Weekend Open Post | October 31st – November 2nd
Posted on: October 31, 2025
When One Side is Treated Like a Second Class Citizen
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 26, 2025
We saw it when Riley was in town. The defense was an afterthought.
We are currently seeing the same thing in real time over the past four seasons on the offensive side of the ball.
It is clear that Brent Venables came to OU with a self-imposed mandate to make defense great again. He has certainly improved that side of the ball.
But at what expense?
The offensive side of the ball was largely an afterthought in terms of NIL over the first couple of years.
The QB management was brutal, and it really came to a head in the 2024 season.
OU has had four offensive play callers in the last four years.
This year, after the worst offense OU has potentially ever fielded in 2024, the Sooners brought in an OC, in part due to the fact that he would bring his QB with him.
Neither are excelling at this point.
But that was it. That was all the changes that were made to a historically horrific offense.
Then, to boot, yes, OU went out and spent money on offense…on a running back…who doesn’t even see the field!!!
Mind you, they paid no attention to actually building out a serviceable tight end room. They were fortunate that a linebacker who was currently on the team decided to flip sides of the ball – otherwise, look at where that room would be, as they still are not good there, but it would be awful without the flip.
They spent on the OL, one of the most coveted tackles available in the portal, headed to OU, but he cannot stay on the field due to health reasons.
They brought in a bunch of guys at WR. That’s exactly what they are, a bunch of guys, despite all the glowing reviews from OU sources throughout spring, summer, and fall camps. The next big play Javonnie Gibson makes will be his first big play for example.
Now, OU spent money on the OL in high school recruiting, and you are seeing those players make an impact, but by and large, the offense has been treated like a second-class citizen.
I said it last year, and I will say it again, Brent Venables views offense through a defensive coach’s eyes…he believes there is a magic wand that cures all…you can just do ‘this’, to fix ‘that’…this is the same dude who believed that the answer last year was to basically concede three games by starting a true freshman QB who was nowhere near ready. It’s not that simple, and I honestly think Brent started to understand that last year, which is why he made the change at OC.
Every room on the offensive side of the ball in 2024 was horrible. Like, bad bad, yet…the only change was at the play caller.
At this point, it looks like he brought in a true freshman OC who is not ready to operate in the SEC. Arbuckle had been taught some major life lessons over the previous two games (Texas and South Carolina), and against Ole Miss, it looked like he learned nothing from that experience as he refused to commit to the run.
For his sake, for the team’s sake, for Brent Venables’ sake and his tenure as a head coach…you have to hope those lessons were driven home at the cost of another loss.
Lincoln Riley’s tenure should have taught Brent Venables a life lesson. It does not appear to be the case at this point; you simply cannot treat one side of the ball as a second-class citizen.
Run. The. Damn. Ball.
Position Group Progress Report | Game Eight: Ole Miss
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 27, 2025
Checking out how the position groups performed in the Sooners’ 34-26 loss to Ole Miss.
Oklahoma was a favorite at kickoff time, and they failed to cover the spread.
This will be the eighth 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 Ole Miss.
QB: Low 2* (Last week: 3*)
If the John Mateer who played the first half showed up in the second half, we may be talking about a different outcome in the game.
Mateer was solid, if not spectacular in the first half and he was downright bad in the second half, both physically and mentally.
The score could have been lower, but I can’t take away how he played in the first half which was pretty solid.
RB: 4* (Last week: 5*)
Only thing keeping this group from five star status was the lack of usage.
Blame that on Ben Arbuckle.
Tory Blaylock wasn’t ripping it up or anything, but again, he got limited chances in the first half as OU only ran the ball a total of six times with the backs in the first half.
In the second half, Xavier Robinson took over (when handed the ball) and he ripped off a huge run as he found a tiny crease in from the OL and then did a lot of work himself as he ran through the trash and out paced the rest of the defense to the endzone.
He only carried the ball nine times and finished with 109 yards…yet somehow couldn’t get the ball when OU had a 3rd and 5 facing them.
