Oklahoma’s offensive line has to change again before Friday night. Ryan Fodje, who had been announced as the starting center on Monday, will not play against UTEP after suffering an injury early this week.
That matters because Fodje was not just moving into one spot. He had been preparing to make his third offensive-line position start since signing with Oklahoma last year, and the timing leaves the team sorting out the middle of the line with the first game here now. One source said the injury is a knee problem, and another said it is not expected to be serious or long-term, but Fodje is still scheduled to have an MRI soon to determine how much damage was done.
The center question is now down to Caleb Nitta and Noah Best, the primary candidates to take over against UTEP. Nitta was listed as the backup center on Monday’s depth chart, while Noah Best had already taken center reps in fall camp and carried an “or” designation behind or with Heath Ozaeta. By rule of depth and timing, that leaves Oklahoma likely leaning on one of those two when the game kicks off Friday night, even if the final call has not been made public.
The shift is a sharp turn from Sunday evening, when Fodje said he was confident about making the start in his third offensive-line spot since arriving from last year’s signing class. He had already started at right guard in 2025 and later moved to right tackle when Derek Simmons went down with concussions. Now the same player who was supposed to steady the interior is out before the season opener, and Oklahoma has to absorb another adjustment after Jake Maikkula’s sprained MCL already forced one change at center.
Parker Livingstone’s situation only adds to the uncertainty. He was projected as a starter, was officially listed as a co-starter with Elijah Thomas on Monday, and was placed into concussion protocol last week, leaving his availability for Friday and beyond unknown. For Oklahoma, the opening against UTEP is less about settling on one lineup than surviving the next round of shuffling long enough to find one.
