Game Primer: OU vs. South Carolina - University of Oklahoma

Saturday, October 31

Norman

3:15 p.m. CT

University of Oklahoma

South Carolina

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October 30, 2026 | Football

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Oklahoma

South Carolinaa

Saturday, Oct. 31 / 3:15 p.m. CT / Owen Field

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KEY STORYLINES

• NR/RV Oklahoma (4-3 overall, 2-2 SEC) hosts RV/RV South Carolina (4-3, 2-3) on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. CT at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The homecoming game will be televised by SEC Network with Taylor Zarzour, Gene Chizik and Michella Chester announcing.

• Sixth-year South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer served as Oklahoma's assistant head coach for offense (tight ends and H-backs) during the 2018-20 seasons. During that period, the Sooners posted a 33-6 overall record, won three Big 12 championships and participated in two College Football Playoffs (2018 and '19). OU ranked second nationally in scoring offense (44.6 ppg) and total offense (537.3 ypg) during the stretch, and ranked sixth in passing offense (311.5 ypg) and 15th in rushing offense (225.7 ypg).

• OU head coach Brent Venables faced the Gamecocks nine times while serving as Clemson's defensive coordinator, and the Tigers posted a 7-2 record (won the final seven matchups). In those seven wins, Clemson held South Carolina to an average of 14.9 points per game. Over those last five meetings, Venables' defense held the Gamecocks to an average of 11.0 points (gave up 10 or fewer points four times).

• The lone OU-South Carolina meeting in Norman was on Oct. 19, 2024, a 35-9 Gamecocks victory in the first-ever matchup between the programs. The Sooners fell behind 21-0 with 9:40 left in the first quarter thanks to turnovers on each of their first three possessions. OU outgained the Gamecocks 291 yards to 254 on the day (held them to 69 second-half yards) but threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles and were outscored 24-0 off turnovers (USC had no turnovers).

• Oklahoma is 2-2 in SEC play. In the wins against No. 1 Texas and Mississippi State, the Sooners had four takeaways and just one giveaway and outscored the Longhorns and Bulldogs 20-7 off turnovers (not including a blocked punt OU recovered for a touchdown vs. UT). In the losses at No. 2 Georgia and vs. No. 15 Kentucky, the Sooners combined for two takeaways and eight giveaways and were outscored 31-6 off turnovers.

• OU has followed every win with a loss this season and every loss with a win. It marks the first time in program history the Sooners alternated wins and losses in each of their first seven contests.

• South Carolina is receiving votes in both major polls this week, making it the seventh consecutive OU opponent that was ranked or receiving votes in at least one of the two polls at the time of competition. Season-opening foe UTEP is the only team that wasn't ranked or receiving votes. The Sooners have played four top-25 squads, including No. 1 Texas (won) and No. 2 Georgia (lost).

• South Carolina, which started 0-3 in SEC play (lost 41-34 vs. Mississippi State, 49-18 at No. 8/8 Alabama and 35-34 in overtime vs. No. 24/RV Kentucky), has rebounded with a 38-19 win at No. 16/15 Florida and a 27-24 home victory over No. 11/11 Tennessee in its last two outings. The Gamecocks committed one combined turnover in those two wins (interception vs. Tennessee).

• Oklahoma's defense leads the nation by allowing just 13.6 first downs per game, and ranks in the top 20 nationally in six additional categories: No. 2 in third-down-conversion percentage (23.6), No. 4 in red-zone-conversion percentage (64.7), No. 8 in passing defense (151.3 ypg) and sacks per game (3.1), No. 11 in total defense (273.7 ypg) and No. 20 in yards per play allowed (4.7).

• The Sooners boast a veteran, home-grown defense. In fact, all 14 defensive starters this season began their college football careers at OU.

• Linebacker Owen Heinecke, who is in his fifth year at Oklahoma (was on Ohio State's lacrosse team in the 2021-22 school year), has led OU in tackles in six of seven contests this season and boasts team highs of 54 stops, 6.5 tackles for loss and four QB hurries. He was a walk-on his first three years with the Sooners.

• OU entered the Oct. 17 Kentucky game with five drives this season that lasted at least 10 plays. Over the last two games, it has totaled six such drives against UK (four) and Mississippi State (two).

• In its 13 games last season, OU registered 11 touchdown passes of at least 20 yards (0.8 per contest). Through seven games in 2026, John Mateer has already registered nine such plays (1.3 per outing). They have covered 53, 48, 40, 36, 34, 32, 29, 22 and 20 yards. He also has passing TDs of 17 and 14 yards.