WR: High 3* (Last week: 3*)
I mean, this may seem low…but the flash really only came on one play (Sategna’s long TD on a busted coverage) and other than that, the group was pretty average.
Once again, only Sategna, Burks, and Gibson caught passes in the room as there was basically zero rotation, aside from the horrific 4th and 2 play late in the game when OU decided to sub everyone out and put the young guys in for one snap on that ill-conceived play.
TE: 2* (Last week: 3*)
Jaren Kanak had 3 catches for 30 yards…and we are still left wondering why OU does not target him more every week.
I didn’t like what I saw from Helms in his chances…the kid plays hard, just looks like a fish out of water with things OU asks him to do at times.
Just another week for a pretty barren room.
OL: 3* (Last week: 4*)
I initially had this as a four-star ranking, but I cannot wipe the multiple images of Jake Maikkula on his backside four yards deep in the OU backfield out of my brain.
OU ran two true freshmen tackles out there in an SEC game, and they did a pretty respectable job in both the run game and pass protection.
I thought Michael Fasusi struggled a bit with the speed rushes, and Fodje started a bit tentatively on the other side, but he picked up his game as the day wore on.
EPL came in for Heath Ozaeta at the guard spot, and the Sooners’ run game immediately benefited from that change.
DT: 4* (Last week: 5*)
After another watch, this grade may be a bit low, but the interior DL group has performed so well and set the bar so high in my eyes that I may be a bit jaded.
The only thing they did not do was finish as often as we have been accustomed to. Overall, they were the best part of the team consistently on the day.
Once again, I thought David Stone was the most impactful guy in the room, but both Halton and Jackson were very effective and impactful as well.
Just a special group.
EDGE: 3* (Last week: 5*)
Taylor Wein had a rough day after having a huge day the prior week against South Carolina.
Felt like R mason Thomas played a bit out of control and left some big plays out on the field. OU really could have used him to play his typical closer role in the second half.
Marvin Jones Jr was ok, he picked up his first sack as a Sooner, but he also gave up a soft edge on more than one occasion.
LB: Low 3* (Last week: Low 4*)
That fear we all had about the depth in the room is starting to rise to the surface after Kobie McKinzie went down with what appeared to be a groin injury. As I noted, source is not confident in his availability for the Tennessee game right now. We will keep an eye on that.
Felt like Kendal Daniels had the best day of this group as Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke were kind of just ‘ok’ as they missed a handful of tackles and made some bad run fits.
Even Sammy Omosigho, who I felt has played the best out of all the inside backers to this point looked a bit off on the day.
CB: High 4* (Last week: 4*)
Have to give it up to Courtland Guillory, who was absolutely fantastic as Ole Miss went hard after him early and often.
Both Guillory and Eli Bowen were very good in coverage. Before the game, I talked about Lane Kiffin scheming up some double moves on the OU corners, and these guys did a really nice job limiting its effectiveness.
S: 1* (Last week: 3*)
The same thing I said about the corners cannot be said for the safeties, as they continue their downward trajectory in the season. It’s become a trend.
Prior to this game, OU was able to at least count on getting solid play out of Peyton Bowen, but he had a really rough day on Saturday, particularly in maintaining his assignment and in overall coverage.
Robert Spears Jennings once again struggled overall with both tackling and coverage, and the guys OU brought in to spell Bowen and RSJ were perhaps even worse in coverage. Just a really ugly showing and it is becoming increasingly concerning based on all the physical talent in that room.
ST: 3* (Last week: 3*)
Everything was great until it all went to hell with the fumble on the punt return.
SSandell was really solid with his kicks.
Miller punted well.
Just cannot put the ball on the carpet on that punt return.
Revisiting the Road Ahead
– Super K – Posted on: October 28, 2025
Now that we have the results of the Ole Miss game, let’s look back at my take on the remainder of the schedule posted last week (October 21st) prior to the game (HERE)…
***I started by ranking the difficulty of the remainder of OU’s schedule which I had from most difficult to least, as follows: Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Ole Miss and LSU.
