Oklahoma didn’t just beat No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry. It walked out of that game with something a little less measurable and maybe a lot more valuable: confidence.
That matters, especially for a team that had spent much of the season fighting itself. The Sooners had shown too many signs of doubt along the offensive line, at quarterback, in the run game, and even on special teams.
Against Texas, though, the tone changed. Oklahoma found answers under pressure and, in the process, may have uncovered the kind of belief that can reshape the rest of its 2026 season.
The offensive line was one of the biggest reasons. Before Texas, that group had been a mess - blown assignments, missed blocks, and repeated losses at the point of attack.
But against one of the best defenses in the country, the Sooners’ front held up. That kind of performance doesn’t just help in one game.
It changes how a unit sees itself. Oklahoma now has every reason to believe it can line up against anyone on the schedule and hold its own.
John Mateer also took a real step forward. His season had been rough, with missed reads, turnovers, bad throws, and poor decisions piling up even after his thumb healed.
Against Texas, he cleaned it up. Mateer finished with zero turnovers and handled pressure with much better judgment.
He wasn’t perfect, but he made the right throws when Oklahoma needed them most and helped set up the game-winning field goal. For him, that outing looked like the start of a reset - a return to the confident quarterback the Sooners wanted when they brought him in.
The running backs got that same boost. Oklahoma’s backfield had struggled badly in recent weeks, including a game against Georgia where the group combined for just 52 yards.
Lloyd Avant alone topped that against Texas with 72 rushing yards, averaging 7.2 per carry and punching in a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. Jonathan Hatton Jr., the freshman, also helped bring the ground game back to life.
In the second half, both backs ran with more conviction, trusting the blocking and attacking the openings instead of hesitating. That confidence showed up in the way they fought through contact and kept the offense moving.
Then there was Tate Sandell, who had been dealing with his own early-season struggles after missing three straight field goals he usually makes. He missed his first try against Texas too, but Oklahoma stuck with him. Sandell responded with a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter to chip away at the Texas lead, then delivered the biggest kick of all: a last-second 47-yarder to win it.
Now the challenge is obvious. Oklahoma has to carry that energy into a brutal SEC stretch.
Kentucky is next, and it arrives with momentum under new head coach Will Stein. Both teams are coming off emotional wins that went down to the wire, which only raises the stakes.
If the Sooners can stack another result against a top-15 opponent, this win over Texas could start to look like the moment last year’s “Hard to Kill” identity started showing up again.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Faces Two Big Injury Questions Before Kentucky
Oklahomas availability report ahead of Kentucky brings a little more uncertainty to a game that already carries plenty of significance. Cornerback Eli Bowen and offensive tackle Michael Fasusi are both listed as questionable, and the Sooners are dealing with several other injury designations across the roster, leaving the picture a bit hazy as kickoff approaches.
Kentuckys report adds another layer to the matchup, with former Oklahoma wide receiver Nic Anderson listed as probable and several Wildcats also carrying injury tags of their own. For Oklahoma, the biggest immediate concern is simply how much of its depth will be available when it tries to handle a Kentucky team dealing with its own health issues. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Debate Gets More Awkward After Oklahoma Win
Arch Mannings latest outing against Oklahoma only added fuel to a discussion that has followed him through much of this season. He threw two interceptions in the game, and the performance immediately drew criticism as observers weighed what the outing said about where his game stands right now versus the expectation that comes with the Manning name.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian stepped in to defend his quarterback, arguing Manning would be viewed differently if he did not carry that level of recognition. But the pushback came quickly, with ESPN analysts Paul Finebaum and Jordan Rodgers publicly disputing Sarkisians read and casting doubt on Mannings current level of play, turning one rough game into a broader debate that is not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Faces A Big Test After The Texas Statement Win
Kentucky comes to Norman riding a four-game winning streak, and the timing makes this one feel like more than just another SEC date on the calendar. The Wildcats have already shown they can survive a tight one, including an overtime win over LSU, while Oklahoma is coming off the kind of result that can change the mood around a season in a hurry after beating then-No. 1 Texas.
The challenge for the Sooners is turning that statement win into something sustainable, because the next week always says a lot about a teams habits. Both coaches have pointed to focus and preparation as the keys here, and with Kentucky arriving confident and unbeaten in its recent run, Oklahoma will have to match the emotion of last week with the discipline required to handle the one in front of it. [Read more 🡒]