• Oklahoma's tight ends combined for one receiving touchdown last season (by the now-departed Kaden Helms), but first-year Sooner tight ends Rocky Beers (40-yarder vs. UTEP; 17-yarder at Georgia; 20-yarder vs. Kentucky and 32-yarder at Mississippi State) and Hayden Hansen (29-yarder vs. New Mexico) have combined for five this season.

• Beers leads SEC tight ends with his 56.4 receiving yards per game (ranks fourth nationally) and his four receiving touchdowns. He has caught a TD pass in each of the last two games and three of the last four.

NORMAN, OK - September 04, 2026 - Oklahoma Football Team during the game between the UTEP Miners and the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK. Photo By Brendall Vargas/University of Oklahoma

FOR THE FANS

• Stadium gates will open at 1:15 p.m. this Saturday. Approximately two hours and 15 minutes before each home game (1:05 p.m. this Saturday), OU players and coaches will arrive at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium via team buses and walk to their stadium entrance while being cheered by fans. This year's "Walk of Champions" path again originates from the Jenkins Ave./Brooks St. intersection just northeast of the stadium (view map here). The team will be led by the Sooner Schooner and OU Spirit.

• Once again, the Allstate Party at the Palace will be held on the lawn immediately north of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium for fans of all ages, this week running from 11:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Party at the Palace will offer and feature a variety of food and beverage trucks, family-friendly activities, The Franchise pregame radio show and an LED video screen showing games in progress. Additionally, OU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be passing out candy throughout Party at the Palace.

• The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department announced a series of fan experience enhancements ahead of the Sooners' season opener. The expansion of offerings and upgrades to services range from pregame festivities and tailgating to concessions and merchandise opportunities, in-game engagement, exclusive experiences, a digital concierge service and more.

• OU is building on the success of last season's North Oval tailgating experience by introducing a new turnkey tailgating option at Boyd Lawn this fall while keeping the North Oval free and open for public tailgating. The North Oval will once again serve as the centerpiece of OU game day, remaining free for all fans on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans are encouraged to continue bringing their own tents, chairs and tailgating equipment to one of the most iconic gathering places on campus. The new hassle-free Boyd Lawn tailgating packages are available through REVELXP. The premium experience offers fully furnished tailgating setups, allowing groups to simply arrive and enjoy gameday without the work of setup or teardown. For more detailed information on all campus tailgating options, click here.

• OU Athletics and Sooner Sports Properties are producing limited-edition collectible game programs in high-quality print for home football contests against Kentucky, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Texas A&M – OU's four 2026 SEC home opponents. Souvenir game programs are available for preorder for $20 each, and the 2026 OU Football Media Guide can be purchased for $40 (limited stock). Click here to order.

• New this season, OU Athletics is utilizing Bud, an AI-powered digital concierge available on SoonerSports.com and in the Oklahoma Sooners app. Bud provides immediate answers to common questions about tickets, parking, venue policies, accessibility, lost and found and more. During events, fans can also report incidents such as maintenance needs, spills or safety concerns, all of which will be routed in real time to the appropriate OU Athletics personnel. Fans can also "Share a Win" by recognizing exceptional service or highlighting a positive experience. Bud, powered by the fan engagement and incident management platform Relayed, will be accessible on SoonerSports.com via the chat widget pop-up in the bottom-right corner of the site. In the Oklahoma Sooners app, Bud is accessible on game days via the main navigation area at the bottom of the screen.

• For a full list of OU game day policies, procedures and additional fan information, click here.

OPENING KICK

• The 2026 season marks the 132nd in OU football history. The Sooners lead the nation with their 50 all-time conference championships and 33 AP top-five finishes. They rank second with their seven Heisman Trophy winners (tied), five No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks (tied) and 27 11-plus-win seasons, third with seven AP national championships, their 101 weeks as the AP' s No. 1 team and 431 total weeks in the AP Top 5, fifth with 59 bowl appearances and sixth with 426 NFL Draft picks.

• Saturday's contest will mark the 1,372nd in OU history. The Sooners rank fifth nationally with their .722 all-time winning percentage (964-354-53 record), trailing Ohio State (.737), Alabama (.734), Notre Dame (.733) and Michigan (.731). Since the end of World War II (1946 season to present), OU leads all programs with 720 wins (25 more than Alabama, the program with the next most).