***Please keep in mind that I didn’t rank Ole Miss so low because I believed OU would beat them. I ranked them that low because I believed, if OU can’t beat them (and they didn’t), then they aren’t likely to beat those other three teams.
***Here is what I specifically wrote, in part, about Ole Miss in the article from last week (linked above):
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.
***Last year’s Ole Miss team put 26 on OU. This year’s team broke into the 30s on a better OU defense. I think it’s fair to say that this year’s offense was indeed more challenging for OU.
***Additionally, we saw the “inconsistent” nature of the Ole Miss defense. They indeed weren’t horrible but were prone to busts which gave the Sooners two explosives leading to 14 points.
***This upcoming Tennessee game is another very dangerous game and I stand by the fact that between Ole Miss and Tennessee, Heupel and the Vols are the more dangerous team for Brent and company.
***Here is what I wrote about the Vols in last week’s post (again, link to the original post is above)…
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.
***How high could the score be? Hope for the best but don’t be shocked if Heupel and the Vols put up something like 42 points, this weekend. And if that’s the case, the Sooners are obviously going to need to keep up.
***To that point, I want to point to the note I made on LSU from last week’s “Road Ahead” post. As I’ve said, I listed to them as the least dangerous team on OU’s schedule, specifically saying…
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.
***Now that LSU has fired their coach, I think putting them at the bottom looks even more compelling now. But I want to highlight the line I wrote last week where I said, “it feels like in a lot of ways they are a slightly lesser version of exactly what OU.”
***Well, as good as LSU’s defense has been this year, they finally broke this past weekend that was the one thing their team and their fan base was hanging their hat on.
***It made me wonder if perhaps my concern last week about the Vols putting up a lot of points on OU wasn’t in fact enough of a concern. This defense has a lot on its plate and like LSU, they’ve had to carry the load all season. You wonder if at some point, it’s just too much.
***Missouri has lost its starting QB but they still have a nasty defense and a run game. And Bama did look mortal last week. So it isn’t as if any team left on OU’s schedule isn’t beatable. They all are. But if Heupel puts it on this defense this upcoming weekend, things are likely going to go down hill in a hurry.
***Last week I said that the Ole Miss game is a new beginning to the season. If I had to guess, this Tennessee game is going to decide the Sooners fate and may in fact decide Brent’s fate at OU. It’s a sort of fork in the road, in my opinion.
Can The Defense Win One?
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 28, 2025
This week’s game against Tennessee is a pivotal moment for the Oklahoma defense, and for Brent Venables’ broader vision as head coach. Ever since taking over the program, Venables has built his identity around restoring OU’s defensive edge, aiming to move the Sooners from the Big 12’s reputation for shootouts to an SEC-ready, physical style of play. Now, facing one of the nation’s most explosive offenses in Tennessee, this matchup serves as a measuring stick for how far that transformation has come.
Venables’ defenses have shown steady improvement since 2022, with better discipline, tackling, and situational execution. But games like this, against an SEC opponent with tempo, speed, and balance, are where that progress is truly tested. Tennessee’s offense will stress OU vertically and horizontally, forcing Venables’ group to communicate, stay gap-sound, and handle tempo without breaking down. For Venables, it’s not just another game…it’s a chance to prove that the defensive identity he’s spent three seasons constructing can stand up against elite SEC competition.
The one thing that has not manifested itself to this point for OU under Venables is consistent wins, attributed to the defense, against top-shelf offensive opponents. Throughout the past three-plus years, there really is only one signature win that is largely attributed to the defensive performance, and that was the victory in Norman last season over Alabama. There have been multiple games where OU was in a position to win a game, and the defense fell short. Can that thirst for a defensively dominant performance against a top-tier offense be quenched this weekend in Tennessee?
In short, this week is about validation. Yes, the Sooners have gone out there and dominated good teams with lesser offenses and looked good in doing so. If the Sooners can contain Tennessee, it confirms that Venables’ long-term defensive rebuild is working, and that Oklahoma may have turned a corner and become a complete, physical team rather than one still chasing its old shortcomings. If, once again, they can’t deliver that defensive performance, what does the path forward even look like? Not just this year, but beyond? At some point, the goal has to be realized; this week would be a good time to throw out one of those signature defensive performances they have been aiming for.
