On a day the Oklahoma Sooners got a big piece of their offensive line back from injury, they lost maybe an even more valuable contributor. Bill Bedenbaugh’s group just can’t catch any kind of break.
OU starting center Jake Maikkula went down with a lower-body injury in the third quarter against Mississippi State on Saturday and hasn’t returned since limping off the field. He immediately went into the medical tent after getting to the sideline.
Maikkula has started every game at center for the Sooners since missing the season opener due to an injury. He also started 10 games there last year after transferring from Stanford, where he spent the first three years of his career.
Caleb Nitta called upon with Sooners offensive line already shorthanded
Freshman Noah Best started in place of Maikkula when he was sidelined in Week 1. Best became the first freshman center to start an OU season opener since J.R. Conrad in 1992. He was also the first true freshman since Ty Darlington in 2012 to start at center at all…