Oklahoma gets a tricky Saturday night test at Memorial Stadium, and the biggest challenge might not be the opponent so much as the pressure hanging over the Sooners themselves. No.
24 OU is back home at 6:30 p.m. CT after the 17-10 loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor, and this is the kind of game that can either calm everybody down or send the noise around the program right back up.
New Mexico arrives at 2-0 after a pair of blowout wins over weak opponents, but the Lobos aren’t being treated like a throwaway matchup for a reason. Jason Eck is in his second year and has already shown he can coach a dangerous team, especially after going 9-4 last season.
He’s also made it clear this is a big one for his group. For Oklahoma, that means the margin for error is tiny: a simple win is the bare minimum, and anything sloppy will keep the questions rolling as the Sooners head toward SEC play.
The most likely early script is a tight one. New Mexico’s defense has been stingy, allowing only seven points per game, and the Lobos can drag opponents into a slower game by leaning on the run.
That style can turn into a headache fast if Oklahoma doesn’t create chunk plays and finish drives. If the Sooners also lean into their ground game, the first half could move at a crawl.
That sets up a game that’s still very much in the balance at halftime before Oklahoma eventually starts to separate.
That running game is the big subplot. Last week against Michigan, Oklahoma’s backs barely got involved, with just 13 carries spread across three players, and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle took heat for putting the ground attack on the shelf.
This week, both Arbuckle and Brent Venables have said the Sooners need to run it, with Venables specifically pointing to 12- and 13-personnel as something that needs to become a foundation. Lloyd Avant looks like the best bet to carry the load and has the clearest path to 100 yards, while Tory Blaylock, now healthy, could also step in as RB1 and make a case of his own.
If Oklahoma doesn’t get production there, the frustration heading into SEC play will only grow louder.
There’s another area where the Sooners should finally break through: takeaways. Oklahoma’s defense has been excellent overall, but it still hasn’t picked off a pass in 2026.
That changes here. New Mexico is working with a two-quarterback rotation because starter Jack Layne is out for the season after offseason surgery, and both quarterbacks will be dealing with a night-game setting at Memorial Stadium for the first time.
Even with the Lobos protecting the ball so far, that kind of environment should eventually force a mistake.
So the pick is Oklahoma 27, New Mexico 10. It may not feel comfortable for long, especially with the temperature projected to still be in the 90s at kickoff, but the Sooners should be able to wear New Mexico down. The defense is good enough to suffocate the Lobos, and if the offense does just enough, OU should get the bounce-back win it needs.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Faces A Big Depth Test Against New Mexico
The Sooners are heading into their meeting with New Mexico with some early-season depth already being put to the test. Starting left tackle Michael Fasusi and wide receiver Trell Harris are both unavailable, which pushes Ryan Fodje and freshman Noah Best into bigger roles up front and leaves Elijah Thomas with a chance to absorb more of the passing-game load.
On defense, linebacker Kip Lewis is also sidelined, so James Nesta is in line to start in his place. The good news for Oklahoma is that the backfield remains intact, with Jonathan Hatton Jr. and Tory Blaylock both healthy and available, giving the offense at least one experienced area to lean on while the Sooners sort through a few key absences. [Read more 🡒]
Brent Venables Just Turned Oklahoma's Offense Into A Bigger Problem
A win over New Mexico did little to quiet the noise around Oklahomas offense, and Brent Venables didnt try to soften it afterward. The Sooners coach was blunt in his criticism of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle after a sluggish showing, saying the unit has to improve significantly as the season moves forward. For a program that expected more balance and a cleaner product on that side of the ball, the message landed as a public warning as much as a postgame assessment.
The frustration wasnt confined to Venables comments. During the game, fans were already chanting for Arbuckle to be fired, a sharp sign of how quickly patience is wearing thin. Venables declined to express confidence in Arbuckles current performance, leaving an already uneasy situation even more exposed as Oklahoma tries to steady an offense that has become its own problem. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Has One Problem Brent Venables Cant Ignore
Oklahoma has spent enough time under Brent Venables proving it can lean on defense, but the broader picture still leaves little room for comfort. The Sooners have been sturdy on that side of the ball while the offense has lagged behind, and after the loss to Michigan, the imbalance is hard to ignore as the team heads into games against New Mexico and Georgia.
Venables has made it clear he wants complementary football, the kind where the offense can stay on the field, sustain drives and give the defense a little breathing room. That remains the next step for Oklahoma, because without a more reliable attack, the Sooners can keep hanging around, but they will keep asking too much of a defense that has already done its part. [Read more 🡒]