Game Primer: OU vs. Ole Miss - University of Oklahoma

Saturday, November 14

Norman

3:15 p.m. CT

University of Oklahoma

Ole Miss

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November 11, 2026 | Football

Game Center Tailgating Game Day Guide Game Notes

Oklahoma

Ole Miss

Saturday, Nov. 14 / 3:15 p.m. CT / Owen Field

SECN / Radio / Live Stats / Game Notes

KEY STORYLINES

• Facing each other for the third straight season and fourth time overall, NR/RV Oklahoma (5-4 overall, 3-3 SEC) hosts No. 19/17 Ole Miss (6-3, 4-3) on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. CT at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The game will be televised by SEC Network with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Michella Chester announcing.

• Ole Miss is the only SEC program Oklahoma has played at least three times and not beaten. The Sooners are 0-3 against the Rebels, losing 27-25 in the 1999 Independence Bowl, 26-14 in 2024 in Oxford and 34- 26 in Norman last season. Georgia is the only other SEC program OU has not beaten (0-2).

• Oklahoma has followed every win with a loss this season and every loss with a win. Prior to this year, OU's most alternating wins and losses to start a season were six in 1968 under head coach Chuck Fairbanks and 2006 under head coach Bob Stoops (the Sooners started with a loss both seasons).

• Ole Miss is ranked No. 19 and No. 17 in this week's AP and coaches polls, respectively, making it the ninth consecutive OU opponent that was ranked or receiving votes in at least one of the two major polls at the time of competition. Season-opening foe UTEP is the only team that wasn't ranked or receiving votes. This will be the Sooners' sixth top-25 opponent, including No. 1 Texas (won) and No. 2 Georgia (lost).

• Ole Miss, which is under the direction of first-year head coach Pete Golding, started 3-0 overall but is 3-3 since. The Rebels are 4-3 in SEC play with wins vs. No. 7 LSU (32-24), at Vanderbilt (52-17), vs. No. 13 Missouri (31-3) and vs. Auburn (45-15). Their losses came at No. 21 Florida (52-28), at No. 18 Texas (34-27) and vs. No. 2 Georgia (42-7). It climbed to as high as No. 4 in the AP poll following the Sept. 19 win over LSU.

• Oklahoma's defense ranks in the top 25 nationally in several categories: No. 4 in opponent first downs (14.2 per game) and third-down-conversion percentage (27.7), No. 6 in red-zone-conversion percentage (69.6%), No. 11 in passing defense (170.7 ypg), No. 17 in sacks per game (2.9 per game), No. 16 in total defense (304.6 ypg) and No. 23 in scoring defense (19.2 ppg).

• The Sooners boast a veteran, home-grown defense. In fact, all 15 defensive players who have started at least one game 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 eight of nine contests this season and boasts team highs of 74 stops, 9.0 tackles for loss and five QB hurries. The Butkus Award semifinalist was a walk-on his first three years with the Sooners.

• In OU's first five games this season, it registered five drives that lasted at least 10 plays. Over the last four contests, it has totaled 13 such drives (four against Kentucky, two at Mississippi State, four vs. South Carolina and three at Florida. The Sooners' 20-play, second-half drive at UF on Saturday was their longest since 1972. It covered 12:45 of clock, the longest by an SEC team this season.

• Over the season's first five games, OU averaged 5.2 plays per offensive possession. Over the last four games, it has averaged 7.2 plays per offensive drive (season-high 8.3 this past Saturday at Florida).

• In its 13 games last season, OU registered 11 touchdown passes of at least 20 yards (0.8 per contest). Through nine games in 2026, John Mateer already has 10 such plays (1.1 per outing) to rank first (tied) in the SEC, fifth (tied) among Power Four players and 11th (tied) among all FBS players. They have covered 53, 48, 40, 36, 34 (twice), 32, 29, 22 and 20 yards. He also has passing TDs of 17, 14, 10, 6 and 3 yards.

• John Mackey Award semifinalist Rocky Beers leads SEC tight ends with his 57.6 receiving yards per game (ranks fifth nationally) and his four receiving touchdowns.