• The SEC leads the country with its nine teams ranked in this week's AP Top 25, and eight of those squads are in the top 17. The Big 12 ranks second with six top-25 teams and is followed by the Big Ten with five, the ACC with three and Pac-12 one. The other team is Notre Dame (independent).

• Oklahoma went 10-3 overall and 6-2 in the SEC in 2025 and earned the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff (lost 34-24 to No. 9 seed Alabama in Norman). South Carolina went 4-8 overall and 1-7 in SEC play.

RECAPPING THE WIN AT MISSISSIPPI STATE

• In the first-ever football meeting between Oklahoma and Mississippi State, John Mateer threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns and the Sooners registered season highs of 467 offensive yards and 184 rushing yards in a 23-15 road win over the Bulldogs on Saturday.

• OU's 467 total yards were its most in an SEC game since joining the conference prior to the 2024 season, and its most since the 2025 opener vs. Illinois State (495).

• Oklahoma kicked a field goal on its first possession and scored on a 36-yard pass from Mateer to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III with 39 seconds left in the second quarter to lead 10-0 at halftime. The touchdown drive, which covered 96 yards in 14 plays, was OU's longest of the season in both categories.

• Sategna also had a 54-yard reception (the Sooners' longest pass play of the season) in the third quarter and a 48-yard catch in the fourth quarter. He became the first OU player with three grabs of at least 35 yards in a game since Marquice "Hollywood" Brown at Oklahoma State in 2017 (36, 77 and 84 yards).

• The Sooners received the kickoff to begin the third quarter and drove 75 yards in just three plays to extend their lead to 17-0. Two plays after a quarter-opening 47-yard rush by running back Tory Blaylock (OU's longest run of the season), Mateer found tight end Rocky Beers for a 32-yard touchdown.

• Mateer completed 76% of his passes (22 for 29). Eight of his completions went to Sategna, who registered a career-high 164 yards. It was Sategna's second straight game and third this season with eight receptions.

• Linebacker Owen Heinecke registered 10 tackles, including 2.0 for loss (one sack). The SEC Defensive Player of the Week also forced a fumble that was recovered by Taylor Wein at the OU 4-yard line and led to the 96-yard TD drive. David Stone (seven tackles) and Adepoju Adebawore each recorded 1.5 sacks. •Defensive back Peyton Bowen, who made seven tackles, including one on fourth down to give OU the ball, picked up his second interception of the season on a play in the end zone and returned it 24 yards. The Sooners drove 56 yards and kicked a field goal on the next possession to extend their lead to 23-7.

• Mississippi State made the score 17-7 with a third-quarter touchdown on a double pass. It is the only TD the Sooners have allowed in a third quarter this season. The Bulldogs scored another TD and a two-point conversion with 2:10 remaining, but OU ran out the clock by converting on 3rd-and-5 on a six-yard rush by Mateer and 3rd-and-11 on a 13-yard pass from Mateer to Beers.

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE GAMECOCKS

• No. 14/13 Oklahoma held South Carolina to 224 total yards and 3.3 yards per play in a 26-7 road win last year on Oct. 18. USC converted just three of its 15 third-down conversion attempts (started 0 for 10). Its seven second-half possessions ended in three punts, two interceptions, a safety and a turnover on downs.

• The Sooners racked up 13 tackles for loss (their fifth straight game with at least 11) and did not surrender a TFL until the fourth quarter.

• Over the second and third quarters, OU held the Gamecocks to 63 total yards on 32 plays (2.0 per play).

• Redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer completed 18 of 26 passes for 150 yards and a 20-yard TD pass to redshirt junior wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III without committing a turnover. Sategna finished with game highs of seven catches and 73 receiving yards.

• Mateer also punted once and downed the ball at the South Carolina 1-yard line. On the next play, defensive lineman Markus Strong registered his first career safety for the game's final points.

• Tory Blaylock rushed 19 times for 101 yards and a TD, and Xavier Robinson ran 11 times for 58 yards and a score. Both running backs averaged 5.3 yards per carry. OU's 171 rushing yards were its second most against a Power Four team last season, and it held South Carolina to 54 rushing yards (1.6 average).

• OU converted all three of its red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.

• Kicker Tate Sandell made his lone field goal try, a career-long-tying 55-yarder.

• The game marked OU's first in the state of South Carolina and resulted in the Sooners' first win over the Gamecocks (improved to 1-1 after losing in Norman in 2024).

