And I think he will. I wouldn't be surprised to see something like 800 / 600 / 400 between the group. Toss in Veeza, who had 600 yards rushing last season... I think we'll be okay.
The biggest question mark, and we're not alone in this, is QB. Parker's ability to keep the offense on the field, rushing for extra yards, tucking it when needed is damn near irreplicable, but Veeza has wheels and is similar to Parker in his game. Polous can tuck it and go, that's not his game, but he CAN if needed and he's massive so he should be able to sneak out some additional 1-2 yard gains just on being 7'8" 250.
Who steps up at WR is a question mark. We've been lucky enough to just churn these WR1 dudes out the last four years, can it continue? Bowman feels likely, Rodarte is similar in style to Owen/Wigs, Dom has size, Pugh has size, Cremasoli is featured in damn near every spring practice video they put out. I think we have some options, but still a question mark. Especially with a new starter at QB.
OL is a worry, but we've got a few nice pieces back. Waite, Cisse... the rest, who knows.
Defense, we've had some good ones, so maybe I shouldn't be worried - strong core of LB with Fries / Molnar / Christopher. Raymond transferring in from Wisconsin, at 6'3" 231 he's our biggest LB. Dukes back is huge, but a lot of unknowns elsewhere on the DL. Hermann, Marsh... Weaver's brother... a lot of new starters needed down there.
Last Edited: 4/10/2026 9:37:50 AM by M.D.W.S.T