In a clash of storied programs, the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl pits the Oklahoma Sooners against the Navy Midshipmen for the first time since 1965. Navy is set to be near 100% as they’ve not had the trouble with the transfer portal or opt-outs quite like the Sooners have.
Top Oklahoma Players Not Playing in Armed Forces Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Sooners won’t be in action in the Armed Forces Bowl.
- Jackson Arnold, QB (transfer portal)
- Steele Wasel, QB (transfer portal)
- Brendan Zurbrugg, QB (transfer portal)
- Chapman McKown, RB (transfer portal)
- Emeka Megwa, RB (transfer portal)
- Kalib Hicks, RB (transfer portal)
- Nic Anderson, WR (transfer portal)
- Brenen Thompson, WR (transfer portal)
- Andrel Anthony, WR (transfer portal)
- Jalil Farooq, WR (transfer portal)
- J.J. Hester, WR (transfer portal)
- Jaquaize Pettaway, WR (transfer portal)
- Josh Fanuiel, TE (transfer portal)
- Bauer Sharp, TE (transfer portal)
- Eugene Brooks, iOL (transfer portal)
- Joshua Bates, iOL (transfer portal)
- Geirean Hatchett, iOL (transfer portal)
- Champ Sanders, DL (transfer portal)
- Phil Picciotti, LB (transfer portal)
- Dasan McCullough, LB (transfer portal)
- Makari Vickers, CB (transfer portal)
- Kani Walker, CB (transfer portal)
- Jayden Rowe, CB (transfer portal)
- Ashton Logan, P (transfer portal)
In the case of the Sooners’ portal athletes, it may be easier to just simply list who is playing in the game against Navy. Let’s break down the portal athletes by how much they played and contributed this season to indicate where their biggest losses may be.
Obviously, starting QB Arnold is a big loss, but they Sooners have navigated life without him by turning to Michael Hawkins Jr. Elsewhere on offense, the losses of Anderson (a vital contributor during his career), Thompson, Anthony, Farooq, Hester, and TE Sharp mean Oklahoma is left with only one receiver (Jacob Jordan) who has hauled in more than six receptions this season.
Wasel, Zurbrugg, McKown, Megwa, and Hicks were all non-contributors this season but certainly part of the future. The three offensive line departures were role players on the interior, and should be able to be filled against Navy.
On defense, only McCullough and Walker played more than 100 snaps for OU in 2024. However, the team has seen its fair share of attrition on defense and role players like the losses to the portal could have come up huge in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Top Navy Players Not Playing in Armed Forces Bowl
Similarly, thanks to CFN’s Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, the Midshipmen expected to miss the game are easy to find:
- Lorenzo Vitti, CB (transfer portal)
As we said at the top, this is a clash of styles and a clash of personnel. Navy lost a single cornerback to the portal, and Vitti didn’t even log a snap in 2024.
The Midshipmen should be considered at full strength while the Sooners are a shell of themselves on offense.
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