The Oklahoma Sooners have a long history of great running backs. From Adrian Peterson to DeMarco Murray, the Sooners have always run the ball well. When they are contenders for a national championship, it’s because they have a great running game.
Murray was actually the running backs coach for Oklahoma last season. He recently decided to move on and take the same role with the Kansas City Chiefs. With Murray now in the NFL, the Sooners needed to find a new coach to take over that role.
Oklahoma has decided to bring in a well-respected running backs coach who has experience in both college football and the NFL.
GettyOklahoma Sooners running back Jadyn Ott runs the ball. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Oklahoma Sooners hire Deland McCullough as New RB Coach
According to multiple reports, the Sooners have decided to hire Deland McCullough as their new running backs coach. McCullogh has a wealth of experience in college football. McCullough has been the running backs coach for Indiana, USC, and Notre Dame.
In the NFL, McCullough was the running backs coach for the Chiefs for a few seasons and spent last year with the Las Vegas Raiders. Now, he has decided to return to the college ranks. McCullough has a son who played for the Sooners before he transferred and joined him at Indiana.
The Sooners have struggled to find their way in the SEC since making the move from the Big 12. Last season was the best year that the Sooners have had in the new conference. They were able to make the College Football Playoff for the first time since Baker Mayfield was on the roster.
McCullogh will have a talented running back room to coach, but their second-leading rusher was John Mateer. McCullough will be tasked with developing a more consistent bell-cow that the Sooners can rely on.
GettyThe Oklahoma Sooners sing after a loss against Alabama. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma Sooners Have a Brutal Schedule to Overcome
In the 2026 season, the Sooners have an incredibly tough schedule to make it back to the CFP. They have games at Michigan, Georgia, Florida, and Missouri. They also have home games against Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and a neutral-site game against Texas.
With that gauntlet, it will be extremely hard for the Sooners to emerge with only two losses. They made the 2025 College Football Playoff with two losses before losing to Alabama in the first round. The offense has to be much improved next season.
Oklahoma was 78th in the country in points per game in 2025. A big reason for that was the lack of a consistent running game, which is why McCullogh was hired. He has worked with talented college running backs, including Jeremiyah Love.
If the Sooners can find their footing on the offensive side of the ball, they have a shot to slide into the CFP again. Brent Venables saved his job by making the CFP last year, but the Sooners have to show that they can consistently compete in the SEC for that to continue.
Oklahoma Sooners Hire Well-Respected RB Coach