Weekend Open Post | October 24th – 26th
Posted on: October 24, 2025
Sunday Brunch | Survive and Advance
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 19, 2025
From the Oklahoma Sooners’ standpoint, the most important benefit of beating South Carolina was the restoration of confidence and momentum after a tough stretch in their season. Coming off a disappointing loss to Texas, Oklahoma needed a complete performance to reestablish its identity, and the 26–7 road win over the Gamecocks did exactly that.
The Sooners’ defense dominated the game with six sacks and a relentless pass rush, while the offense found rhythm again with a balanced attack that produced 171 rushing yards. More importantly, the team showed maturity and composure, taking control after halftime and proving they could respond to adversity on the road.
The win pushed Oklahoma to 6–1 on the year and 2–1 in SEC play, reinforcing their position in the conference race and improving postseason outlooks. Beyond the numbers, this game served as a crucial psychological reset, validating the adjustments made by the coaching staff, strengthening belief in the team’s depth, and reminding everyone that Oklahoma remains a legitimate contender heading into the tougher part of its schedule.
This week in college football was pure chaos, the kind of weekend that reminds fans why the sport is so unpredictable and thrilling. Several top teams went down in stunning fashion, with eight ranked programs suffering losses that shook up the national landscape.
Louisville delivered one of the biggest surprises by upsetting No. 2 Miami 24–21 on the road, a statement win that reignited the Cardinals’ postseason hopes and derailed the Hurricanes’ playoff path. UAB pulled off a shocking 31–24 victory over No. 22 Memphis, while Florida State’s season continued to unravel after a 20–13 loss to Stanford, a defeat that highlighted deep issues within the Seminoles’ once-promising campaign. Even teams that survived had to sweat it out, like Texas A&M, which narrowly escaped Arkansas 45–42 in a shootout, and Georgia Tech, which needed a late surge to put away Duke 27–18, and Texas, which needed some poor decision-making and even worse execution from the Wildcats to sneak out with a win against lowly Kentucky.
The theme of the week was volatility. No team seemed safe, no lead felt secure. For fans, it was a weekend of drama and disbelief. For coaches, a reminder that focus and consistency are everything. With so many ranked teams losing and others barely surviving, the playoff picture has been turned upside down, and momentum across the country has shifted in ways that will ripple through the rest of the season.
Survive and advance is the name of the game. This week, the Sooners checked off that box, but each of the next five games will present an entirely new challenge. Based on how the season has played out and the goals remaining in front of Oklahoma, next week’s home game against Ole Miss may very well represent the most important home game of the Venables era…and no matter what happens next week against the Rebels, suddenly the Tennessee game will become the next ‘must win’ game for Brent Venables and his squad.
Despite our grievances with the state of College Football, with the transfer portal, NIL deals, crazy coaching salaries, and everything else…it’s still the best game ever, and this season has absolutely delivered to this point!
Season Begins Now
– Super K – Posted on: October 20, 2025
The Sooners are about to enter the toughest part of their schedule. So far, for the most part, BV and co have done what they needed to do to position the Sooners to make a second half run.
But the profile of the teams they’re about to face are significantly different than what they faced in the first half of the season.
Some of the remaining teams, at least by rankings, are not as good, defensively, as some of the teams the Sooners have faced.
However, the offensive profile of these upcoming teams are much better.
Of the power four opponents the Sooners have faced, thus far, one is ranked inside the top 50 in total offense (Michigan at 45) and none are ranked inside the top 50 in scoring offense.
Outside of LSU, they all are…
***Ole Miss – 8th in total offense, 16th in scoring offense
***Tennessee – 5th in total offense, 2nd in scoring offense
***Alabama – 42nd in total offense, 33rd in scoring offense
***Missouri – 10th in total offense, 12th in scoring offense
The run of quarterbacks they are about to face are significant upgrades to what they have faced, especially when you consider the weapons around them.
I won’t go so far as to say this Ole Miss game will define the season but it could certainly give us a good measure of what the Sooners are. They’ll be facing an excellent offensive coach, an excellent QB and plenty of weapons. That is something they will face in the remaining teams on their schedule, as well.
BV and co have gotten the Sooners to the starting line but the race is about to begin.
Position Group Progress Report | Game Seven: South Carolina
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 20, 2025
Checking out how the position groups performed in the Sooners’ 26-7 win on the road over South Carolina!
