Oklahoma walks into Saturday’s SEC home opener with the kind of confidence that comes from beating Texas, and the Sooners will try to turn that emotional Red River Rivalry win into something bigger against Kentucky.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where OU and the Wildcats arrive with fresh top 10 victories in hand. The Sooners upset then-No.
1 Texas, while Kentucky took down then-No. 10 LSU.
The matchup also comes with some history tilted firmly toward Oklahoma. Since the start of the 1999 season, the Sooners are 25-2 in games played right after their annual showdown with the Longhorns. Kentucky, meanwhile, is back in the rankings at No. 15, its highest spot since the 2022 season, when it climbed as high as No. 7 after starting 4-0.
Our staff sees a tight game, but most of the picks lean Oklahoma’s way.
Colton Sulley sees the Sooners starting a run with a 23-20 win, calling it the beginning of a stretch that could rival OU’s trip to the CFP last season.
Jenni Carlson likes Oklahoma by a little more, taking the Sooners 23-14 and pointing to another dominant defensive outing, along with steady, mistake-free play from John Mateer and the offense.
Joe Mussatto also expects the defense to set the tone. He picked OU 20-16 and noted the crowd should be energized again after the Texas upset. He also pointed to that 25-2 record in the game immediately after OU-Texas since 1999.
Jacob Unruh went with a 21-13 Oklahoma win, saying the Sooners can keep the momentum going with just enough offense to support another strong defensive performance.
Jeff Patterson didn’t put a score on it, but he made the same basic point: picking against Oklahoma after an emotional Red River win feels risky. He also noted Kentucky’s four-game winning streak since its late collapse against Alabama, and said a win for Will Stein would make the playoff path much more interesting.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Heads Into Kentucky With A New Offensive Line Worry
Oklahomas offensive line is again trending toward a reshuffle as the Sooners prepare for Kentucky, with three starters listed as doubtful and their availability looking unlikely. Michael Fasusi, Eddy Pierre-Louis and Heath Ozaeta are all on that side of the injury report, a familiar and frustrating development for a group that has spent much of the season trying to piece itself together while the offense has searched for consistency.
If those absences hold, Peyton Joseph would be in line for his first career start at right guard, slotting into a front that would also include Ryan Fodje, Noah Best, Jake Maikkula and E'Marion Harris. For Oklahoma, the bigger issue is less about one game than the cumulative effect of constant line turnover, which has made it difficult to build rhythm up front and now leaves the Sooners facing another test of depth at a crucial spot. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Kentucky Availability Report Brings New Concern Before SEC Opener
Oklahomas first SEC home game of the season already has a different feel to it after the latest availability report brought a mix of encouraging and worrying news. Parker Livingstone and Eli Bowen were ruled out, while Michael Fasusi was downgraded to doubtful, giving the Sooners a little less certainty as they prepare for a conference opener that will ask plenty of their depth.
There was some relief on the other side of the report, with Tory Blaylock and Jack Van Dorselaer both upgraded and no longer listed among the question marks. Even so, the shifting availability picture adds another layer of intrigue to a matchup that is already carrying early-season SEC stakes, and Kentuckys decision to name Nic Anderson and Jovantae Barnes as captains only adds to the sense that familiar faces will be in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
These Overlooked Sooners Could Decide Oklahomas Edge Against Kentucky
Sullivans return against Texas gave Oklahoma another piece to work with on defense, even if his role was limited to 13 snaps after the injury layoff. The Sooners are expecting him to factor in again as they try to shore up an edge group that has to hold up against Kentuckys offense, while the offense has been getting a different kind of lift from Jonathan Hatton at running back. Hatton started there and showed enough promise alongside Lloyd Avant to give Oklahoma some options as it keeps searching for reliable depth.
Isaiah Sategna has been the steady receiving presence so far, leading the Sooners in catches and yards, but this matchup could come down to the fronts on both sides of the ball. Adepoju Adebawore and Jayden Jackson have already been central defensive pieces through five games, and Oklahoma is leaning on Adebawore in particular to help contain Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey and squeeze the Wildcats' run game. For a defense still sorting out roles, those lesser-sung snaps could end up mattering just as much as the headline names. [Read more 🡒]