Completed Event: Football versus New Mexico on September 19, 2026 , Win , 14, to, 6
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
October 28, 2026 | Football
NORMAN — University of Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2026 Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation's outstanding linebacker, the Butkus Foundation announced Wednesday.
Heinecke has started all seven games this season and registered team highs of 54 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four QB hurries. He also has recorded 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble. He has led the Sooners or tied for the team lead in tackles in six of seven games this season and has logged at least seven tackles in each of those six contests.
A Tulsa, Okla., product who is in his fifth year at OU, Heinecke was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week this week after his performance in Oklahoma's win at Mississippi State. In that contest, he recorded 10 tackles, including 2.0 for loss and a sack, and forced a fumble. His forced fumble came on a second-quarter play at the OU 4-yard line and was recovered by defensive lineman Taylor Wein. The Sooners turned that takeaway into a 96-yard touchdown drive and a 10-0 halftime lead.
Heinecke has three career games with double-digit tackles and last week became the first Sooner to notch 10 tackles in a game this season. He has totaled 128 tackles, including 18.5 for loss and 5.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, six QB hurries and four pass breakups over the last two seasons.
A former walk-on to the program, Heinecke has played in 46 career games and made 12 starts. He has started each of the team's last 12 contests, dating back to last season. All of his career TFLs, sacks, forced fumbles, hurries and pass breakups have come in the last two seasons. He entered the 2025 campaign with 11 career tackles, playing primarily in a special teams and reserve linebacker role in 2023 and 2024.
Heinecke a 2025 All-SEC Second Team selection by the Associated Press and received OU's Don Key Award, the program's highest annual honor. He was also a semifinalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy and is a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.
Finalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on Nov. 20, and the winner will be announced the week of Dec. 7.
Three Sooners have won the Butkus Award: Brian Bosworth (1985 and 1986), Rocky Calmus (2001) and Teddy Lehman (2003).
Oklahoma (4-3, 2-2 SEC) hosts South Carolina (4-3, 2-3 SEC) on Saturday at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The homecoming game is set to kick off at 3:15 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballTuesday, October 27
Tuesday, October 27
Sunday, October 25
Saturday, October 24
