Tag: oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) runs after Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Ole Miss Rebels at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Ole Miss won 34-26.

Judge grants Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke another year

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former walk-on Owen Heinecke, who rose from special teamer to standout linebacker at Oklahoma, was granted an additional year of eligibility on Thursday by a district court judge in Cleveland County, Ok.

Judge Thad Balkman ruled in favor of Heinecke on a preliminary injunction after an all-day emergency hearing. After hearing testimony from Oklahoma coach Brent Venables and general manager Jim Nagy, Balkman decided that the NCAA did not appropriately factor out Heinecke’s freshman season with the Ohio State men’s lacrosse team in the spring of 2021.

Heinecke, a 6-foot-one, 227 pound dual sport athlete at Tulsa’s Bishop Kelly HS, transferred to Oklahoma in the fall of 2022, but saw the vast majority of his action on special teams in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. But he played in all 13 games and started the final five games of the 2025 season, earning All-SEC Second Team honors. He ranked second on the team with 74 tackles and amassed 12.0 tackles for loss and five sacks.

Heinecke’s emergence helped Oklahoma post the nation’s third-best rushing defense and led them to their first CFP appearance since 2019.

The NCAA denied Heinecke’s first request for a waiver and appeal earlier this year and the projected late round draft pick began preparing for the 2026 NFL draft. He took part in the NFL scouting combine and OU’s pro day, while continuing to pursue his legal battle with the NCAA.

On March 23, Heinecke and his attorneys filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and sought an emergency hearing in advance of the draft.

Heinecke had intended to play both football and lacrosse at Ohio State, but was unable to join the football team in the fall of 2020, due to COVID-19, recovery from a high school injury and the school’s suspension of walk-on tryouts until the spring of 2022.

NCAA attorneys argued that Heinecke’s eligibility began when he chose to play lacrosse at Ohio State in 2021 and should have expired following the 2025 football season.

But Balkman did not see it that way.

“We’re grateful for today’s decision,” Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny said in a statement after Thursday’s ruling. “This is a fair outcome for a young man who has handled this process with integrity and resilience. We’re proud to stand with Owen and look forward to supporting him as he returns to competition in a Sooners uniform.”

The NCAA is now 2-2 in high profile cases of late, with Heinecke joining Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in regaining collegiate eligibility. The NCAA has won in the courts in the cases of former quarterbacks Joey Aguilar (Tennessee) and Chandler Morris (Virginia), whose cases were rejected by the courts.

–Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke sues NCAA for ’26 eligibility

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Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Monday as he seeks an additional season of eligibility.

Heinecke, who participated in last month’s NFL Scouting Combine after his waiver request and appeal were denied by the NCAA, is seeking an injunction before the NFL draft begins on April 23.

An emergency hearing for the case has been scheduled for April 16 in Oklahoma’s Cleveland County Court.

“We’re not giving up,” Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy said of Heinecke’s case earlier this month. “Owen is just a guy you want to fight for.”

Heinecke was ruled by the NCAA to be out of collegiate eligibility due to playing in three lacrosse games at Ohio State in 2021 before transferring to Oklahoma’s football program as a walk-on. He redshirted in 2022 before playing 39 games over the last three seasons.

He had just 11 total tackles from 2023-24 but broke out last season with 74 tackles (second on the team), 12 tackles for loss and three sacks, earning recognition on the All-SEC second team.

“OU fully supports Owen and his pursuit of a fair opportunity to continue playing the game he loves,” Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny said in a statement. “We’ll stand firmly beside him as he works to do just that.”

Heinecke joins a growing list of college football players suing the NCAA for extra eligibility this offseason to mixed results.

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was granted a preliminary injunction to play in 2026 by a Mississippi state court last month, while Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar had his injunction denied. The NCAA has appealed Chambliss’ case.

Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris is also suing the NCAA in an attempt to be granted a seventh year of eligibility.

–Field Level Media

Oklahoma retains QB John Mateer, LB Kip Lewis

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The University of Oklahoma announced Thursday night on social media that quarterback John Mateer and linebacker Kip Lewis will return in 2026.

Mateer, who transferred from Washington State to Oklahoma prior to the 2025 season, completed 62.2% percent of his passes for 2,885 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also rushed for 431 yards and a team-high eight scores as the Sooners’ 10-3 season ended with a College Football Playoff first-round home loss to Alabama.

Mateer broke a bone in his throwing hand against Auburn on Sept. 20 and underwent surgery, yet he missed just one game as he returned at least one week sooner than estimated. He threw for eight touchdowns and eight interceptions in his eight games following the surgery.

Lewis, who also wore No. 10 for Oklahoma, produced a team-high 76 tackles for the SEC’s stingiest defense. The rising senior recorded 10.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, five quarterback hits and four pass breakups for a Sooners unit that allowed just 15.2 points per game.