• Oklahoma had 14 giveaways and six takeaways over its first six games this season. Over the last three contests it has one giveaway and seven takeaways (-2 in turnover margin on the year). Mateer has no turnovers over the last three outings.

• OU 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). Ole Miss went 13-2 overall and 7-1 in SEC play. It reached the CFP semifinals, losing 31-27 as the No. 6 seed to No. 10 seed Miami (Fla.) in the Fiesta Bowl after beating No. 11 seed Tulane 41-10 in the first round and No. 3 seed Georgia 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl (quarterfinals). Golding served as head coach in all three games.

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.

• Saturday is OU's annual Military Appreciation Game, featuring a number of special events to honor the United States military. Pregame will feature the SOCOM Para-Commandos approximately 25 minutes before kickoff parachuting into Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Capping the national anthem will be a helicopter flyover from the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Brigadier General Kevin J. Williams will also do the honorary coin toss.

• The Sooners will recognize former OU football standouts George Cumby and Sonny Brown this Saturday during the Ole Miss game for their upcoming inductions into the College Football and Orange Bowl halls of fame, respectively. Cumby's salute will occur during halftime and Brown's will take place during a first-quarter timeout. Both recognitions will feature former OU head coach Barry Switzer and hall-of-fame teammates.

• The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department announced a series of fan experience enhancements ahead of the Sooners' season. 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 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 1,374th in OU history. The Sooners rank fifth nationally with their .722 all-time winning percentage (965- 355-53 record), trailing Ohio State (.736), Alabama (.734), Notre Dame (.734) and Michigan (.731). Since the end of World War II (1946 season to present), OU leads all programs with 721 wins (25 more than Alabama, the program with the next most).

• The SEC leads the country with its eight teams ranked in this week's AP Top 25, and five of those squads are in the top 13 (Georgia is No. 1). The Big Ten ranks second with six AP-ranked teams and is followed by the Big 12 with five, the ACC with three and Mountain West and Pac-12 one each. The other team is Notre Dame (independent).

RECAPPING THE WIN AT FLORIDA

• In the first-ever on-campus meeting between Oklahoma and Florida, the Sooners downed the No. 25 Gators 23-7 Saturday in Gainesville, Fla. It was OU's fifth win in its last six SEC road games.

• The Sooners snapped Florida's 48-game streak of beating teams who were playing at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the first time (streak dated back to 1988 when UF lost to Memphis State).

• OU took a 3-0 lead on a 41-yard Tate Sandell field goal on its opening possession, made it 10-0 on a 3-yard pass from John Mateer to tight end and former Gator Hayden Hansen with 9:42 to play in the second quarter and led 13-7 at halftime after Sandell added a 48-yard field goal. Florida's lone points came on a 15-yard rushing touchdown by running back Jadan Baugh with 3:00 left in the second quarter that made the score 10-7. OU scored 10 points in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard pass from Mateer to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III and a 31-yard field goal by Sandell.

• Oklahoma's two touchdowns came on its longest possessions of the season by number of plays. OU's 15- play, 84-yard drive in the second quarter consumed 7:11 of clock and its 20-play, 89-yard drive took up 12:45 of clock, spanning the final 2:41 of the third quarter and the first 10:04 of the fourth quarter.

• OU's second TD drive, which made the score 20-7 with 4:56 remaining in the game, was its longest drive by number of plays since 1972. It is also believed to be the longest drive in school history by possession time.

• In their first game with interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten calling plays, the Sooners held the ball for 37:50 of game clock (their highest time of possession in a game since 2019) and outgained the Gators 351 to 203 in total yards, 144 to 70 in rushing yards and 207 to 133 in passing yards. OU converted a season-high 10 third downs (on 18 tries), including six on the crucial 20-play touchdown drive.

• Mateer was 21 of 33 passing for 207 yards and two touchdowns and led all rushers with 14 carries for a season-high 56 yards. It was his third straight game without a turnover.

• Not including the game's last play when OU took a knee, the Sooners had 28 first-down plays and gained yards on 27 of them. Mateer completed 6 of 7 first-down pass attempts.

• Tight end Rocky Beers led all receivers with 72 yards on four catches. Wide receiver Jacob Jordan recorded season highs of four receptions and 36 yards, including an 18-yard catch on OU's 20-play touchdown drive. All four of Jordan's catches came on third-down plays and resulted in first downs.