Oklahoma was a slight favorite at kickoff time, and they covered the spread.
This will be the seventh progress report of the season. I will include the previous week’s ranking (preseason ranking in this case) at the top of each position group’s report in all subsequent progress reports!
Let’s see how things shook out against South Carolina.
QB: 3* (Last week: Nebula)
John Mateer was an efficient game manager against South Carolina. Arbuckle did not ask a lot of him, and Mateer went out and played within the game plan pretty effectively. He went 18-26 for a buck fifty with one touchdown. It is clear he is still not healthy (as one would expect), but he didn’t turn the ball over and distributed the ball cleanly for the most part. Have to hope he continues to progress, health-wise, which will help open up the downfield passing game a little bit more.
One of the more encouraging things was seeing the Sooners stick with the plan that we talked about previously in the instance of a helmet popping off by inserting Whitt Newbauer instead of wasting a game played for Hawkins by running him out there for one snap. That was solid QB room management.
Best player in the room this week: Mateer
RB: 5* (Last week: Nebula)
Look…two years ago, this grading would have likely been a 4*, but with the way things have gone in the run game in recent years, we’re gonna go ahead and give this room a 5*.
Tory Blaylock had a really nice day as he had 19 carries for 101 yards (5.3 YPC) with a touchdown and a long run of 18 yards.
Xavier Robinson didn’t skip a beat when he was called upon, as he also averaged 5.3 YPC as he had 11 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown and a long of 25 yards.
These guys were patient and decisive for the most part. I would like them to use their vision a little bit better, as they left some meat on the bone by missing some holes, but that will hopefully come in time. They did a nice job in pass pro as well.
Best player in the room this week: Blaylock
WR: High 3* (Last week: Nebula)
Pretty basic day for the wide receivers as they were asked to catch a lot of short and quick passes. OU’s longest pass play on the day went for 20 yards, and they had a couple of drops that led to a solid but not spectacular day.
For the most part, they did what was asked of them, but that was about it. Good to see Javonnie catch 5 balls (Sategna had 7). Burks had 2 receptions, and those 3 were the only WRs to register catches.
Just once, I would like to see the wide receivers have a game where they make people miss in space.
Best player in the room this week: Sategna
TE: 3* (Last week: Nebula)
Felt like the tight end room was perhaps gonna be featured as Kank caught a pass early on, but then, it just never really happened.
Kanak, Helms, and Huggins each had one reception on the day.
But I think the bigger picture is…we didn’t notice them in the blocking game unless it was for something positive (like Kanak springing a big play).
Solid day. Not spectacular but better than we have seen!
Best player in the room this week: Kanak
OL: 4* (Last week: Nebula)
Clearly, this unit’s best game of the season.
Not perfect and still a lot of room to improve on, but they came out aggressive, physical, and cohesive.
Their playcaller did them favors against South Carolina as Arbuckle showed a commitment to the run game throughout the afternoon and set the tone early.
Pass protection was outstanding as OU allowed only one sack and that one can be attributed directly to Mateer drifting back and out of the pocket.
Shout out to Derek Simmons, who came back after being hurt against Texas and played a really nice game, which felt like it helped the cohesiveness of the unit.
Best player in the room this week: Nwaiwu
DT: 5* *last week” 3*)
When Markus Strong comes in and forces a safety, as your fifth defensive tackle, you know you are cooking with bacon grease.
The Sooners defensive front helped limit the Gamecocks to 54 total yards running and they constantly applied pressure in the passing game.
I thought Gracen Halton was special in the first half and Damonic Williams was really consistent and disruptive all day.
Jayden Jackson and David Stone played like we have come to expect them to play and they both were problems for the South Carolina offensive line.
Best player in the room this week: Halton
EDGE: 5* (Last week: 3*)
R Mason Thomas may have had the flashier stats, but Taylor Weins’ performance was every bit as impressive as the pair combined for 1.5 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. Wein truly is becoming a better version of Ethan Downs in terms of production in both run defense and pass rushing.
How about PJ Adebawore getting credit for 1.5 sacks on the day? As I noted last week, PJ has really turned the corner, and it is starting to show up on a consistent basis on game day.
Thought Marvin Jones did a good job during his reps and the EDGE group as a whole really showed out for the Sooners.