Tory Blaylock runs for a touchdown during OU's game at South Carolina.

HOME IS WHERE THE "W" IS

• Oklahoma is 153-18 (.895) at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium since the start of the 1999 season (Bob Stoops' first year as head coach), giving it just four more home losses than conference titles during the period. It is the third-best home winning percentage in the country over the stretch (Boise State, .908; Ohio State, .901). OU has outscored its foes by an average of 42-17 in those games.

• Entering this week, OU's sellout streak of originally scheduled home contests is 170 games, dating back to the start of the 1999 campaign. Only Nebraska has a longer current streak.

• This marks the 102nd season of Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The first game was played Oct. 17, 1925, a 7-0 victory over Drake.

• The first game played at the current stadium site, called Owen Field and named after former head coach and athletics director Bennie Owen (a charter member of the College Football Hall of Fame), took place in 1923, before stadium construction got underway.

• The Sooners own a sparkling 431-91-15 (.817) all-time record at the "Palace on the Prairie" and have faced 101 opponents there.

YEAR THREE IN THE SEC

• Oklahoma and Texas officially joined the Southeastern Conference on July 1, 2024, after 28 years in the Big 12 Conference. OU won half (14) of the Big 12's football titles in its 28 years in the league and posted a 187-61 (.754) record against conference competition (includes an 11-1 record in Big 12 championship games).

• Oklahoma's 14 Big 12 titles were 10 more than the program with the next most (Texas won four). From 2010 through 2023, OU won eight Big 12 titles and was followed by Baylor (three), Kansas State (two) and Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas (one each).

ANOTHER SCHEDULE GAUNTLET

• OU has already faced four top-25 opponents this season (at No. 24 Michigan [coaches poll], at No. 2/2 Georgia, vs. No. 1/1 Texas and vs. No. 15/17 Kentucky), and three of its remaining five foes are ranked in this week's poll: at No. 17/20 Florida, vs. No. 12/12 Ole Miss and at No. 23/23 Missouri.

• This is the third straight season Oklahoma's schedule is among the nation's most challenging. Entering the year, the Sooners' strength of schedule was ranked as the country's second toughest in ESPN's FPI. OU's 2025 schedule was rated as the most difficult in the nation entering that campaign.

AYE AYE

• For the second straight year, the Sooners have season-long team captains (OU named weekly captains each of Brent Venables' first three years). This season's nine captains are senior defensive back Peyton Bowen, sophomore offensive lineman Michael Fasusi, sixth-year linebacker Owen Heinecke, fifth-year linebacker Kip Lewis, fifth-year offensive lineman Jake Maikkula, fifth-year quarterback John Mateer, junior offensive lineman Eddy Pierre- Louis, junior defensive lineman David Stone and senior defensive lineman Taylor Wein. Lewis and Mateer were captains last season.

Lead, FB 26 Heinecke Butkus Semifinalist

NOTING THE OFFENSE

• John Mateer is 136 for 204 passing (67%) for 1,591 yards and 11 touchdowns (seven interceptions) and has rushed for 116 yards this season. He has completed more than 70% of his passes in three games (76% vs. New Mexico, 74% at Georgia and 76% at Mississippi State) and completed 69% against Texas. In his fifth year of college overall and second as OU's starter, he has totaled 5,023 offensive yards and 31 touchdowns as a Sooner (4,476 yards and 25 TDs passing and 547 yards and eight TDs rushing).

• Fifth-year wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III leads the Sooners with 41 receptions for 578 yards and has three touchdowns (34 yards vs. UTEP, 53 yards vs. New Mexico at 36 yards at Mississippi State). He has four TD catches of at least 50 yards at OU, including ones of 58, 76 and 87 yards last season. He also has six career 100-yard receiving games, all as a Sooner. Sategna is averaging 5.9 receptions per game this year and has recorded eight catches three times (at Georgia, vs. Kentucky and at Mississippi State). Including kickoff and punt returns, Sategna is averaging a team-best 123.9 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks 22nd nationally and third in the SEC.

• Sixth-year tight end Rocky Beers (transfer from Colorado State) ranks fourth nationally (first in the SEC) among tight ends with his 56.4 receiving yards per game. His team-high four TD receptions through seven games are the most by an OU tight end in a season since 2022 when Brayden Willis had seven in 13 games.