• Oklahoma limited Florida to just 47 offensive plays. UF's 203 total yards and 133 passing yards were OU opponent season lows in SEC play. Baugh entered the game averaging 100.1 rushing yards per contest, but the Sooners held him to 35 yards.

• Linebacker Owen Heinecke logged 10 tackles for the third straight game (had 0.5 sack and 1.5 TFLs), and linebacker Kip Lewis registered six tackles, including a fourth-down sack in the fourth quarter with OU leading 20-7. Defensive back Courtland Guillory made his second interception of the season on a diving play in OU's end zone when the score was 13-7, and defensive back Peyton Bowen notched his third interception of the season on Florida's final possession to seal the game with 29 seconds left.

• Sandell, who converted all three of his field goal tries in the game, established a school record for most career field goals of 40 or more yards (23). He is in just his second season at OU.

• Sophomore left tackle Michael Fasusi was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.

• Junior defensive lineman Danny Okoye and sophomore tight end Jack Van Dorselaer made their first career starts. Okoye recorded a career-high five tackles (four solo), including a sack.

WITTEN NAMED INTERIM OC

• OU head coach Brent Venables announced Nov. 2 that second-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was relieved of his duties and that tight ends coach Jason Witten will serve in the role on an interim basis. Witten calls offensive plays.

• A 17-year NFL star as tight end (he earned 11 Pro Bowl honors), Witten spent the last five years as head coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, and coached his 2023 and '24 Warriors teams to Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state championships.

• Witten finished his NFL career with 1,228 receptions (fourth most in league history) for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns. He was finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

• Said Venables on Nov. 2: "Coach Witten will serve as offensive coordinator and play-caller for the remainder of the season. Beginning today, he will lead our offensive staff in preparing a clear and focused plan that gives our players the best opportunity to execute with confidence. My belief in the men in our locker room remains strong. Our responsibility as coaches is to turn that belief into preparation and performance. They deserve our very best leadership. That starts with me."

Gainesville, FL - November 07, 2026 - Oklahoma Football Interim Offensive Coordinator & Tight Ends Coach Jason Witten during the game between the Florida Gators and the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL. Photo By Peyton Martin/University of Oklahoma

LAST YEAR VS. OLE MISS

• No. 13/11 Oklahoma got its longest passing and rushing plays of the season (both for touchdowns) and outgained No. 8/8 Ole Miss 6.0 yards per play to 5.0, but the Sooners came out on the short end of a 34-26 decision last Oct. 25 in Norman.

• The Rebels, who improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in SEC play, ran 87 plays to OU's 60 and held a 35:36- 24:24 advantage in time of possession. They converted 9 of 21 third-down attempts and 2 of 3 fourth-down tries (46% combined) while OU was 4 of 14 and 1 of 3 (29% combined).

• OU sophomore running back Xavier Robinson rushed nine times for a career-high 109 yards (12.1 average) and a career-high-tying two TDs, including a career-long 65-yarder and a 9-yarder that gave the Sooners a 26-25 lead with 1:04 left in the third quarter after trailing 25-13 just five minutes earlier. It was their only lead of the contest, as Ole Miss responded with an 11-play, 75-yard TD drive to go up 31-26 with 11:33 left in the fourth quarter and tacked on a field goal with 4:09 to play.

• Redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer completed 17 of 31 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown without committing a turnover. His TD throw was a 76-yarder to redshirt junior Isaiah Sategna III in the second quarter that knotted the score at 10-10.

• Sategna finished with a game-high six catches for a then-career-high 131 yards, 122 of them in the first half.

• The Sooners were led defensively by linebacker Kip Lewis, who registered a game-high 12 tackles (1.5 for loss). Safety Robert Spears-Jennings logged 11 tackles (1.0 for loss) and a forced fumble, while linebacker Owen Heinecke added eight stops (2.0 for loss) and two pass breakups linebacker Kendal Daniels had six tackles (game-high 2.5 for loss).

• Kicker Tate Sandell converted both of his field goal tries (42 yards each) to up his streak of makes to 14.