Wein even got a pick on the fake punt cause he was assignment sound and aware of the situation.
Best player in the room this week: Adebawore (tough one)
LB: Low 4* (Last week: 3*)
Really tough game to grade for the linebackers as I thought Kendal Daniels may have been the most impactful defender for the Sooners on the day, but the starting inside linebackers really kind of seemed a bit off in regard to tackling.
Daniels had 6 tackles, 2 TFL, and a sack to his credit and he was really playing at a high level.
Felt like the backups at MIKE (Omosigho) and WILL (Heinecke) played at a higher level than the starters in Kobie McKinzie and Kip Lewis. McKinzie and Lewis were not ‘bad’ (Kobie had a sack) but they just were a bit off on some fits and missed a couple of opportunities at tackles for loss.
Sammy Omosigho continues to develop right in front of our eyes as he was third on the team with 5 tackles, which included .5 of a sack.
Daniels carried the grade into the 4* territory, but the mistakes and missed tackles kept the overall score in check.
Best player in the room this week: Daniels
CB: 4* (Last week: 4*)
Ok, this was a pretty nice game for the corners despite Gentry getting banged up and having to leave the game.
Eli Bowen looks to be getting back to where he left off last season. Yes, he is vertically challenged, but he is a very good cover guy, and it usually takes special throws to beat him.
After Gentry went down, Cortland Guillory and Devon Jordan came in and the defense really didn’t skip a beat.
The thing that had me pumped up was a simple incompletion in the second half where Jacobe Johnson displayed textbook coverage while…wait for it…actually looking back to find the ball! Something that does not happen consistently with the Sooners corners. That was a really positive development. He was later rewarded with an easy pick, but the coverage earlier was really nice to see.
Best player in the room this week: Johnson
S: 3* (Last week: 1*)
I could go into the four-star territory here based on Peyton Bowen’s play and Reggie Powers’ annihilation of a guy, but just feel like this group has a lot more to give.
During the game, in the game thread, I commented about what a nice bounce back week RSJ was having, and no sooner did I type that than he goes and misses a tackle. Yes, this is clearly a different standard from how I graded the running back room earlier, but I just feel like this could really cost OU at some point.
Just feel like this group has so much more talent and a greater ability to impact the game on a more consistent basis and it would be nice to have both safeties excelling. Peyton Bowen has been doing his part; he needs RSJ and the other safety spot in general to stand up.
Best player in the room this week: Bowen
ST: 3* (Last week: 3*)
John Mateer, the punter, gets the MVP for this room.
The punting game was shaky early on, but Miller appeared to get a hold of that as the game went along.
Feel like the coverage unit is showing some cracks of late, Deakins needs to get on that, but they did a really nice job on the fake punt (that we all knew was coming).
Tate Sandell is such a nice change of pace round these parts, as he is really a stud kicker.
Best player in the room this week: John Mateer, the punter.
The Road Ahead
– Super K – Posted on: October 21, 2025
I have been watching a lot of film on the Sooners upcoming opponents (a lot of Ole Miss this week) and considering how the Sooners, given their strengths and weaknesses, might match up.
This is how I rank the difficulty of the tests ahead from toughest to least toughest (though I think every single one of these games is going to be tough).
Alabama – The QB and the weapons on offense are fantastic. Their defense isn’t statistically great but they looked better than the numbers would suggest. Home field advantage. Offensive guru vs defensive guru.
Tennessee – I wasn’t particularly high on Tennessee coming into the season. And I’m probably still not super high on them. But for some reason this game feels more dangerous than it should. Their QB is a tough kid. Heupel wants to go fast and I know that offense can mess with Brent. It’s at Neyland. If there is one offense Brent struggles with most, it’s the Baylor (veer) offense. Their defense isn’t statistically great but their run defense is decent and that’s really critical against OU.
My guess is this game is going to be higher scorer than most might think.
Missouri – Statistically, they’re the most balanced team OU will play. They run the ball well and they play defense. Their QB is tough. He can run. He can be inconsistent in the pass game. They are aggressive on both sides of the ball. Their run game will be coming to Norman after the Sooners have focused their efforts on three straight explosive ariel assaults. It’s going to be a different type of game. And despite the fact that Missouri isn’t a blue blood, you can’t tell them that. They play like they’re supposed to win every game.
