The Oklahoma Sooners’ 2024 season ended not with a bang, but a thud—a disappointing 6–7 campaign capped off by a humbling loss to Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl. Once a perennial College Football Playoff contender, Oklahoma looked lost in its first year as an SEC program. The offense sputtered, the backfield rotated without clarity, and fans were left wondering if Brent Venables’ rebuild had already stalled out before it even got going.
But that was before Jaydn Ott announced his arrival.
On the surface, Ott’s transfer from Cal might appear to be just another move in the ever-chaotic world of the transfer portal. Dig deeper, though, and it becomes clear: this addition could fundamentally alter the Sooners’ trajectory. Ott isn’t just another name. He’s a bona fide star, one of the most dynamic and versatile backs in the country when healthy—and in a conference suddenly short on proven running backs, he could be the best of the bunch.
A New RB1 in Norman
Let’s start with the facts. Ott brings 2,597 career rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns, and another 736 yards and six scores through the air from his three seasons at Cal. He earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors in 2023, a year in which he ran for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns, routinely torching opposing defenses despite being the focal point of Cal’s offense.
His numbers aren’t empty calories, either. Ott has shown the ability to rise to the occasion against top-tier opponents. His 153-yard, three-touchdown game against USC in a narrow loss. A 274-yard explosion as a freshman against Arizona. An electric 75-yard receiving score against Miami. His performance in the LA Bowl against UNLV. Time and time again, Ott proved he could be the engine of an offense—and that’s exactly what Oklahoma needs.
Since Eric Gray departed for the NFL, Oklahoma’s running back room has been in flux. Gavin Sawchuk led the team in rushing in 2023 with 744 yards, but he didn’t come on until the middle of the season. Marcus Major, Tawee Walker, and Jovantae Barnes each had moments but struggled with consistency, injuries, or both. Even the promising young duo of Taylor Tatum and Xavier Robinson showed flashes but lacked polish in key areas like pass protection and ball security.
Enter Ott. Healthy and hungry, he’ll immediately slot in as the feature back, giving DeMarco Murray’s group the kind of proven playmaker it hasn’t had in two seasons.
Shifting the SEC Landscape
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Ott’s move is what it does to the SEC’s power dynamics at running back.
The conference, long known for producing elite backs—from Derrick Henry to Nick Chubb to Leonard Fournette—has hit an unexpected lull. Only three SEC backs eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in 2024, and just one—Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson—cracked the top 20 nationally in yards per game. Now, five of the top six rushers from last year are gone, either to the NFL or to the portal.
That leaves a wide-open landscape for new stars to emerge. Caden Durham at LSU, Nate Frazier at Georgia, and Jadan Baugh at Florida are all young talents poised for breakout seasons. But none come close to matching Ott’s blend of experience and explosive production.
In fact, when ranking the top backs in the SEC heading into 2025, Ott sits comfortably at No. 1.
Yes, the SEC is more than just a ground-and-pound league now. The quarterback play has elevated, and wide receiver rooms across the conference are more talented than ever. But a reliable running game still separates contenders from pretenders. Just ask Nick Saban. Or Kirby Smart. Or even Steve Sarkisian.
That’s why Ott’s presence in Norman is such a big deal. Oklahoma now has the chance to build its offense around a true game-changer, someone who can ease the burden on a new quarterback (John Mateer, who reunites with OC Ben Arbuckle after transferring from Washington State) and help stabilize a rebuilt offensive line featuring Stanford transfer Jake Maikkula.
Injury Concerns—and a Huge Opportunity
Of course, there are caveats. Ott was limited in 2024 after suffering an ankle injury in the season opener. He missed three games and wasn’t quite the same for much of the year, finishing with 385 rushing yards and four scores on 116 carries. But even in a down season, he managed to show off his hands (24 receptions for 222 yards) and his toughness, playing through the pain and leading Cal to a bowl appearance.
In Norman, he’ll benefit from a better supporting cast—especially if the offensive line takes a step forward and Arbuckle’s scheme continues to evolve. Ott is a perfect fit for Arbuckle’s up-tempo, RPO-heavy system. His ability to catch passes out of the backfield and turn small gains into chunk plays gives Oklahoma a new level of flexibility.
And if he stays healthy? The sky is the limit. Ott has the tools to be a Doak Walker Award finalist, a Day 2 NFL Draft pick, and the centerpiece of a retooled Oklahoma offense.
The Bigger Picture
Brent Venables has made it clear: the transfer portal isn’t about short-term fixes, it’s about long-term strategy. “Retention is the most important part of the whole puzzle,” he said recently. “You want continuity. Consistency. Stability.”
But adding a player like Ott isn’t just about filling a need. It’s about seizing a moment.
Oklahoma’s move to the SEC means every season from here on out is a test of legitimacy. The Sooners can’t afford to linger in the middle of the pack while Texas, Georgia, and Alabama continue to reload. They need playmakers. Leaders. Stars.
Jaydn Ott checks all those boxes—and then some.
If this turns out to be the year Oklahoma finally figures it out offensively, don’t be surprised if it’s Ott leading the charge. He may only have one year of eligibility left, but his impact could ripple through Norman for years to come.
After a year of wandering the wilderness, Oklahoma may have just found its compass.
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