Steve Curtis | October 27th, 2026
Noah Best entered the season with an opportunity to show how much Oklahoma could ask of him as a freshman.
Seven games into his first collegiate campaign, he’s started at three positions and is finally being allowed to settle in at left guard, giving an offensive line disrupted by injuries a young contributor it can keep building around.
That progression hasn’t come without difficult stretches. But Best’s recent performances have shown what he’s learning from them.
He started at center in the season opener against UTEP, also spending time at right guard. He stayed on the right side through Michigan, New Mexico and Georgia before moving to the left against Texas.
The changes have required more than learning where to line up.
“I think everybody being able to play everywhere helps so much because you know what everybody’s doing on every play, the exact footwork, the exact mindset everybody has,” Best said.
That understanding has begun translating into more consistent contributions.
Against Texas, Lloyd Avant broke free for 42 yards on a run right off Best’s back as the freshman moved a fourth-year defensive lineman who outweighed him by more than 50 pounds. A week later, while Oklahoma’s protection unraveled against Kentucky, Best didn’t allow a pressure across 51 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus (PFF).
He followed that with just one pressure allowed against Mississippi State.
Those performances don’t erase the work Oklahoma still needs from its offensive line as a whole. They show Best becoming someone the Sooners can depend on while they try to improve it.
Settling at left guard has helped.
“Moving around, I don’t mind it, but I like staying put,” Best said. “Moving left from right can mess you up in some of the plays, but I’ve been cool staying at left.”
With Michael Fasusi back at left tackle for the first time since the season opener in Saturday’s matchup in Starkville, Oklahoma also got a look at what that pairing could provide. The running game consistently found openings behind the left side, giving the Sooners something to build on in their remaining five games of the 2026 campaign.
Best credited the preparation that preceded it.
“We had a great week of preparation, really grinding together through that week of practice,” Best said.
His willingness to share that credit reflects how he’s approached his growing role.
Speaking with reporters Monday night for the second time in three weeks, Best remained the only freshman Oklahoma has made available this season. His answers were thoughtful and direct, focused on what he’s learning and how the group can improve.
Asked about adjusting to the injuries around him, he offered a simple response.
“Everybody in the country is dealing with stuff,” Best said. “Just got to work through it.”
Oklahoma still needs that approach to produce more consistent results across its offensive line. Best hasn’t solved those problems himself, but he’s becoming part of the answer.
For the remaining weeks of this season, that gives the Sooners a more dependable presence inside. Beyond it, his development alongside Fasusi offers an early look at a left side Oklahoma could lean on for years to come.