• Michael Fasusi (left) and Ryan Fodje (right) became the first true freshman offensive tackle duo to start a game in OU history.

HOME IS WHERE THE "W" IS

• Oklahoma is 153-19 (.890) at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium since the start of the 1999 season (Bob Stoops' first year as head coach). It is the third-best home winning percentage in the country over the stretch (Boise State, .908; Ohio State, .896). OU has outscored its foes by an average of 42-18 in those games.

• Entering this week, OU's sellout streak of originally scheduled home contests is 171 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 431-92-15 (.815) all-time record at the "Palace on the Prairie" and have faced 101 opponents there.

• Oklahoma has won 47 of its last 50 (.940) November home games, going back to 1998. The three losses were to Oklahoma State in 2001, Baylor in 2014 and Baylor in 2022.

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 five top-25 opponents this season (at No. 24 Michigan [coaches poll], at No. 2/2 Georgia, vs. No. 1/1 Texas, vs. No. 15/17 Kentucky and at No. 25 Florida (AP poll). No. 19/17 Ole Miss this week will make it six.

• 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.

Gainesville, FL - November 07, 2026 - Oklahoma Quarterback John Mateer (#10) during the game between the Florida Gators and the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL. Photo By John Baker/University of Oklahoma

NOTING THE OFFENSE

• In his fifth year of college overall and second at Oklahoma, John Mateer has totaled 5,559 offensive yards and 37 touchdowns as a Sooner (4,927 yards and 29 TDs passing and 632 yards and eight TDs rushing), and is just shy of 10,000 career total offensive yards. In 45 career games, he has amassed 9,942 yards (8,333 passing and 1,609 rushing). This season, he has completed 65% of his passes (183 for 280) for 2,042 yards and 15 touchdowns (seven interceptions) and has rushed for 201 yards. 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. Mateer has not thrown an interception over the last three games (105 straight attempts without a pick).

• Fifth-year wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III leads the Sooners with 49 catches for 625 yards and has four touchdowns. He has four TD receptions of at least 50 yards at OU, including a 53-yarder vs. New Mexico and 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 5.4 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 103.6 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks 37th nationally and fourth in the SEC.

• Oklahoma's tight ends combined for one receiving touchdown last season (by the now-departed Kaden Helms), but first-year Sooners 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 and 3-yarder at Florida) have combined for six this season. Beers, a transfer from Colorado State who is a Mackey Award semifinalist, ranks fifth nationally (first in the SEC) among tight ends with his 57.6 receiving yards per game. His four TD receptions are the most by an OU tight end 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 394 yards on 92 carries (two TDs on rushes of 1 yard vs. UTEP and 2 yards vs. Texas) and has 1,070 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).

• Sophomore Tory Blaylock, who was OU's leading rusher last season with 480 yards and four TDs, ranks third on the team with 178 yards on 42 carries in his eight games this season (season-high 71 yards at Mississippi State, including a team-season-long 47-yard rush). Junior Xavier Robinson has 704 rushing yards (eight touchdowns) and 243 receiving yards in his career and 50 rushing yards on 13 carries in his six games this season. Freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. (No. 5 running back prospect in the country) has 100 yards on 35 carries in his eight games (started vs. Texas).

• 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. Hansen (6-8, 270-pound transfer from Florida) has made eight catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore Jack Van Dorselaer (6-4, 250-pound transfer from Tennessee) has played in eight contests (started this past Saturday at Florida) and has made four catches for 25 yards.

• Sophomore Manny Choice, who has made his first four career starts in the last four games, is third on the team with his 15 receptions and 165 yards. He scored his first career touchdown on a 14-yard catch at Georgia and led OU with a career-high 98 yards on five catches in his first start vs. Kentucky. Junior Parker Livingstone (Texas) has nine catches for 77 yards in eight games (two starts), while sophomore Elijah Thomas has started four games and has six receptions for 58 yards. Junior Ivan Carreon had his most productive game as a Sooner vs. South Carolina, recording a career-high 88 yards and his first two career TDs (34 and 10 yards). Junior Jacob Jordan has seven receptions for 61 yards over the last two games, and all of his 11 catches and 74 yards this season have come over OU's last four contests. Junior Mackenzie Alleyne (Washington State) made his first catch as a Sooner on a 22-yard touchdown play at Michigan and has five receptions for 51 yards (made first career start at Georgia).