Ole Miss – Excellent offense and Lane brings the tempo and the style that can cause BV issues. Their defense isn’t horrible. It’s just inconsistent and doesn’t feel like it has anything to hang its hat on. It doesn’t feel sturdy. Very dangerous game because Chambliss is a twitchy guy. BV wants to pressure you but if play man behind that and he escapes, he’s running for a long time. If you zone pressure him and you don’t get there, he will pick that apart. If you squeeze him, then you give him time and Ole Miss has a lot of weapons. I think they’re a more dangerous offense than the one OU saw out of them last year. If you pressure him, the Sooners have to be able to take away the short stuff because he gets the ball out quick. Very interested in seeing how BV game plans for this offense. Offense needs to be able to sustain drives against this inconsistent Ole Miss defense.
LSU – LSU has a lot of fantastic players but their profile is very similar to OU’s profile, right now. They play good defense but their offense is inconsistent. And, it’s inconsistent because it’s inconsistent in the run game.
Interestingly, enough, when LSU played South Carolina a week ago, folks thought LSU had found a run game. Why? Because LSU ran the ball for 166 yards. A week later, the Sooners, who have also struggled in the run game, ran the ball for 171 yards on South Carolina.
LSU is a dangerous team but it feels like in a lot of ways they are a slightly lesser version of exactly what OU is. And this game is Norman.
Would love to see y’all’s lists on most challenging to least challenging teams remaining on OU’s schedule.
Interesting Stat | Ole Miss QB
– Super K – Posted on: October 22, 2025
I heard any interesting stat from the PFF folks regarding Ole Miss QB, Trinidad Chambliss.
It’ll come as no surprise to you that the Sooners bring pressure on the QB a lot.
However, Chambliss appears to have one of the highest QB PFF ratings in the country when he’s pressured. He gets the ball out quickly.
But, he’s apparently not particular good as measured by his QB PFF rating when he’s not under pressure and he’s forced to throw in the pocket.
The big question this weekend (and BV kind of played it both ways in yesterday’s pressure) is how BV will choose to attack Chambliss. Will they attack him or will they try to squeeze him? We shall see.
Know Your Opponent | Ole Miss – 2025
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 22, 2025
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin – 6 years at Ole Miss
Offensive Coordinator: Charlie Weis Jr. – 4 years at Ole Miss
Defensive Coordinator: Pete Golding – 3 years at Ole Miss
Through seven games of the 2025 season, the Ole Miss Rebels have put together an impressive 6–1 record, including 3–1 in SEC play, under head coach Lane Kiffin. The Rebels opened the year with a dominant 63–7 win over Georgia State and followed that with hard-fought victories over Kentucky, Arkansas, Tulane, LSU, and Washington State. Their lone setback came in a competitive 43–35 loss at Georgia, snapping an early unbeaten streak. Ole Miss has been one of the SEC’s most balanced teams, averaging about 37 points per game on offense while allowing around 23 points per game defensively.
On offense…
Ole Miss runs a fast-paced, spread offense that emphasizes tempo and versatility. The scheme leverages a pro-style passing game with multiple receiver sets to stretch defenses horizontally and vertically, creating mismatches. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss operates with quick reads and RPO (run-pass option) plays, while running back Kewan Lacy powers a balanced ground attack. The offense averages 37.4 points per game, utilizing motion, play-action, and deep shots to exploit defensive gaps.
Starters and impact players…
#6 – QB Trinidad Chambliss: The dual-threat quarterback threw for 263 yards and a touchdown against Georgia, adding 42 rushing yards and two rushing scores. He’s been a dynamic leader for the Rebels offense, balancing efficiency through the air with timely runs. As BV said… “He runs just enough to piss you off”.
#5 – RB Kewan Lacy: The primary ball carrier for Ole Miss, Lacy had 31 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Georgia. He’s been a red-zone weapon all season and has already reached double digits in rushing touchdowns.
#1 – WR De’Zhaun Stribling: A big-play receiver, Stribling hauled in three catches for 96 yards and a 75-yard touchdown against Georgia. He’s become a go-to target for explosive downfield plays.
#83 – WR Cayden Lee: A young but emerging wideout, Lee has developed into a dependable target on intermediate routes and continues to gain confidence each week.