Sourced Note on ’26 WR Jayden Petit
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 29, 2025
The Sooners hosted Wisconsin wide receiver commit Jayden Petit (6’4 195) out of Naples, Florida, last weekend for the Ole Miss game.
Source said the Sooners made a big move in this recruitment and once again may have established themselves as the team to beat…as they seemed to be at one point in the spring prior to him committing to Wisconsin.
Petit officially visited the Sooners back on June 6th, the same weekend QB Bowe Bentley visited, and the pair hit it off well. Bentley has stayed recruiting Petit and the staff never let off the gas.
While the Sooners already have four wide receiver commits, the source noted that Petit is still a priority target and would not only be welcomed in the class, but they are pressing for him.
Feels like OU has a ton of momentum here and his visit last weekend may have pushed the Sooners ahead of the Badgers, who he currently remains verbally committed to.
Great Coaches go on a run | Five Straight
– Super K – Posted on: October 29, 2025
I was looking back over the wins and losses under BV’s tenure and it obviously isn’t as pretty as one would hope. However, I was looking to see if there was a period, anywhere, where BV had his team on a hot streak.
I think one of the signs of a good coach is they can get hot and go on a run, plowing through anyone put in their way.
You just watched Kalen Deboer do that at Alabama. After an atrocious start to the season, he has been red hot, despite having a pretty flawed team.
Deboer has the Tide on a heater right now. They’ve ripped off five straight in conference play. Their team clearly started to wane but they managed to pull off that fifth win, beating South Carolina, late.
Brian Kelly started his time at LSU the same year as BV. So, this is was year four for Kelly.
I went back and looked to see if he ever went on a 5-win heater. Despite, having respectable records of 10-4 (2022), 10-3 (2023), and 9-4 (2024) and producing a Heisman trophy winning QB, he never went on an in-conference 5-win heater.
Steve Sarkisian arrived at Texas the year before BV. Interestingly, he had his only loss to BV in Sark’s third year and then proceeded to go on a 7-run heater. In 2024, first year in the SEC, he dropped the UGA game and then went on a 5-run heater.
Like Kelly, BV started his tenure in 2022.
Obivously, no heater that first year.
In his second year, he beat Texas and squeaked out a fourth conference win against UCF but lost the next two weeks, coming up short of that 5-run heater.
Then in 2024, again, another not so great year.
Now in 2025, he doesn’t have a chance to go on a 5-run heater. However, he has a chance put together a critical four wins that would send him and his team to the playoffs.
As you all know, I’m not particularly optimistic about the remaining schedule. However, I absolutely believe every remaining team the Sooners play is severely flawed…
Tennessee has a poor defense. Alabama has an improving defense but not impregnable by any stretch and their run game isn’t much to write home about. Missouri is a fairly complete team but they’ve now lost their QB and replaced him with a freshman. And, LSU just fired their head coach.
If BV is ever going to demonstrate what kind of a coach the Sooners hope he can be, it’s right now.
What it takes to be a good coach is the ability to build a complete team that can perform consistently. So, while winning five in a row is tough, if you can’t ever do it, I’d surmise it’s a fairly big indictment on coaching prowess.
There are four games left in conference and then a playoff game. That would give the Sooners five in a row though one technically not in conference (but good enough).
’26 Running Back Name to Know
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 30, 2025
The Sooners are still working on the 2026 class, and lately, they have ramped up communication with running back Messiah Mickens (5’10 200), a Penn State verbal commit from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Yesterday, Mickens retweeted former Penn State classmate and current OU wide receiver commit Jahsiear Rogers and teased a bit about OU with a picture from a prior visit he made to Norman, and that prompted me to check around a bit.
While the Sooners have DeZephen Walker in the class, it is clear that they could stand to take another high school back as there will once again likely be a good deal of attrition in the room at the end of the year.
Mickens is in the process of setting up visits to multiple schools and OU is in a position to be one of those that receive an official. Just something to keep an eye on going forward.