• Junior transfer running back Lloyd Avant (Colorado State) leads OU in rushing through seven games with his 322 yards on 73 carries (two TDs on rushes of 1 yard vs. UTEP and 2 yards vs. Texas) and has 998 career rushing yards and eight TDs. His 42-yard run in the third quarter vs. Texas was OU's longest rushing play of the season at the time (now second longest). Avant is averaging 4.2 yards per carry this season, and is averaging 5.1 yards per rush (158 yards on 31 totes) over the last three contests.

• Junior Xavier Robinson (421 rushing yards and four touchdowns last season; 50 yards on 13 carries in four games this season) and sophomore Tory Blaylock (team-high 480 rushing yards and four TDs as a freshman; 45 yards on 17 carries in five games this year) are OU's top returning running backs from last year. Freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. (No. 5 running back prospect in the country) started vs. Texas and has 67 yards on 24carries in his five games this season. Blaylock has rused 29 times for 116 yards, including a 71-yard day on 12 carries at Mississippi State.

• Oklahoma added plenty of size to the tight end room via the transfer portal for this season in addition to the 6-5, 240-pound Beers. Fifth-year senior Hayden Hansen (6-8, 270-pound transfer from Florida) has made seven catches for 84 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Jack Van Dorselaer (6-4, 250-pound transfer from Tennessee) has played in five contests (missed the Texas game due to injury) and has made two catches (both last game at Mississippi State) for eight yards. Returning sophomore Trynae Washington (6-3, 260) played in each of the first four games (missed the last three due to injury).

• Sategna is OU's only returning wide receiver who made at least 10 catches last season. Fifth-year transfer Trell Harris (Virginia) totaled six receptions for 104 yards and a TD over the UTEP and Michigan contests, but has missed the last five games due to injury. Junior Mackenzie Alleyne (Washington State), who made his first catch as a Sooner on a 22-yard touchdown play at Michigan, has four receptions for 40 yards and made his first career start at Georgia, while junior Parker Livingstone (Texas) has six catches for 51 yards. Harris caught 59 passes for 847 yards and five TDs last season, while Livingstone registered 516 yards and two scores. Sophomore Elijah Thomas (five receptions for 49 yards) has started four games this year and sophomore Manny Choice (nine catches for 125 yards) scored his lone TD on a 14-yard catch at Georgia. Choice made his first career start vs. Kentucky, recording a team-high 98 yards on five grabs.

• Fifteen Sooners have caught a pass this season, led by Sategna's 41 receptions and Beers' 30. Eight players have made at least six receptions (Avant has 10, Choice has nine, Hansen and Hatton each have six and Harris and Livingstone each have five).

• Entering the season, the offensive unit with the most returning experience was the line. Five 2026 Sooners started at least six games last season and have now combined for 82 career starts: fifth-year senior Jake Maikkula (32 career starts, 16 at OU), senior Heath Ozaeta (18 career starts), junior Eddy Pierre-Louis (nine career starts, including eight of the last nine games in which he played) and sophomores Michael Fasusi (12 starts at left tackle) and Ryan Fodje (started each of the final six contests at right tackle or right guard last season and has started the five games at left tackle this year). However, due to injury, none of those five players has played in every game this season. Due to injury, Fasusi, a true freshman All-American last season and preseason All-SEC pick, has only played in the season opener vs. UTEP and this past game at Mississippi State. Maikkula has started each of the last six contests after missing the opener, Fodje played in five straight games after missing the opener (missed the MSU game), Pierre-Louis has missed the last three outings and Ozaeta has not played in the last Mississippi State. Maikkula has started each of the last six contests after missing the opener, Fodje played in five straight games after missing the opener (missed the MSU game), Pierre-Louis has missed the last three outings and Ozaeta has not played in the last two contests.

• The only two offensive linemen who have played in and started all seven games this season are fifth-year senior E'Marion Harris (transfer from Arkansas) and freshman Noah Best. Harris (31 career starts) has started all seven games at right tackle, while Best started the opener at center, the next three at right guard and the last three at left guard.

• Sophomore transfer Peyton Joseph (Georgia Tech) made his first career starts the last two games at right guard.

NOTING THE DEFENSE

• Through seven games, Oklahoma's opponents have scored on just 23% of their offensive possessions (19 of 81; 13 touchdownsand six field goals).