#80 – WR Harrison Wallace III: A transfer who’s brought veteran experience and reliable hands, Wallace has contributed several key receptions this season and provides a steady presence in the slot.
#4 – TE Dae’Quan Wright: A reliable tight end and safety valve for Chambliss, Wright caught three passes for 34 yards versus Georgia and continues to climb the program’s all-time receiving list among tight ends.
#61 – LT Diego Pounds: A transfer from North Carolina, Pounds stands at 6′6″ and 340 lbs. He started nine games at left tackle last season and has been anchoring the edge in 2025 for Ole Miss.
#51 – LG Delano Townsend: A transfer from UAB, Townsend is one of the “new” faces on the OL. He brings length and has been tapped to provide guard depth.
#62 – C Brycen Sanders: A returner who played special teams last season, Sanders is viewed as a breakout candidate at center. He’s young but the coaches trust him to run the line calls.
#75 – RG Patrick Kutas: A transfer from Arkansas, Kutas is described as one of the more “talented” linemen on the roster and is the starter at right guard; he helps bring experience inside.
#50 – RT Jayden Williams: The veteran of the unit, Williams is a steady presence at right tackle. He has started multiple games, and his experience is relied upon to provide stability on the right side.
***Dynamic Passing Attack: Led by QB Trinidad Chambliss, the offense averages 311 passing yards per game, utilizing a spread scheme with receivers like De’Zhaun Stribling to exploit deep and intermediate routes.
***Efficient Rushing Game: RB Kewan Lacy’s 10 touchdowns and the team’s 204.3 rushing yards per game highlight a balanced ground attack, supported by a veteran offensive line.
***High Tempo and Third-Down Efficiency: The fast-paced scheme, averaging 39.8 points per game, converts 51.25% of third downs, keeping defenses off balance.
***Inconsistent Big-Play Protection: Despite allowing only seven sacks, the offensive line has occasionally struggled against elite pass rushes, as seen in the close loss to Washington State.
***Limited Receiver Depth: Beyond Stribling and Wallace, the receiving corps lacks consistent secondary options, with Cayden Lee and others underutilized in key moments.
On defense…
In 2025, Ole Miss’s defense under Pete Golding runs a 4‑2‑5 base, combining an aggressive front six with a versatile, speed‑oriented secondary. The scheme emphasizes speed, physicality, and smart play, allowing the Rebels to rotate linemen, adjust coverages, and hybridize fronts to disrupt both the run and the pass. This flexibility lets them defend spread offenses effectively while generating negative plays and creating opportunities for turnovers.
Starters and impact players…
#5 – DE Kam Franklin: Franklin has been a consistent presence on the defensive line, contributing to the pass rush and run defense.
#15 – DE Da’Shawn Womack: Womack has shown versatility, contributing both as a pass rusher and in coverage, adding depth to the defensive line.
#51 – DT Zxavian Harris: Harris has been effective in clogging running lanes and providing pressure up the middle, complementing Franklin’s presence. He is massive at 6’8 330.
#52 – NT Will Echoles: Echoles has been a key player in the interior defensive line, providing strength and depth to the front seven.
#4 – EDGE Suntarine Perkins: Perkins led the team with a season-high 10 tackles, one forced fumble, and half a tackle for loss against Georgia, showcasing his playmaking ability.
#6 – LB TJ Dottery: Dottery tied his season-high with nine tackles against Georgia, contributing significantly to the linebacker corps.
#30 – LB Jaden Yates: Yates has been a reliable presence in the linebacker unit, providing stability and support in both run defense and coverage.
#26 – CB Brandon Turnage: Turnage has brought experience and skill to the cornerback position, contributing to the secondary’s performance.
#4 – CB Deantre Prince: Prince has been a reliable cornerback, providing solid coverage and support against the pass.
#5 – S Ladarius Tennison: Tennison has been active in the secondary, contributing to pass defense and run support.
#7 – S Tysheem Johnson: Johnson has been a key player in the safety rotation, providing depth and versatility to the defensive backfield.
***Pass Defense Efficiency: The Rebels have excelled in pass coverage, allowing a low completion percentage and effectively defending against aerial attacks.
***Pressure on Quarterbacks: Despite losing key defensive linemen to the NFL, Ole Miss has maintained a strong pass rush, with players like Suntarine Perkins continuing to generate significant pressure.