While Mickens has begun the process of looking around, he remains in the Penn State class, and at this point, source indicates whoever the new PSU coach is will have a fair shot to retain the Pennsylvania product.
Know Your Opponent | Tennessee – 2025
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 30, 2025
Head Coach: Josh Heupel – 5th year
Offensive Coordinator: Joey Halzle – 3rd year
Defensive Coordinator: Tim Banks – 5th year
The Tennessee Volunteers (ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll) have a 6–2 overall record (3–2 in the SEC) under head coach Josh Heupel. The season has featured high-scoring games and competitive SEC matchups, with standout performances from quarterback Joey Aguilar, including a career-high 396 passing yards in the recent win over Kentucky. The team has shown offensive firepower (averaging over 45 points per game in wins) but struggled defensively in losses to top-ranked opponents.
On Offense…
The Tennessee Volunteers’ 2025 offense is a turbo-charged, spread-tempo, air-it-out system built on the core principles of Josh Heupel’s “wide-zone RPO” attack, a scheme he has refined since his UCF days and now runs at warp speed in Knoxville. In short, Tennessee’s offense aims to be a track meet in cleats. Wide-zone run to set the edge, RPOs to punish hesitation, and four verts to detonate the top off the coverage, all at a sprint that tends to leave defenses gasping.
Starters and Impact Players…
QB Joey Aguilar #10 – Transfer from Appalachian State; has thrown for 2,344 yards, 18 TDs, and 6 INTs through 8 games (9.2 YPA), ranking top-15 nationally in passing efficiency. His poise in RPOs has been key to Tennessee’s 36.8 PPG average.
RB DeSean Bishop #22 – Sophomore workhorse with 652 rushing yards and 9 TDs (7.2YPC). Leading the SEC in explosive runs.
WR Chris Brazzell II #13 – Junior transfer sensation with 43 receptions, 740 yards, and 8TDs
WR Braylon Staley #14 – Freshman breakout star with 47 catches for 628 yards and 3 TDs.
WR Mike Matthews #7 – Sophomore with 35 receptions for 562 yards and 3 TDs. Has elite hands and deep-ball tracking.
TE Miles Kitselman #87 – Senior anchoring the pass game with 23 catches for 226 yards and 2 TDs. Provides reliable blocking in wide-zone runs and has been a red-zone mismatch.
LT Lance Heard #76 – Blind-side anchor at 6’6″ 340 with elite length and mirror-quick feet. Can be a bit uninspiring at times.
LG Wendell Moe #74 – Road-grader puller. Arizona transfer with violent hands and plus athleticism.
C Sam Pendleton #50 – Solid leverage and anchor, snaps clean in tempo.
RG Sham Umarov #69 – Reach-block artist, transfer who wants to be a mauler.
RT Jesse Perry #77 – Power-pass protector at 6’5″, 325. Can be a roadblock with heavy hands and a mean streak
***Tennessee lines up quickly, often in no-huddle or hurry-up fashion, limiting the defense’s ability to substitute or adjust.
***They’ll often spread the field, sometimes using 4 or 5 wide receivers, with tight ends and backs aligning in ways that create numbers or match-up issues.
***On early downs, they’ll run inside zone (or outside zone) to force the defense to respect the run; this sets up play-action and vertical throws.
***If the defense lightens the box (expects pass), they can run the ball; if the defense brings more into the box (to stop the run), they can hit deep shots or option routes.
***The offense uses wide splits not just for passing, it also helps stretch the defense horizontally, which gives more room for the run game to operate.
***The passing concepts tend to use structure: route-trees, progressions, option routes, etc., rather than just “throw it and hope.” Heupel says they start with formations/splits, then individual routes, then group structure.
On Defense…
Tennessee lists its defensive scheme for 2025 as a “Multiple 4-2-5” alignment. In simpler terms: typically four down-defensive-linemen, two linebackers, and five defensive backs. But because it’s “multiple”, they switch and adjust fronts, pressures and coverages based on opponent and situation. The scheme emphasizes disruption, creating negative plays (tackles for loss, sacks), forcing offenses into uncomfortable situations, limiting explosive plays, and making opponents one-dimensional. They lead the conference in turnovers forced.