• Sixteen Sooners have caught a pass this season, led by Sategna's 49 receptions and Beers' 38. Six players have made at least nine catches (Choice has 15, Avant has 12, Hatton has 10 and Hansen and Jordan have nine each).

• Due to injuries, the Sooners have used seven starting offensive line combinations in their nine games this season. The only two linemen who have started all nine contests are fifth-year senior E'Marion Harris (first-year transfer from Arkansas) and freshman Noah Best. Harris (33 career starts) has started all nine contests at right tackle, while Best started the opener at center, the next three games at right guard and the last five at left guard. Fifth-year senior Jake Maikkula (33 career starts, 17 at OU) has started seven games at center this season, while senior Heath Ozaeta (20 career starts) has started five games (four at right guard and one at left guard). Sophomore Michael Fasusi, a true freshman All-American last season and 2026 preseason AllSEC pick, has played in only four games (starts at left tackle in the opener vs. UTEP and each of the last three contests). Sophomore Ryan Fodje started the other five contests at left tackle, but has missed four games due to injury. Junior Eddy Pierre-Louis (nine career starts, including eight of the last nine games in which he played) saw action in each of OU's first four games (three starts), but has been out since. Sophomore transfer Peyton Joseph (Georgia Tech) has played in all nine contests and made his first career starts vs. Kentucky and at Mississippi State at right guard.

NOTING THE DEFENSE

• Through nine games, Oklahoma's opponents have scored on just 25% of their offensive possessions (26 of 102; 20 touchdowns and six field goals).

• Oklahoma has allowed only one 100-yard rusher this season (111 yards by Mississippi State's Fluff Bothwell) and only one other running back to rush for at least 65 yards (82 by Georgia's Dwight Phillips Jr.). 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 35 games since the start of the 2024 season, Oklahoma has allowed fewer than 100 net rushing yards 17 times, including three this season (69 by New Mexico, 72 by Kentucky and 70 by Florida).

• OU has held seven of its nine opponents to fewer than 190 passing yards. Its first three foes each threw for under 120 yards. The two exceptions were Texas (260 passing yards) and South Carolina (309).

• Oklahoma has been especially strong on third downs since Brent Venables took over defensive playcalling duties prior to the 2025 season, ranking second nationally by limiting opponents to a 27.9% percent conversion rate (only Texas A&M at 26.1% has allowed a lower conversion rate over the last two seasons).

• The Sooners are 11-3 in the Venables era when they score a defensive touchdown, including 4-1 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 on Oct. 10), while the lone loss over the last two seasons came two games ago to South Carolina.

• Oklahoma's stout defense has been a group effort. Thirty-one defensive players have notched a tackle this season, 16 have recorded at least 10 tackles and none have registered more than 74 tackles through nine games (linebacker Owen Heinecke has a team-high 74). Twenty-one players have recorded at least 0.5 tackle for loss (Heinecke leads the team with 9.0), 15 players have at least 0.5 sack (linemen Adepoju Adebawore leads the team with 4.0), 12 different players have recorded a pass breakup (safety Peyton Bowen leads with five) and nine players have at least one QB hurry (Heinecke leads with five).

• OU's line is once again one of the team's strongest units. Returning primary contributors are seniors Adebawore and Taylor Wein, and juniors Jayden Jackson, Danny Okoye and David Stone, who have combined for 64.5 career tackles for loss and 31.5 career sacks. Freshman Jake Kreul, sophomore Trent Wilson and fifth-year senior Bishop Thomas (Georgia State transfer) have been regular members of the rotation. Kreul has nine tackles (3.5 TFLs), Thomas has made nine stops (1.0 TFL) and Wilson has made eight (2.5 TFLs, 1.0 sack). 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 38 career starts and totaled 246 career tackles (22.0 for loss and 8.0 sacks). He also has three interceptions, all of which have been returned for touchdowns. He is just the fifth player in school history (only linebacker) with three career pick-sixes.

