Coming out of Saturday's scrimmage, there was concern for starting center Jake Maikkula, who left the practice due to an injury, according to SoonerScoop's George Stoia. Though there was initial concern that he could be lost for the season, the latest reports suggest he'll be back for 2026.
Stoia and Pete Nakos of On3 are reporting that Maikkula will be able to play again this season, but didn't report a timetable for a return. According to John Hoover of Sooners on SI, Maikkula will be back in 4-6 weeks.
Without Maikkula, the Sooners turn to Western Kentucky transfer Caleb Nitta or true freshman Noah Best. Best has stood out at guard this fall while Fodje has flipped to left tackle while Michael Fasusi has been out with an injury.
If the timeline is 4-6 weeks, then Maikkula could be back for the Sooners' road trip to Georgia. But Oklahoma could opt to hold him out to give him more time to recover. After the Sooners play the Bulldogs, Oklahoma gets its bye week before the Red River Shootout the second weekend of October.
Maikkula played well as Oklahoma's starting center in 2025, and by all accounts, he was ready to contribute in an even bigger way. Until his return, center became the most important training camp competition ahead of their season opener on September 4.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners will have Jake Maikkula back for 2026 per reports
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