transfer portal addition for each of Oklahoma’s 2025 opponents

Oklahoma’s 2025 football season is fast approaching, with the Sooners just 87 days from their opener against Illinois State at Owen Field (5 p.m., SEC Network+/ESPN+). After a 6-7 record in Brent Venables’ third year, Oklahoma aims to bounce back in a critical season, bolstered by new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and the nation’s 12th-ranked transfer class, headlined by Washington State QB John Mateer and Cal RB Jaydn Ott.

Unlike last year’s softer early schedule, OU faces a tough test in Week 2 with Michigan visiting Norman, followed by their SEC opener against Auburn in Week 4. The Sooners’ 2025 slate, rated the nation’s toughest by ESPN’s SP+, includes six teams from last season’s final AP Top 25: Texas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama, South Carolina, and Missouri. Two of these games are at home, three are on the road, and the Red River Rivalry against Texas remains at the Cotton Bowl.

Oklahoma’s schedule also features seven opponents with top-25 transfer classes: LSU (No. 1), Ole Miss (No. 4), Missouri (No. 7), Auburn (No. 8), South Carolina (No. 15), Alabama (No. 21), and Texas (No. 24).

As the season nears, here’s a look at Oklahoma’s 2025 opponents and their top transfer portal additions:

**ILLINOIS STATE: Caleb Schmitz, TE**

Cincinnati transfer Caleb Schmitz (6-3, 235) played 14 games over 2022-23, with one career catch for 4 yards.
*Other additions*: Louisiana CB Shadwel Nkuba II, Coastal Carolina OL Logan Brasfield.

**MICHIGAN: Justice Haynes, RB**

Alabama transfer Justice Haynes (5-11, 210), the top RB in the portal, rushed for 448 yards and seven TDs last season, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
*Other additions*: Clemson DL Tre Williams, Alabama DL Damon Payne, Indiana WR Donaven McCulley.

**TEMPLE: Dontae Pollard, CB**

Samford transfer Dontae Pollard (5-10, 185) had 40 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one interception last season.
*Other additions*: Texas State QB Gevani McCoy, Oklahoma State DL Demerick Morris, Sam Houston RB Jay Ducker.

**AUBURN: Eric Singleton Jr., WR**

Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr. (5-11, 190), the top WR in the portal, had 56 catches for 754 yards and three TDs last season.
*Other additions*: Virginia Tech OT Xavier Chaplin, Wake Forest WR Horatio Fields, USC OT Mason Murphy, Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold.

**KENT STATE: CJ Montes, QB**

Fordham transfer CJ Montes (6-2, 205) threw for 333 yards and one TD in three starts last season before an injury.
*Other additions*: Southern DL Jelani Davis, Minnesota RB Jordan Nubin, Southern Illinois EDGE Jamond Mathis.

**TEXAS: Maraad Watson, DL**

Syracuse transfer Maraad Watson (6-3, 313) had 31 tackles and a 77.4 run defense grade last season.
*Other additions*: Purdue DL Cole Brevard, UNC DL Travis Shaw, Cal TE Jack Endries.

**SOUTH CAROLINA: Rahsul Faison, RB**

Utah State transfer Rahsul Faison (5-11, 200) rushed for 1,109 yards and eight TDs last season.
*Other additions*: Missouri DL Jaylen Brown, NC State CB Brandon Cisse, Texas A&M DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, Ohio State QB Air Noland.

**OLE MISS: Patrick Kutas, OL**

Arkansas transfer Patrick Kutas (6-5, 313), the top interior OL in the portal, allowed five pressures and no sacks in four starts last season.
*Other additions*: Nebraska EDGE Princewill Umanmielen, Arkansas TE Luke Hasz, Penn State WR Harrison Wallace III, Oklahoma State WR De’Zhaun Stribling.

**TENNESSEE: Sam Pendleton, OL**

Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton (6-4, 310) started seven games at left guard last season, allowing six pressures and no sacks.
*Other additions*: Arizona OL Wendell Moe Jr., Colorado CB Colton Hood, Duke RB Star Thomas, Alabama WR Amari Jefferson.

**ALABAMA: Isaiah Horton, WR**

Miami transfer Isaiah Horton (6-4, 205) caught 56 passes for 616 yards and five TDs last season.
*Other additions*: Colorado LB Nikhai Hill-Green, Utah CB Cameron Calhoun, Florida DL Kelby Collins, Texas A&M OL Kam Dewberry.

**MISSOURI: Damon Wilson II, EDGE**

Georgia transfer Damon Wilson II, a five-star prospect, had 35 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and three sacks last season.
*Other additions*: Mississippi State WR Kevin Coleman Jr., Appalachian State EDGE Nate Johnson, ULM RB Ahmad Hardy, Penn State QB Beau Pribula.