• OU boasted one of the country's best defensive units last season and is off to a strong 2026 start. The Sooners rank first nationally in opponent first downs (13.6 per game), second in third-down-conversion defense (23.6%; leads SEC), fourth in red-zone defense (64.7%; second in SEC), eighth in passing defense (156.3 ypg; leads SEC) and sacks (3.1 per game; third in SEC), 11th in total defense (273.7 ypg; second in SEC), 24th in scoring defense (17.7 ppg; fourth in SEC), 28th in tackles for loss (6.3 per game; sixth in SEC) and 37th in rushing defense (117.4 ypg). u Oklahoma has allowed only one 100-yard rusher this season (111 yards by Mississippi State's Fluff Bothwell), and only three opponent rushers have gained more than 50 net yards in a game this season (Bothwell, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood [87] and Georgia running back Dwight Phillips Jr. [84]). The only two opposing players over the last two seasons to rush for 100 yards or more against OU were Michigan's Justice Haynes on Sept. 6, 2025 (125 yards on 19 carries) and Bothwell, 18 games apart.

• In 33 games since the start of the 2024 season, Oklahoma has allowed fewer than 100 net rushing yards 16 times, including twice this season (69 by New Mexico and 72 by Kentucky).

• The Sooners have been even better in defending the pass this season. Oklahoma has held five of seven opponents to under 190 passing yards. OU's first three foes each threw for under 120 yards.

• OU has been especially strong on third downs since Brent Venables took over defensive play-calling duties prior to the 2025 season, ranking second nationally by limiting opponents to a 26.6% percent conversion rate (only Texas A&M at 25.8% has allowed a lower conversion rate during that span).

• The Sooners are 11-2 in the Venables era when they score a defensive touchdown, including 4-0 since the start of the 2025 season. The last three such wins came against ranked teams (at No. 14 Tennessee and at No. 4 Alabama last season and vs. No. 1 Texas three games ago).

• Oklahoma's stout defense has been a group effort. Twenty-nine defensive players have notched a tackle this season, 15 have recorded at least 10 tackles and none has registered more than 55 tackles through seven games (linebacker Owen Heinecke has a team-high 54). Eighteen players have recorded at least 0.5 tackle for loss (Heinecke leads the team with 6.5), 15 players have at least 0.5 sack (linemen Adepoju Adebawore and Jake Kreul lead the team with 4.0 and 3.0 sacks, respectively), 11 different players have recorded a pass breakup (safety Peyton Bowen leads with five) and nine players have been credited with at least one QB hurry (Heinecke leads with four).

• OU's line is once again is one of the team's strongest units. Returning primary contributors are seniors Wein and Adebawore, and juniors Jayden Jackson, Danny Okoye and David Stone, who have totaled 62.5 career tackles for loss and 30.0 career sacks. Returning junior Wyatt Gilmore and sophomore Trent Wilson, as well as fifth-year senior Bishop Thomas (transfer from Georgia State), junior Kenny Ozowalu (UTSA) and freshman Kreul, have joined the rotation this season. Gilmore has made eight tackles (1.5 TFLs), Wilson has made six stops (2.5 TFLs, 1.0 sack), Thomas has made nine (0.5 sack, 1.0 TFL) and so has Kreul (3.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks). Kreul's 2.5 sacks vs. Kentucky were the most in school history by a true freshman.

• The Sooners' linebacker corps features fifth-year star Kip Lewis, who has made 36 career starts and totaled 234 career tackles (20.5 for loss). Sixth-year standout Heinecke, who was extremely productive in his breakout 2025 season and has now started each of the last 12 contests. Heinecke ranked second on the team with 74 tackles (12.0 for loss) last year and leads the squad with 54 stops this season (6.5 for loss, 2.0 sacks). Junior James Nesta has made 17 tackles in seven games this season (with a pass breakup, a QB hurry and a fumble recovery), including five in his first career start vs. New Mexico, and junior transfer Cole Sullivan, who registered 44 tackles in 11 games and three starts at Michigan last year, has nine tackles (0.5 TFL) and a pass breakup in his five contests this season. The defensive backfield is stout again with six returners who have now combined for 78 career starts. Senior Peyton Bowen (27 starts) logged career highs of 47 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups last season and ranks second on the team with his 36 stops this year (2.5 for loss, 1.0 sack). He also leads the team with two interceptions (one returned 42 yards for a touchdown vs. Texas) and five PBUs. Junior Eli Bowen (21 career starts at cornerback) has notched 12 tackles and two PBUs in his four starts this season (missed the last three games due to injury) after recording 24 tackles, two interceptions (including an 87-yarder for a TD in a win at No. 4 Alabama) and four PBUs in nine contests last year. Sophomore Courtland Guillory has made 18 career starts (seven this season) at cornerback and has four PBUs this year and registered his first career interception vs. Texas. Junior Reggie Powers III has started all seven games this season at the "Cheetah" position and ranks third on the team with 32 tackles (5.0 for loss and 2.0 sacks) and has two PBUs and a QB hurry. Junior Michael Boganowski has 58 tackles in 31 career games (three career starts; two this season) and senior Jacobe Johnson has three career interceptions in 41 games (two starts).

