League rivals take notice as first-team specialists Tate Sandell and Ben Anderson lead a powerhouse crimson wave of talent poised to dominate the SEC this fall
Oklahoma landed 10 players on the 2026 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team, accounting for 13 total spots. The selections were made by the league’s head coaches, who weren’t allowed to vote for their own players.
Tate Sandell and long snapper Ben Anderson led the way as first-team honorees. Sandell made it at both placekicker and kickoff specialist. Anderson got the nod at long snapper.
The rest of the Sooners on the list came in on the second team: Isaiah Sategna III (wide receiver, all-purpose, and return specialist), Kip Lewis, Grayson Miller, Peyton Bowen, Taylor Wein, Eli Bowen, David Stone, and Michael Fasusi.
All 10 of those players had also been recognized on the media’s preseason All-SEC teams earlier this summer. Sandell and Anderson were first-team picks there too, while the others landed on the media second team. Sategna picked up the extra all-purpose recognition from the coaches.
Sandell’s inclusion is the easiest one to explain. He won the Lou Groza Award last season and was a first-team All-American after converting 24 of 27 field goals. He led the country in makes from 40-plus and 50-plus yards and set a pile of school and conference records, including a long streak of consecutive makes.
When a kicker impacts games the way he did, the honors tend to follow.Anderson has been a steady presence for years and has handled the long snapping duties for the last three seasons. He’s a two-time Patrick Mannelly Award semifinalist and continues to be one of the more reliable specialists in the league.
Sategna is coming off a strong first season in Norman with 68 catches, 965 yards, and eight touchdowns. He was a first-team media All-SEC pick last year and remains the clear top option in the receiving corps.
Lewis led the team in tackles last season and has been a consistent presence at linebacker. Miller averaged over 44 yards per punt and set a school record for 50-yard punts in a season.
On the defensive side, Peyton Bowen and Eli Bowen both earned recognition again after solid seasons in the secondary. Taylor Wein had a breakout year with team highs in tackles for loss and sacks. David Stone continues to draw attention as one of the more disruptive interior defenders on the roster. Michael Fasusi, still early in his career, started most of last season at left tackle as a true freshman and made an On3 true freshman All-American team.
Landing 10 players on the coaches’ preseason team is a solid reflection of the returning experience on this roster. It doesn’t guarantee anything once the games start, but it does show that the people who coach against Oklahoma see a lot of production coming back.
The specialists are covered. The skill positions have proven pieces. The defense has multiple players who produced at a high level a year ago.
Preseason teams are about what already happened and what people expect to happen again. Oklahoma has enough of both to show up in these lists. The next step is turning that recognition into another strong season on the field.