• Sixth-year standout Heinecke, who is a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, leads the team with 74 total tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and five QB hurries. He has 10 tackles in each of the last three contests. The former walk-on, who is in his fifth year at OU, was extremely productive in his breakout 2025 season and has now started each of the last 14 games. He ranked second on the team with 74 tackles (12.0 for loss) last year, and has registered 159 tackles (21.0 TFLs and 5.5 sacks), two forced fumbles, six QB hurries and four pass breakups over the last two seasons (all but 11 tackles of his career stats line).

• The defensive backfield is stout again with five experienced contributors, including senior and Thorpe Award semifinalist Peyton Bowen, who has totaled 159 tackles (6.0 for loss), five interceptions and 17 pass breakups over his 48 career games (27 starts). He is tied for second on the squad with his 43 stops this year (3.0 for loss, 1.0 sack) and has teams highs of three interceptions (one returned 42 yards for a touchdown vs. Texas) and five PBUs. Junior Eli Bowen (22 career starts at cornerback) has notched 14 tackles and two PBUs in his five starts this season (missed four 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 20 career starts (nine this season) at cornerback and has two interceptions and four PBUs this year. Junior Reggie Powers III has started all nine games at the "Cheetah" position and ranks second on the team with 43 tackles (6.0 for loss and 2.5 sacks) and has two PBUs and two QB hurries. Junior Michael Boganowski has 69 tackles in 33 career games (five career starts; four this season).

• A pair of sophomore defensive backs have stepped into larger roles this season, as Omarion Robinson has started each of the last seven games at safety and Trystan Haynes has started four at cornerback. In nine games this year, Robinson is fifth on the team with his 36 tackles, has one of OU's nine interceptions, a pass breakup and a QB hurry (the hurry was on Guillory's late interception vs. Texas). Haynes has 26 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, four-year standout long snapper Ben Anderson and holder Jacob Ulrich. Ulrich started last season as OU's punter before giving way to Miller after one game due to an injury, and has served as the team's punter the last six games since OU's contest at Georgia.

• Sandell, who transferred to OU from UTSA last year, is 15 for 21 on field goal attempts this season and 39 for 48 in his two years at OU. He is also 53 for 53 on PATs at OU (18 for 18 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 has made his last six field goal attempts.

• Sandell has made a school-record 23 field goals of 40 or more yards and has tied the record with 10 field goals of 50-plus yards in his 22 games as a Sooner. He broke a tie with Gabe Brkic (2019-21) for the school record for makes from 40-plus yards with his 41- and 48-yard makes at Florida last week. Sandell and Brkic are tied for the record for makes from 50-plus yards. Sandell is 23 of 31 on field goals of 40-plus yards and 10 of 13 on kicks of 50-plus yards. Brkic made 21 of 30 attempts from 40-plus yards and 10 of 15 from 50-plus.

• Ulrich has averaged 44.4 yards on 31 punts this season, with nine of 50-plus yards and a long of 56. In three games this season, Miller has averaged 45.0 yards on 10 punts, 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 10th nationally and first in the SEC this season by averaging 12.8 yards on his 12 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.

Tate Sandell kicks the game-winning field goal vs. Texas at the Cotton Bowl in the Allstate Red River Rivalry on Oct. 10, 2026.

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 (721) than any other program (next most is 696 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 13,630 points scored. Boise State (13,458) is second and Oregon (13,239) third.

EXTRA POINTS

• Oklahoma is 12-3 all-time against teams ranked No. 19 in the AP poll (3-1 at home). OU's last game against the AP's No. 19-ranked team was in 2022 (52-42 home win over Kansas). The other three home contests against the 19th-ranked team in the AP poll occurred in 1975 (No. 1 OU beat Colorado, 21-20), 1949 (No. 2 OU beat Santa Clara, 28-21) and 1942 (14-7 loss to William & Mary).

• OU leads all SEC programs with its 925 all-time AP poll appearances. Alabama ranks second (918), Texas third (817), Georgia fourth (706) and LSU fifth (697).

• Former Sooner guard/center Troy Everett has played in eight of nine games for Ole Miss this season. Everett started 12 of his 18 games at OU over the previous three seasons.