***Defensive Scheme Adaptability: Under defensive coordinator Pete Golding, the defense has shown flexibility, utilizing a 4-2-5 base scheme that allows for effective adjustments against various offensive styles.
***Run Defense Vulnerability: The Rebels have struggled against the run, allowing 190.5 rushing yards per game, ranking No. 120 in the country. This weakness has been exploited by teams like Arkansas and Washington State.
***Depth in Defensive Line: While the defensive line has talent, the departure of several key players has led to concerns about depth and consistency in the front seven.
***Inconsistent Tackling: There have been instances of missed tackles, particularly in open-field situations, which have allowed opponents to extend plays and gain additional yards
Bottom line…
***With John Mateer still on the mend to a degree from his hand surgery, Oklahoma must prioritize clean pockets and quick, decisive reads.
***Establishing the run early will help slow down Ole Miss’s aggressive pass rush and prevent the Rebels from pinning the Sooners back on third-and-long. OU can run on Ole Miss, so long as they stick with it and commit to the run game.
***On Defense for OU, Ole Miss thrives in the passing game, so the Sooners’ defensive front must collapse the pocket and force hurried and off-schedule plays.
***Generating turnovers or at least disrupting rhythm would be huge as Ole Miss is dangerous when allowed to settle into their tempo.
***The Rebels’ high-powered offense can score quickly and suddenly, so stopping them on third down when given the opportunity is critical. OU has been one of the best teams in the country in this respect, outside of one quarter of one game pretty much.
***On the opposite side, sustaining drives on offense will also help OU keep Ole Miss off the field and control the clock. Just keep moving the chains.
***Penalties have been killers for OU, and turnovers and mental errors can swing momentum in a tight game. Sooners need to be clean in that respect.
***Special teams play, particularly field position and avoiding big returns, could make a huge difference in a close contest. Sooners have shown some leaks in coverage of late, but they also seem like they are close to popping a return with Sategna on the other side.
***Efficiency in the red zone is crucial. Oklahoma must turn opportunities into touchdowns, not just field goals, and hold Ole Miss to field goals when they threaten.
***Playing at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium gives the Sooners a crowd advantage. Noise on defense can disrupt Ole Miss’s timing, and energy from the fans can fuel momentum plays. Be loud if you’re going to the game!
One On Ones | Oklahoma vs Ole Miss – 2025
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 23, 2025
The Sooners are back home this weekend and they are set to host Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels.
Ole Miss is 6-1 on the season, and they are coming off a disappointing loss to Georgia their last time out.
There are a couple of one-on-ones I will be paying close attention to, so let’s talk about them!
One on One Number One
Oklahoma offensive tackle Derek Simmons (or Luke Baklenko) vs Ole Miss EDGE Suntarine Perkins
Through the 2025 season, Ole Miss linebacker Suntarine Perkins remains the Rebels’ most talented and recognizable defensive player, even if his production has dipped from his breakout 2024 campaign. A preseason All-American and the unquestioned leader of the defense, Perkins entered the year expected to anchor a fast, aggressive unit after posting 60 tackles and 10.5 sacks a season ago. So far in 2025, he’s tallied 22 total tackles (10 solo) with no sacks or turnovers recorded, suggesting a quieter statistical start compared to his previous dominance. The decline in numbers may reflect a shift in role within the scheme, added attention from opposing offenses, or recovery from offseason shoulder surgery that slightly limited his early-season explosiveness. Even so, coaches and analysts still point to Perkins as the heart of the defense. He is an athletic, hybrid linebacker-edge who sets the tone with his speed, physicality, and leadership. His presence continues to define the identity of Pete Golding’s defense, even as he works to regain his game-changing impact down the stretch of 2025.
The Sooners tackles, whether it be Simmons or Baklenko, will be tasked with one job, and that is to not allow Perkins to have his breakout game of the 2025 season. Oklahoma figures to come out with an aggressive mindset in respect to establishing the run and that in itself should help to slow down the Ole Miss pass rush. Right now, the Rebels are not a great run defense team and should the Sooners find success in the run game, the potential impact of Perkins may be further stymied. Both Simmons and Baklenko (and Fasusi for that matter) have been susceptible to speed rushes at times and it will be important for them to be ready to use their feet as well as their hands to keep Perkins from finding his groove.
