Norman Tigers OK 2026 Team Preview

Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!   It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July and even into August, we are publishing well over 100 of the most in-depth team previews that you'll find anywhere to get you completely ready for the 2026 football season. This is something that began for us at PRZ-Oklahoma in 2021 and it continues to get bigger and better every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state in every class. From defending champions, to the top contenders and plenty of dark horses and other teams to know, we'll have complete coverage every single day. There will be multiple previews dropping every single day! In this post, we take a look at the Norman Tigers!   Norman Tigers   Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #5 In Class 6A-2   Head Coach: [player_tooltip player_id='1829050' first='Rocky' last='Martin'] - 10th Season - 44-53 Record At Norman   2025 RESULTS (6-5 Record - Lost In Class 6A-1 1st Round)   Sept. 5th - Beat Norman North 19-13 Sept. 12th - Beat Edmond Santa Fe 44-21 Sept. 19th - Beat Piedmont 37-7 Sept. 26th - Beat Edmond North 35-25 Oct. 3rd - Lost To Jenks 44-0 Oct. 10th - Beat Enid 56-14 Oct. 17th - Beat Moore 25-20 Oct. 24th - Lost To Deer Creek 30-28 Oct. 31st - Lost To Mustang 54-29 Nov. 7th - Lost To Bixby 72-3 1st Round - Lost To Union 49-42   2025 Offensive Scoring Average: 28.9 Points Per Game 2025 Defensive Scoring Average: 31.7 Points Per Game   The Norman Tigers came into the 2025 football season with some momentum after one of their better seasons in recent memory. They went 10-2 during the 2024 season, including a headline-grabbing win over Bixby on the road at the end of the regular season. But they were hungry for more in 2025 and the season got off to a really good start. First off, Norman handed rival Norman North a 19-13 loss in the opening of their brand new stadium. That was the first of four straight wins as they went 4-0 in September and looked like a team to take seriously in 6A-1. They dropped a week five game to Jenks but bounced back with two straight wins and headed into week eight with a 6-1 record. Unfortunately, the wheels came off in the final few weeks of the regular season. They lost a tough one to Deer Creek in week eight before falling to Mustang in week nine and there was a 72-3 loss to Bixby to wrap up the regular season. They went from 6-1 to 6-4 as they headed into the playoffs. They traveled to Tulsa to square off with Union in the first round and it ended up being arguably the most memorable first round game in the 6A-1 playoffs. But again, unfortunately for the Tigers, they were on the other end of it as they had their season come to an end with a 49-42 loss to the Redhawks. The Tigers ended the year with a four-game losing streak and that has certainly left a sour taste in their mouth throughout the offseason. But things are about to look very different for the Tigers starting in 2026.    2026 OUTLOOK   The Tigers are now in Class 6A-2 after years and years of being in the state's largest class. Because of that, they are instantly a team to look out for when you consider the success they've had in 6A-1 and now they drop down to 6A-2. They check in at #5 in our 6A-2 preseason rankings and we think this is probably the first time in a long time that the Tigers are coming into a season as a top five team in their respective class. Now, not only will things look different on the schedule this season, but they're going to look different on the football field. Only one starter returns from last year's offense. The Tigers will almost have new names across the board when they take the field this season. But Norman's coaches are confident in the players they have to step into those new roles. Defensively, the Tigers also have to replace the majority of their starters. Only three starters are back on defense but they will come into this season relying on their linebackers and one of the better defensive lineman prospects in 6A-2. That three-headed monster on the defense will help set the tone for the Tigers on the defensive side of the ball. On one hand, it's easy to assume that the Tigers are going to have a breakout season with the drop down to 6A-2. But they will also be one of the more inexperienced teams in the class. They are in a district that will be very competitive at the top. They shouldn't have a problem making the playoffs but we're excited to see some new blood in 6A-2 and to see how far the Tigers can go in 2026.   KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION   Anthony Johnson - Running Back (2025 All State Honorable Mention) Crew Noles - Athlete (2025 All State 2nd Team Selection) Julius Stephens - Offensive Lineman (2025 All State Honorable Mention)   PLAYERS TO WATCH    Norman has to replace the majority of their starters on the defensive side of the ball but they do bring back one of the more productive players from last year's defense. 2027 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1837105' first='Ashton' last='Byrd'] emerged as a hard-hitting and heat-seeking missile in the Norman defense last season. As a junior, Byrd had a monster season, finishing the year with just under 100 tackles on the season. He also made a living in the backfield with multiple tackles for loss, pressures and sacks during his junior campaign. Byrd also did a really good job of separating the ball carrier from the ball. We're looking forward to seeing how Byrd has evolved his game this season.     The Tigers had one of the better rushing attacks last season and it's going to be rebuilt as they head into the 2026 football season. But one player that returns in the run game that got some experience last season is 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1829051' first='Dezmond' last='Cooper'] at the running back position. He was limited in his playing time last season but he was able to produce when he got into games last year. But there is no doubt that his workload is about to see a major upgrade when the Tigers kick off the season. The Tigers will utilize Cooper as one of their main playmakers on that side of the ball. How he responds to the workload and more touches will be something to watch this season.     We like the pieces that Norman has in the skill department but none of that matters if the Tigers don't get the job done on the line of scrimmage. The Tigers have to replace the majority of their offensive line but there are reasons to be optimistic about this new group. Leading that conversation is 2028 offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1829054' first='Haiden' last='Brock'] on the line. Brock measures in around 6'4 and over 250 pounds. He gives the Tigers size up front and could be an absolute force for the Tigers on that side of the ball. This group will have to grow up pretty fast this season but Brock, in our opinion, is a really strong foundational piece to start with on the line of scrimmage.     