Oklahoma’s 2-2 start has left a pretty clear paper trail through four games: one promising opener, then a steady slide that has the Sooners searching for answers before Saturday’s rivalry meeting with No. 1 Texas at the Cotton Bowl.
The odd part is that the results haven’t always matched the performance. The loss at Michigan in Week 2 was one Oklahoma probably could have stolen, while the win over New Mexico was a game the Sooners probably should have dropped. That kind of split doesn’t usually point to a team that has found its footing.
For a program built on offense - from the Bud Wilkinson era to the Wishbone years under Barry Switzer, then again during Bob Stoops’ run and through Lincoln Riley’s seven seasons - this has been a jarring first month. Brent Venables has spent the last four seasons trying to rebuild the defense for the SEC, and the offense has gone from a calling card to a problem.
Oklahoma was off last week, giving the staff extra time to get injured players closer to availability and to keep working on fixes for an attack that badly needs them. If there’s a turnaround coming, Saturday is where it has to start. If not, Sooners fans may be in for a long ride.
The defensive side has given Oklahoma some real reasons to feel better. The Sooners are allowing opponents to convert just .230 of their third-down tries, going 12-for-52 in those situations. That leads the SEC and ranks No. 3 nationally.
The pass defense has also been sharp, giving up just 122.5 passing yards per game. That tops the SEC and sits fourth nationally, with only one passing touchdown allowed so far.
There’s been individual production too. Isaiah Sategna is averaging 129.8 all-purpose yards per game, which is second-best in the SEC through four games.
And Rocky Beers, the Colorado State transfer tight end, has already put up 255 receiving yards, more than double what converted tight end Jaren Kanak totaled last season in 13 games. Beers also has two touchdown catches, two more than Kanak had all of last year.
The offense, though, is a mess in too many spots.
Oklahoma’s running backs are averaging only 2.9 yards per carry. That’s a huge drop from the nearly 6.0 yards per attempt the Sooners averaged over a 14-game stretch from 2017 through 2019.
The third-down numbers are ugly, too. While the defense has been getting stops, the offense has been just as ineffective in staying on the field. Oklahoma is 18-for-53 on third down, a 34% success rate that ranks 109th nationally.
Then there’s the turnover issue, and it’s the kind that can wreck a season fast. Quarterback John Mateer has been responsible for six of Oklahoma’s 10 total turnovers in the first four games. Half of those came in the loss to Georgia, which turned into 14 of Georgia’s 41 points, including an 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Those giveaways have had a direct impact on the scoreboard. Of the 64 points Oklahoma has allowed, 27 have come off turnovers. That’s 42% of the total.
The rushing output is another glaring problem. Oklahoma is averaging 99.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks 131st out of 138 FBS teams.
And the overall offense has simply not produced enough. The Sooners are averaging 321.3 yards per game, which puts them 120th among FBS teams and last in the SEC.
In Other News...
Brent Venables Is Standing By Oklahoma's Embattled Play Caller
Ben Arbuckle has taken the heat for Oklahomas recent offensive struggles, and the noise around him has only grown louder after three straight underwhelming showings. Fans have not been shy about their frustration with the production, and the conversation has spilled beyond the usual game-day griping into something more pointed, with polls showing a sizable chunk of the fan base would rather see Lincoln Riley back in charge of the offense.
Brent Venables, though, is not feeding that fire. The Oklahoma coach is standing by his offensive coordinator and making it clear he believes Arbuckle can get the unit turned around, even as the criticism keeps building. For a program that expects better on that side of the ball, the question now is whether Venables confidence becomes a stabilizing force or just the latest test of patience for a restless fan base. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Fans Need To Know This Before Red River Weekend
The annual Red River showdown returns Oct. 10 at Cotton Bowl Stadium during the State Fair of Texas, and for Sooners fans heading to Dallas, the game-day experience will start well before kickoff. With the fair grounds packed and the rivalry atmosphere in full force, Oklahoma supporters are being urged to arrive early and plan ahead, especially with parking and transportation expected to be part of the pregame challenge.
Safety and security will also be front and center, with a clear bag policy in effect and screening at entry points for everyone coming through. Fans making the trip can also expect the broader fair-week atmosphere to be in play, including live SEC Network shows during the fair, which should only add to the pageantry around one of the most recognizable games on the Sooners calendar. [Read more 🡒]
Red River Shootout Could Expose Whether Texas Is Really No. 1
The Red River Shootout arrives with Texas carrying the look of a heavyweight, at least on paper, and the SP+ model leans that way too. It projects the Longhorns to win 27-17 and gives them a 73 percent chance of leaving Dallas with another statement victory, which sets up a useful measuring stick for a Texas team trying to justify its top billing.
For Oklahoma, the game offers more than rivalry bragging rights. The Sooners have built their case around a defense that has quietly ranked among the nations best, and this matchup will tell a lot about how well that unit holds up against Arch Manning and a Texas offense still trying to prove it can consistently match elite expectations. If the Longhorns look the part again, the rest of the sport may have to keep treating them like the real No. 1. [Read more 🡒]