Starters and impact players…
DE Joshua Josephs #19 – Josephs brings veteran presence on the edge in the 4-2-5 front.
DT Jaxson Moi #51 – Has started some games this year, showing leadership and rotational value.
NT Bryson Eason #20 – Anchors the interior run defense.
DT – Dominic Bailey #90 – Leads the team with 4.5 sacks
WLB Arion Carter #7 – Trusted in the off-line role in the 4-2-5. Contributes in run support and coverage. Leads the team with 61 tackles.
MLB Jeremiah Telander #22 – Consistent starter at the middle. Drives tackles and sets the defense.
SLB Edwin Spillman #13 – Offers athleticism on the strong side and versatility in the scheme. Second on the team with 49 tackles.
CB Colton Hood #8 – A transfer who has stepped into a key cornerback role in 2025.
SS Andre Turrentine #2 – Veteran safety starter. His cover and run support work matters in this multiple scheme.
CB Ty Redmond #4 – Young corner who has been stepping into the rotation and now starting at RCB.
NB Jalen McMurray #6 – Important in the 4-2-5 base defense as the fifth DB. Handles slot receivers and nickel matchups.
FS Edrees Farooq #15 – Has started all games, made impact plays (including a pick-six) and continues to grow.
***Because it’s multiple, the defense can switch formationally rather than being locked into one style, which makes game-planning tougher for opponents.
***A strong front and rotational depth let Tennessee bring consistent pressure without obvious panic blitzing, enabling the defense to stay aggressive.
***The focus on negative plays and limiting explosions helps in tight games — late-game drives, red-zone stops, etc.
***With many offenses spreading the field and using tempo, Tennessee’s 4-2-5 base allows it to match up with more receivers while still retaining run-stopping ability.
***A 4-2-5 multiple scheme requires versatile athletes, linebackers who can cover, safeties who can play both run and pass, and defensive linemen who can disrupt. If there’s a talent or depth gap, it can get exposed.
***Because much of the success hinges on the front disrupting early, if the DL or edge rush fails to win its battles, opponents may exploit underneath or with tempo.
***“Multiple” means more looks and adjustments. That requires disciplined execution and fewer assignment errors so breakdowns can lead to big plays.
Bottom Line…
***Oklahoma’s path to victory in Neyland Stadium on Saturday night begins with a revived running game that softens Tennessee’s aggressive front seven and sets up for QB John Mateer to take what the defense gives him in the passing game and hit the easy passes to make the defense loosen up more.
***Mateer must hit quick throws early to Deion Burks and others, avoiding third-and-long situations that expose an offensive line still finding its footing. A balanced attack that chews clock and limits possessions is essential against a Volunteers offense that thrives on explosive plays from Joey Aguilar.
***The Sooners’ defense, currently tops in the SEC in points allowed and yards per play, must turn pressures into turnovers.
***Aguilar has shown vulnerability under duress, and Oklahoma’s secondary, with help from their defensive front, should be able to exploit that.
***Two takeaways could swing momentum and quiet a crowd that has fueled Tennessee’s 25-2 record in its last 27 home games.
***Time of possession will decide the grind. Holding the ball for 32+ minutes, converting early downs, and leaning on a ground game that has produced 150+ yards in wins keeps Tennessee’s playmakers off the field.
***Special teams must flip field position. Repeated punts from deep territory invite disaster against a defense averaging 3.4 sacks per game.
***Protect the ball, pressure Aguilar, and wear down a Volunteers defense prone to missed tackles. A disciplined, mistake-free performance gives Oklahoma a real shot. Anything less, and Neyland erupts, and it’s a long night for OU.
One On Ones | Oklahoma vs Tennessee – 2025
– Charlie S – Posted on: October 30, 2025
The Sooners are back on the road this weekend as they head east to Tennessee to take on Josh Heupel and his Tennessee Volunteers.
Tennessee is 6-2 on the season, and they are coming off a rout of Kentucky last weekend.
