Oklahoma’s trip into Kentucky matchup prep comes with a familiar kind of question: which under-the-radar Sooners are ready to swing the game?
A few names stand out because of how they fit what the Wildcats do best. Dilan Sullivan is one of them.
He got onto the field in Oklahoma’s first two games at linebacker and cheetah, piling up 63 total defensive snaps, then disappeared from the rotation because of injury until last week’s win over Texas. Against the Longhorns, he was back for 13 defensive snaps, and that return matters.
Owen Heinecke and Kip Lewis both played well in Dallas, but they also looked worn down at times. Against a Kentucky offense led by dual-threat quarterback Kenny Minchey, Sullivan could be asked to spy him in certain third-down spots.
The backfield is another place where Oklahoma may need a lift beyond the obvious names. Jonathan Hatton started against Texas, and even though Lloyd Avant was the more effective runner, Hatton came close to breaking off a couple of strong runs.
The Sooners need that ground game to keep building on what they showed in the third quarter last week, especially with defenses ahead on the schedule that aren’t on the same level as Texas, Georgia and Michigan. Hatton could be the one who helps make that possible alongside Avant.
At receiver, Isaiah Sategna is going to draw the most attention from Kentucky, and that makes sense. Through five games, the fifth-year wideout leads the Sooners with 25 catches for 331 yards and two touchdowns, and his track speed makes him hard to corral.
But Elijah Thomas is the quieter name who could matter if the Wildcats manage to bottle Sategna up. Thomas has only five catches for 49 yards this season, yet he’s been open plenty of times, and Oklahoma may need to lean on him more if the primary target gets taken away.
Sategna will still be John Mateer’s top option, but Thomas is the next receiver who should be in the mix.
Up front, Adepoju Adebawore has been doing more than his share of important work without always grabbing the spotlight. Danny Okoye got plenty of attention for his blocked punt against Texas, and Taylor Wein leads the defensive ends in tackles, but Adebawore has quietly been one of Oklahoma’s most effective defenders through five games.
Among players who have logged more than 45 snaps, he ranks third on the team in Pro Football Focus ratings, behind only safety Peyton Owen and Wein. That kind of steady play will matter against Minchey, who has just 11 rushing yards and is averaging 0.3 yards per carry, but has been dangerous throwing the ball.
Oklahoma will want to push him out of the pocket and keep him contained, and Adebawore is central to that plan. He’ll also be important setting the edge against Kentucky’s explosive run game.
Then there’s Jayden Jackson, who has been Oklahoma’s most consistently dominant player, even if David Stone has gotten more of the public praise for his eye-catching play. Jackson has controlled the middle from the opening snap, and that could be crucial against a Kentucky team that wants to stay ahead of the chains and keep its offense efficient. If Jackson helps prevent the Wildcats from leaning on the run early, it could force Will Stein to open up more of the passing game and give the Sooners more chances to get after the quarterback.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Heads Into Kentucky With A New Offensive Line Worry
Oklahomas offensive line is again trending toward a reshuffle as the Sooners prepare for Kentucky, with three starters listed as doubtful and their availability looking unlikely. Michael Fasusi, Eddy Pierre-Louis and Heath Ozaeta are all on that side of the injury report, a familiar and frustrating development for a group that has spent much of the season trying to piece itself together while the offense has searched for consistency.
If those absences hold, Peyton Joseph would be in line for his first career start at right guard, slotting into a front that would also include Ryan Fodje, Noah Best, Jake Maikkula and E'Marion Harris. For Oklahoma, the bigger issue is less about one game than the cumulative effect of constant line turnover, which has made it difficult to build rhythm up front and now leaves the Sooners facing another test of depth at a crucial spot. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Kentucky Availability Report Brings New Concern Before SEC Opener
Oklahomas first SEC home game of the season already has a different feel to it after the latest availability report brought a mix of encouraging and worrying news. Parker Livingstone and Eli Bowen were ruled out, while Michael Fasusi was downgraded to doubtful, giving the Sooners a little less certainty as they prepare for a conference opener that will ask plenty of their depth.
There was some relief on the other side of the report, with Tory Blaylock and Jack Van Dorselaer both upgraded and no longer listed among the question marks. Even so, the shifting availability picture adds another layer of intrigue to a matchup that is already carrying early-season SEC stakes, and Kentuckys decision to name Nic Anderson and Jovantae Barnes as captains only adds to the sense that familiar faces will be in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Still Has One Big Problem After Beating Texas
Oklahomas win over Texas gave the Sooners a needed jolt, but it also left the same question hanging over the offense as the calendar turns toward No. 15 Kentucky. Ben Arbuckles unit has shown enough to believe it can make noise in the SEC race, and John Mateer remains the kind of playmaker who can keep a defense honest. Even so, the Sooners know a rivalry win only matters if it becomes a launch point rather than a one-off spark.
What comes next is less about celebrating the result and more about tightening the screws in practice, where Lloyd Avant and the rest of the staff have to push for cleaner execution and more reliable rhythm. Tate Sandells presence helps in the margins, but Oklahoma still needs more consistency on offense if it wants to turn momentum into something lasting. Against Kentucky, the Sooners will find out quickly whether the progress they saw in Dallas was a sign of real growth or just a brief burst. [Read more 🡒]