Oklahoma’s defense has been sturdy for much of 2026, but the Sooners know exactly where the stress point is heading into Saturday: finishing tackles against Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
Through nine games, Oklahoma has missed 116 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Cody Nagel of 247Sports reported the Sooners’ missed tackle percentage at 18.2 percent, which ranks 134th out of 138 FBS teams. That kind of slippage is a dangerous problem against a quarterback who can hurt a defense in more than one way.
“It takes everybody,” OU coach Brent Venables said. “The discipline in our rush lanes, how we execute every call with great detail and purposefulness. Everyone needs to understand the ‘why’ of why we’re doing, how we’re doing it, situational football.”
Ole Miss already showed Oklahoma what that challenge can look like. Last year, the Rebels beat the Sooners 34-26 in Norman, handing OU one of its three losses, and Chambliss was a major reason why. He threw for 315 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 53 yards and averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
Oklahoma missed 18 tackles in that game, and several of them came when Chambliss broke free from the pocket.
This season, Chambliss has piled up 2,359 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has also added 187 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground, giving Ole Miss the kind of dual-threat threat that can force a defense to stay honest snap after snap.
“They do a good job schematically of creating a lot of stress for you,” Venables said. “If you’re going to have any opportunity to play well against a player of his caliber, it really is going to take all 11 that are on the field, understanding why it’s important for them to do their job at the level we need them to.”
The Sooners are also aware that Chambliss has had some ball-security issues lately. He has thrown five interceptions over his last three games, including three in the Rebels’ loss to Texas. Against Georgia last week, he forced a throw when he should have taken the safe option and ended up with a costly interception.
OU linebacker Owen Heinecke said Chambliss’ versatility makes him tough to defend, but he believes the Sooners can clean up the mistakes that hurt them a year ago.
“He extended a lot of plays that felt like we should have been off the field on,” Heinecke said. “He’s the key - the whole offense runs through him. We gotta bottle him up, make him throw the ball down, check down, and we’ll do a really good job of that.”
Oklahoma’s most troubling defensive outing this season came on Oct. 31 in a 42-25 loss to South Carolina, when the Sooners missed 25 tackles and gave up more than 500 yards. But they answered with a much sharper performance last week, holding Florida to 203 offensive yards in a 23-7 win and missing just 12 tackles.
Venables said that effort showed the kind of edge Oklahoma will need again.
“I thought our guys played with a great edge, a good chip on their shoulder,” Venables said. “I thought they came out swinging right away, played with great energy and played from a place of desperation, and so you know that's what it's going to take for us (against Ole Miss).”
In Other News...
Jason Witten Is Already Changing Oklahomas Offensive Identity
Jason Wittens first weeks as Oklahomas offensive coach have already brought a noticeable shift in how the Sooners are operating on the practice field. The former NFL tight end has pushed a more intentional, professional approach, with an emphasis on clarity, communication and situational football, and that has stood out to Brent Venables in the early going.
Venables has pointed to Wittens organization and the way he gets through to players as a real asset for the offense. Even after just one game in the role, the early signs suggest the Sooners are getting a cleaner understanding of what is expected, along with a stronger sense of accountability as the unit adjusts to a different voice and a different standard. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Waits On Key Line Decision Before Ole Miss Showdown
Oklahomas preparation for Ole Miss has been shaped by the injury report, with offensive lineman Ryan Fodje listed as doubtful after getting hurt on Oct. 17. The Sooners could use the extra help up front in a matchup that figures to test every part of the offense, while cornerback Jacobe Johnson is listed as probable and should give the secondary a needed boost if he is cleared to go.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, is dealing with its own long list of absences, including 11 players ruled out, among them running back Kewan Lacy and guard Patris Kutas. Even with a few Rebels listed as probable or doubtful, the bigger question for Oklahoma is how the line holds up if Fodje cannot make it, because that decision could shape both the protection plan and the way the Sooners attack in a game with plenty on the line. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Just Sent A Blunt Message About Brent Venables Future
Brent Venables may have signed a two-year extension in August, but the bigger message around Oklahoma football has been about stability, not anxiety. The deal pushed his tenure through 2031, came with a salary bump, and significantly increased his buyout, all of which signaled that the university was willing to make a long-term commitment even as the on-field results have fallen short of expectations.
Rick Nagel, the chair of the Oklahoma Board of Regents, added to that picture by publicly saying Venables is not on the hot seat despite the disappointing season. For a program with championship standards and a fan base that does not like to wait, that kind of backing matters, because it suggests Oklahoma is not looking to make a snap judgment about its coach even as the pressure around the program continues to build. [Read more 🡒]