One on One Number Two
Oklahoma Quarterback John Mateer vs the Vertical Passing Game
The Sooners had their most impressive day on the ground offensively last week against South Carolina, yet it did not translate to much in the way of a vertical passing game. John Mateer, as he recovers from his thumb injury, was very efficient and performed well in his role as a game manager against South Carolina, but any semblance of a downfield passing game was absent in OU’s last two games against Texas and South Carolina.
Here’s the thing: not only is the Ole Miss defense not great against the run, they are also by no means a standout unit against the pass and they only have four total turnovers on the season. Three of those turnovers are interceptions, and while those are the same turnover stats that OU has generated, it is a bit of a different story for OU since they are one of the top teams in the country in defending the run, while Ole Miss is 98th against the run.
The Sooners defense can only do so much. Ole Miss is going to score some points on Saturday and while OU would prefer to work the ground game and do as much as they can to keep the Rebels offense on the sideline, there may be a point in the game where OU needs to be able to hit on some vertical passes. We have seen receivers for the Sooners open behind the defense, and it would take some pressure off the Sooners offense if Mateer can go out there and hit on a couple of those opportunities. This is one aspect of the offense that really has not developed much to this point of the season and with the Sooners heading into a rough stretch of the schedule, it would be a good time to find some success down the field.
Expected Official Visitor Not Going to Make It In
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 23, 2025
The Sooners were expecting to host two official visitors this weekend as we have previously noted.
***They are still set to host ’26 WR Jahsiear Rogers, who is technically still committed to Penn State, but he has opened up his recruitment and OU is the first of a bunch of visits he has set.
***OU was also expected to host ’26 OL Daniel McMorris who is a local product out of Norman, Oklahoma.
Well, McMorris just tweeted out that he will no longer be taking his official visit to OU and on the surface, that would tell me he and the Sooners are heading in different directions.
Will check around and see what the full story is here, but the Sooners were not in any rush to offer, and when they finally did, it was widely expected that McMorris would be in the boat relatively quickly…that also did not happen. Feels like a case of McMorris feeling more valued elsewhere and OU not particularly caring about it. Will update when I get more, if that is not the situation.
Update: 12:45
Yeah, as I surmised above, close this chapter.
Strength on Strength in the Trenches This Weekend
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 23, 2025
Ole Miss offense has allowed seven sacks all year (tied for 15th best in the country). They average one sack allowed per game.
The Oklahoma defense leads the country in sacks forced, averaging four per game (28 total).
The Sooners had more sacks in the Auburn (9) game than Ole Miss has allowed all season.
Something has got to give.
Here is the thing…when Brent faced two other ‘dual threat’ QBs, they did not push the issue much in regard to pressure. OU had two sacks combined against Michigan and Texas (one in each game) as Venables looked to contain the QB more than pressure him and risk allowing them to beat OU with their legs (mind you, I vehemently disagreed with that choice against Texas at the time and still do)…but the approach is what mattered.
Ole Miss has a stout running game, so that will play into the equation as well.
I still like the more aggressive approach, particularly if there is some weather on Saturday.
Working Visit List | Ole Miss Weekend
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 23, 2025
Here is our working visitor list for the Ole Miss game.
Reminder, just because you do not see a name on this list, it does not mean they will not be in attendance.
Same goes for the guys who are listed, some will inevitably not make it in.
Official Visits:
WR Jahsiear Rogers
2026 commits:
QB Bowe Bentley
RB DeZephen Walker
WR Daniel Odom
TE Ryder Mix
OL Noah Best
DT Brian Harris
DE Daniel Norman
DE Matthew Nelson
K Trace Rudd
2027 commits:
OL Cooper Hackett
OL Luke Wilson
CB Mikhail McCreary
2026 recruits:
WR Jayden Petit
2027 recruits:
RB Zachary Belyeu
RB Jakoby Dixon
RB Arieus Finley Jr.
RB Jayshon Gibson
RB Jaxsen Stokes
RB Lathan Whisenton
WR Brody Knowles
TE Titus Hawk
EDGE Krew Jones
EDGE Joshua Williams
LB Taven Epps
DB Trenton Blaylock
DB Mikyal Davis
DB Dhillon McGee
DB JayQuan Snell
DB Semaj Stanford
ATH Keith Nolen Jr.
ATH Bode Sparrow
ATH Trey Stewart