• A pair of sophomore defensive backs have stepped into larger roles this season, as Omarion Robinson has started each of the last five games at safety and Trystan Haynes each of the last three at cornerback. In seven games this season, Robinson ranks fifth on the team with his 27 tackles, has one of OU's four interceptions, a pass breakup and a QB hurry (the hurry was on Guillory's late interception vs. Texas). Haynes has 19 tackles this season, including seven stops and his first career PBU in his first start vs. Texas.

A LOOK AT SPECIAL TEAMS

• Oklahoma's special teams have drastically improved since the arrival of coordinator Doug Deakin. After finishing No. 127 in ESPN's special teams efficiency ratings in 2023 (the year before Deakin's arrival), the Sooners jumped to No. 41 in 2024 and to No. 10 in 2025.

• OU returned all four major players in the kicking game from last season, including reigning Lou Groza Award winner Tate Sandell and first-team All-SEC punter Grayson Miller. Three-year standout long snapper Ben Anderson and holder Jacob Ulrich are also back this season. Ulrich started last season as OU's punter before giving way to Miller due to an injury, and has served as the team's punter the last four games against Georgia, Texas, Kentucky and Mississippi State. Anderson is OU's long snapper for the fourth straight year. u Sandell, who transferred to OU from UTSA last year, is 10 for 16 on field goal attempts this season and 34 for 43 in his year-plus at OU. He is also 50 for 50 on PATs at OU (15 for 15 this season). After missing three straight field goal attempts (from 41 yards vs. New Mexico, 54 yards at Georgia and 53 yards vs. Texas), Sandell converted from 53 and 47 yards against the No. 1 Longhorns (the 47-yard game-winner came as time expired) and from 44 and 26 yards against No. 15 Kentucky. He made three of six attempts at Mississippi State.

• Sandell has made 20 field goals of 40 or more yards in his 19 games as a Sooner (20 of 27 since the start of the 2025 season). He ranks second in school history in made field goals of 40-plus yards behind Gabe Brkic, who made 21 of 30 attempts in 37 games from 2019-21.

• Ulrich has averaged 44.2 yards on 21 punts this season, with seven of 50-plus yards and a long of 56. Miller has averaged 45.0 yards on 10 punts this season, including three of longer than 50 yards (long of 62). Miller set an OU record for punts longer than 50 yards last season (24).

• Isaiah Sategna III ranks fifth nationally and first in the SEC this season by averaging 16.0 yards on his nine punt returns. He took his first punt return of the year 88 yards for a touchdown. He averaged 13.3 yards on 24 returns last year. Sategna has also averaged 21.0 yards on five kickoff returns this season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S BEST

• During the modern era of college football (since the end of World War II), the Sooners are the nation's No. 1 team with more wins (720) than any other program (next most is 695 by Alabama).

• Oklahoma has finished in the top 5 of the AP poll a nation-leading 33 times (Ohio State is second with 32).

• OU leads all FBS programs with 50 all-time conference championships. The rest of the top five includes Nebraska (46), Michigan (44), Ohio State (39) and USC (37). The Sooners' 14 league titles since 2000 are the most among Power Five programs (Ohio State ranks second with 11).

• Since the start of the 2000 season, OU ranks second with 19 seasons of at least 10 wins.

• Since former head coach Bob Stoops arrived in Norman in 1999, OU leads the country with its 13,582 points scored. Boise State (13,348) is second and Oregon (13,164) third.

EXTRA POINTS

• OU leads all SEC programs with its 925 all-time AP poll appearances. Alabama ranks second (916), Texas third (815), Georgia fourth (704) and LSU fifth (695).

• In their 29 wins since the start of the 2023 season, the Sooners have outscored opponents 246-59 off turnovers (27-10 this year). In their 15 losses during the same span, they have been outscored 146-33 off turnovers (38-6 this season).