Joining Byrd in the linebacker department is 2027 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1691531' first='Kingston' last='Whitham'] this season. While Byrd is more of an inside linebacker, Whitham gets the job done on the outside and like Byrd, he is one of the more productive players that return for the Tigers this season. Last year, Whitham had a breakout season, finishing the year with over 60 tackles on the season. The Tigers will be expecting Whitham to take that next step as the Tigers enter the 2026 season. Norman has quite a few new names on this defense. Norman will lean on guys like Byrd and Whitham to bring those new names along and get them ready for the Friday night lights.     2027 defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1262599' first='Oakley' last='Caruthers'] enters this season as the most experienced Norman Tiger and one of the top DL prospects in Class 6A-2. Caruthers was incredibly productive last season, finishing the year with over 70 tackles from the defensive line. Caruthers was incredibly productive for a defensive tackle or nose guard. The Norman big man knows how to get into the backfield and cause havoc. Earlier this offseason, Caruthers announced his commitment to the Air Force. On a team that has so many new faces, they'll lean on the wealth of knowledge and experience from Caruthers when they take the field this season. There's no doubt that he'll set the tone on the line of scrimmage.    MORE NAMES TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='1829052' first='Colin' last='McGeisey'] - 2028 Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1833816' first='Cotton' last='Patterson'] - 2028 Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1837124' first='Deylan' last='Moore'] - 2027 Defensive Lineman JaMarcus Davis - 2028 Athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1830872' first='Kole' last='Baden'] - 2027 Wide Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1830881' first='London' last='Herbin'] - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1829050' first='Rocky' last='Martin'] - 2028 Linebacker   2026 SCHEDULE   Aug. 28th - Norman North - The 2026 season opens up with the annual rivalry game against Norman North in week zero. The Tigers went over to Norman North and spoiled their stadium unveiling last season, beating them 19-13. That was Norman's second straight win in a rivalry series that has been very back and forth over the last two decades.  Sept. 4th - AT Westmoore - The first of three straight road games for the Tigers comes in week one as they head over to Westmoore. The Tigers haven't played the Jaguars in the regular season since they were district opponents from 2014-2021. They did meet recently, in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. The Tigers beat the Jags 68-28.  Sept. 11th - AT Mustang - The Tigers take a trip over to Mustang to face the Broncos in week one and this match-up goes from being a district contest to a non-district one with Norman now in 6A-2. These two teams have met every year since 2020 and the last six meetings are even with both teams winning three each. Mustang won 54-29 last year. Sept. 18th - AT Ponca City - The non-district slate comes to an end with their third straight road game. They head up to Ponca City in week three to face the Wildcats. These two teams haven't met in nearly a decade. They were district opponents in 2016 and 2017. They split that series, with Ponca City winning in 2016 and then Norman won in 2017.  Sept. 25th - Choctaw - The district slate opens up in week four with arguably the toughest game on the schedule. Norman hosts a Choctaw team that is coming off back to back trips to the state championship game. The Tigers host the Yellowjackets in a game that will certainly have major district implications. This will be the first meeting since 2013. Oct. 2nd - AT Lawton Eisenhower - The Tigers go back on the road following the showdown with Choctaw, when they travel south to Lawton to face Lawton Eisenhower in week five. These two teams haven't met on the gridiron in quite some time. They were district opponents for the majority of the 2000's in the old 32-team 6A. Lawton Ike won the last two meetings. Oct. 8th - Putnam City - Norman returns home in week six to play a Thursday night game against Putnam City. This is another district contest that will have major playoff implications and could be the difference between getting a first round bye or not. These two teams haven't met since they were district opponents in 2014 and 2015. The Pirates won both of those meetings. Oct. 23rd - Piedmont - After a bye week, the Tigers are back in action in week eight against Piedmont. At this point, the Tigers are going to know where they stand in this district and if they are unbeaten in district play, a win here will all but lock down a district title. These two teams met in non-district play the last two years and the Tigers won both meetings. Oct. 30th - AT Putnam City North - Norman goes back on the road for the final time in the regular season here in week nine when they face Putnam City North. Out of the ten opponents on the schedule, Putnam City North is the opponent with the longest gap since their last meeting. You have to go all the way back to the 2002 first round to find the last meeting between these two.  Nov. 5th - Putnam City West - The regular season comes to a close in week ten when the Tigers host Putnam City West in week ten. This is another new match-up for the Tigers on the schedule this season. These two teams were district opponents from 2008-2013 in the old 32-team Class 6A. The Tigers were dominant in that series when they played over a decade ago.   NOTABLE   This would be an interesting trivia question for the 2026 season and one that maybe we should already have the answer for. When was the last time that Norman was not in the state's largest class in football? The Tigers dropping down to 6A-2 for this season and next was certainly an interesting wrinkle when the new classes came out earlier this year. And as we mentioned earlier, the Tigers immediately become a team to look out for despite having quite a few new faces on both sides of the ball. The next question about Norman football goes to the playoffs and how far the Tigers can go now that they are competing in 6A-2 and don't have to worry about some of the monsters that are up in 6A-1. The Tigers have enjoyed plenty of playoff appearances and there have been playoff victories. But it's been over three decades since the Tigers made it out of the quarterfinal round and were one of the final four teams in their respective class. Norman comes into this season as a top five team and looks to be one of 6A-2's best by the end of the season.   LAST FIVE SEASONS   2025 - 6-5 - Lost In Class 6A-1 1st Round 2024 - 10-2 - Lost In Class 6A-1 Quarterfinals 2023 - 5-7 - Lost In Class 6A-1 Quarterfinals 2022 - 3-8 - Lost In Class 6A-1 1st Round 2021 - 4-6 - Missed Playoffs   CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY   2 State Championships   1992 - Beat Lawton Eisenhower 17-14 1964 - Beat Capitol Hill 12-6

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