OU football names John Mateer, Owen Heinecke, 7 other Sooners captains for 2026 season
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NORMAN — Oklahoma announced its team captains ahead of the 2026 season.
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Safety Peyton Bowen, defensive linemen David Stone and Taylor Wein, linebackers Owen Heinecke and Kip Lewis, quarterback John Mateer and offensive linemen Michael Fasusi, Jake Maikkula and Eddy Pierre-Louis were named the Sooners' season captains Tuesday.
Entering his second season at OU, Mateer has cemented himself as even more of a leader and is out to prove he's gotten better. He's fresh off an up and down season in which he broke his thumb and threw for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
On defense, Bowen, Heinecke, Lewis, Stone and Wein are crucial veterans who opted to return. Bowen and Wein were each members of the All-SEC Second Team last season.
Fasusi, Maikkula and Pierre-Louis are three out of the four offensive linemen with starting experience with the Sooners on an offensive line that is expected to be improved. Maikkula will miss time with a "short-term" injury and isn't expected to play in the opener.
OU vs. UTEP
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at Owen Field in Norman (SEC Network+)
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football names John Mateer, Owen Heinecke, 7 other Sooners captains for 2026 season