There are a couple of one-on-ones I will be paying close attention to, so let’s talk about them!
Gonna go a little different route today and not focus so much on individual players, rather some coaching approaches.
One on One Number One
OU Offensive Coordinator vs His Impulses to Go Away From the Run Game
Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle faces a critical decision this Saturday night…leaning on the Sooners’ running game to unlock the offense against a formidable Tennessee defense. A commitment to the run could be the key to balancing the offense, controlling the tempo, and giving quarterback John Mateer the best chance for success.
Tennessee boasts a disciplined defense, particularly against the pass in third-down situations and the red zone. If Oklahoma leans too heavily on passing plays, the Volunteers can load the box, disguise coverages, and force predictable throws. Establishing a strong running attack forces the defense to respect the ground game, opening opportunities for play-action and making the offense less predictable.
Even if it is not working early, he needs to stick with the run game, as we saw what happened last week in the second half against Ole Miss.
OU has talented running backs capable of thriving in both zone and gap schemes. Limiting their touches underutilizes one of the team’s most reliable weapons. Consistent carries not only create rhythm for the offense but also serve as a safety valve for Mateer, allowing him to operate more comfortably in the pocket.
The running game also provides a strategic advantage in controlling the clock. Sustained drives keep Tennessee’s explosive offense off the field and wear down the defensive front over the course of the game. By moving the chains on the ground, Oklahoma can dictate tempo and create opportunities for big plays later in the contest.
Protecting Mateer is another critical factor. Coming off a thumb injury, he needs a clean pocket to operate efficiently. A strong commitment to the run reduces the frequency of blitzes and allows him more time to make accurate throws, lowering the risk of turnovers.
Ultimately, leaning into the run game allows Oklahoma to maximize its strengths, control tempo, protect the quarterback, and force Tennessee to defend the entire field. Without a serious ground attack, OU risks becoming one-dimensional against a talented and disciplined Volunteers defense. For Arbuckle, the path to success is clear…commit to the run, establish rhythm, and let the Sooners’ offense operate at full potential.
One on One Number Two
Brent Venables vs His Tendency to Fall Back Into Too Much Soft Zone Defense
Oklahoma head coach and defensive coordinator Brent Venables faces another major challenge this Saturday night…containing a Tennessee offense that thrives on big plays and quick decision-making. The key to slowing down the Volunteers may lie in one simple concept, and in my opinion, that is…consistent pressure.
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar is a playmaker who excels when given time in the pocket. He can read defenses quickly and extend plays decently with his legs, turning routine situations into explosive gains. By bringing pressure through blitzes, stunts, and disguised coverages, Oklahoma can force Aguilar to make faster decisions, increasing the chance of mistakes, sacks, or turnovers, something he has been prone to.
While Tennessee’s offensive line is talented, they have shown vulnerabilities against disciplined and creative pass-rush schemes. Venables’ aggressive approach can exploit these gaps, particularly on early downs, disrupting their rhythm and limiting the effectiveness of play-action. Consistent pressure collapses the pocket quickly, curtailing deep throws and forcing Aguilar to rely on shorter, safer options. This containment also makes it harder for Tennessee’s playmakers to generate explosive plays.
Pressure doesn’t just disrupt individual plays, it controls the tempo of the game. Quick sacks and hurried throws force Tennessee into longer, higher-pressure drives, keeping the Oklahoma defense fresher and dictating the pace of the contest. Also, pressure often leads to turnovers, something OU has not been excelling at to this point in the season. Hasty decisions and tipped passes create opportunities for interceptions and fumbles, giving the Sooners the chance to swing momentum at critical moments.
Ultimately, bringing consistent pressure allows Oklahoma to disrupt Joey Aguilar, exploit Tennessee’s offensive line, prevent explosive plays, control the game’s tempo, and generate turnovers. For Venables, applying heat on the quarterback is not just a tactic, in my opinion, it’s a necessity. Without it, Tennessee’s high-powered offense could operate at full efficiency, making Saturday night’s challenge that much harder for the Sooners.
