Oklahoma’s collapse against Kentucky took a hard turn late in the third quarter, and it started with the injury to Ryan Fodje.
The Sooners were inside the Kentucky 10-yard line when Fodje, Oklahoma’s starting left tackle, got rolled up at the end of a 2-yard run by Lloyd Avant. He was able to stay in for OU’s third-down snap, and the Sooners finished that possession with a field goal that pushed their lead to six. But after that, Fodje headed to the medical tent to be examined by team trainers.
He then missed the first two plays of Oklahoma’s next series before coming back onto the field with his right ankle taped so heavily it nearly looked like a cast. From there, the game changed fast. With Fodje clearly limited, Oklahoma’s already shallow offensive line took another hit, and the offense unraveled over the final 16 minutes.
In that stretch, John Mateer threw three interceptions, one of them a pick-six. He was also sacked three times, and the Sooners went three-and-out twice on the way to a 21-13 home loss.
Afterward, Brent Venables said the choice to let Fodje return was made with input from the training staff and from Fodje himself. When asked directly about the decision and whether there was a point when Oklahoma felt it had to remove the sophomore from the game, Venables said, "the trainers made that decision, along with Ryan," but added that he needed to get the details from everybody.
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Oklahoma's Biggest Problem Heading Into Mississippi State Is Hard To Ignore
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Oklahoma Faces One Big Offensive Concern Entering Mississippi State
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Ryan Fodjes injury status was part of the discussion, along with the broader issues on offense and the encouraging signs from running back Tory Blaylock as he works back from an early-season injury. For Oklahoma, the formula is clear enough: the defense is doing its part, but the offense still has to answer the biggest question hanging over this stretch of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Still Has One Last Chance To Prove This Season Matters
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Mississippi State gives Oklahoma one more chance to show this season still carries meaning beyond the frustration of the last few weeks. Hansen pointed to perseverance and motivation as the standard inside the building now, and the Sooners need that mindset to translate quickly if they want to finish with anything resembling momentum. [Read more 🡒]