Reggie Powers III doesn’t sound like a player leaving much room for debate about Oklahoma’s season. For the 2-2 Sooners, he sees Saturday’s Red River Rivalry against No. 1 Texas at the Cotton Bowl as a straight-up line in the sand.
The timing is brutal, but the stakes are obvious. Oklahoma is staring at a season that could slip away fast with another loss, and Powers made it clear the Sooners understand exactly where they stand heading into Week 6.
“It has to happen this week. There’s no other option, really,” Powers answered when asked if OU has to turn the season around in Week 6.
“That’s our mindset. It’s a must-win every week, but this week, we know if we want to turn around the season, then we have to do it right now.
There’s no waiting or talking about it. We just gotta go to work this week, and then prove it on Saturday.”
“It has to happen this week. There's no other option really.”
DB Reggie Powers III says this week is must-win for the #Sooners. pic.twitter.com/i6eAhTEunc
- Colton Sulley (@colton_sulley) October 6, 2026
A win in Dallas would do more than just snap a rivalry skid. It would also knock off the top-ranked team in college football, and that would instantly change the conversation around Oklahoma’s season. The Sooners have dropped back-to-back games in the rivalry, so beating Texas would carry plenty of weight even before you get to the rankings.
But the bigger picture is even harsher. After two early losses, Oklahoma is already in a near must-win stretch no matter who lines up across from it. A third defeat would leave the Sooners with almost no realistic path to the College Football Playoff, especially with a difficult road still ahead.
The schedule was built to give Oklahoma a chance, even with some early damage. Three games in the first five weeks were capable of being ranked matchups. Michigan slipped out of the rankings before Week 2, but Georgia and Texas have only become more daunting as the No. 2 and No. 1 teams in the country.
Not all losses are created equal, though. A competitive showing against Georgia or Texas would still leave some hope intact.
A blowout would not. That’s exactly what happened in Athens, and the Michigan loss keeps looking worse as the weeks go by, with the Wolverines sitting at 1-2 since then and still the Sooners’ only win against a Power 4 team.
The way Oklahoma has played has only added to the pressure. The offense has become one of college football’s punching bags, and the defense has not looked as sharp as it did a season ago, even with turnovers affecting the numbers. Even the 14-6 win over New Mexico at home came with more frustration than relief.
At this point, the College Football Playoff committee is not likely spending much time on Oklahoma. But that could change in a hurry if the Sooners pull off the upset in Dallas. With a bye week coming after this one, Saturday may be the last real chance for Oklahoma to make the season feel alive again.
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For Sooners fans, Johnson has long been one of the clearest links between Norman and NFL success, a homegrown star who turned rare athleticism into an all-time run in Philadelphia. His decision also puts a human face on a career that was never just about accolades, after he pointed to his mental health and his previous struggles with anxiety as part of the reason for stepping away. [Read more 🡒]