–Field Level Media

Jason Witten named Oklahoma tight ends coach

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Oklahoma officially introduced Dallas Cowboys great Jason Witten as its new tight ends coach on Thursday.

It is the first collegiate coaching position for Witten, who replaces Joe Jon Finley on Brent Venables’ staff.

Witten, 43, was an 11-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Cowboys (2003-17, 2019) and Las Vegas Raiders (2020).

“I love football and I love teaching the game, and Oklahoma is as prestigious a college football program as there is in the country,” Witten said. “So I’m thankful to Coach Venables for the opportunity to work together. It’s been clear to me from the outset that he’s one of the best leaders of men in football. And he has the pieces in place to compete for championships, so I’m excited to work under him. … It’s a tremendous opportunity and I’m proud to be a Sooner.”

Since 2021, Witten has been the head coach at Liberty Christian School outside Dallas, where his son, Cooper, is ranked as the No. 1 linebacker in the Class of 2027 by the 247Sports composite rankings.

“When you talk about Jason Witten you start with the impeccable human being he is,” Venables said. “That’s as a competitor, a leader, a coach, a dad, a husband. He’s one of those rare people who represents incredibly high character, integrity and excellence. He’s a tremendous communicator blessed with unbelievable interpersonal skills. That’s who he was as a leader in the locker room as a player, and you can see the impact and influence he had as a head coach at the high school level at Liberty Christian. He’s really special in that regard.”

A two-time All-Pro, Witten caught 1,228 passes for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns in 271 games and was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2012.

A third-round pick by Dallas out of Tennessee in the 2003 NFL Draft, Witten is the Cowboys’ all-time leader in receptions (1,215) and receiving yards (12,977) and ranks second in touchdowns (72), one behind Dez Bryant.

Witten is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, his first year of eligibility.

–Field Level Media

Alabama shakes off slow start, downs Oklahoma in CFP opener

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Ty Simpson threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns to overcome a slow start and help No. 9 Alabama rally for a 34-24 win over No. 8 Oklahoma on Friday in Norman, Okla., in the College Football Playoff opener.

The Crimson Tide (11-3) will take on top-ranked Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Alabama trailed Oklahoma (10-3) by 17 points in the first half but roared back to tie it then controlled the second half to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Crimson Tide became the first road team to win a CFP game on campus after all four home teams won in the opening round of last year’s inaugural 12-team field.

Alabama took the lead early in the third quarter when Simpson hit Lotzeir Brooks for a 30-yard touchdown to make it 24-17.

Brooks had five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

After the Crimson Tide extended their lead to 10, Oklahoma answered, cutting the deficit to 27-24 on Deion Burks’ 37-yard touchdown catch from John Mateer two plays into the fourth quarter.

Alabama extended its lead, though, on Daniel Hill’s 6-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth. The score was set up by Germie Bernard’s 24-yard catch where he wrested the ball from the Sooners’ Jacobe Johnson at the Oklahoma 5.

Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell missed a pair of field goals late, barely pushing the first wide, then finishing just short on a 51-yard try with just more than a minute remaining, ending the Sooners’ chances of a comeback.

Mateer finished with 307 passing yards and two touchdowns while Burks finished with seven catches for 107 yards as Oklahoma outgained Alabama 362-260.

Mateer put Oklahoma on the board with an 8-yard touchdown run on the Sooners’ second drive, and Sandell’s 51-yard field goal made it 10-0 in the final minute of the first quarter.

Sandell, the Lou Groza Award winner as the nation’s top kicker, tied an FBS record with his eighth field goal of 50 or more yards on the season.

The Sooners extended their lead to 17-0 less than five minutes into the second quarter on Mateer’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna III.

To that point, the Crimson Tide didn’t have a first down, going three-and-out on each of their first three possessions.

But then Alabama started turning the momentum.

Simpson led a 75-yard touchdown drive, putting the Crimson Tide on the board with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brooks on fourth-and-2.

A blocked punt gave Alabama the ball at the Oklahoma 30, and the Crimson Tide made it a one-possession game with a 35-yard field goal by Conor Talty with just more than two minutes remaining in the half.

Alabama wasn’t done yet, as Zabien Brown picked off a Mateer pass to the flat and had plenty of clear space ahead of him, returning it 50 yards for a touchdown to tie the game heading into halftime.

–Field Level Media

CFP first round: What to know about Alabama at Oklahoma

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College Football Playoff First Round
No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2)
Friday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m. ET
Norman, Okla.
Consensus odds: Oklahoma -1.5, Total 41.5

Oklahoma and Alabama square off in the first round of the College Football Playoff, but the Southeastern Conference rivals need no introduction.

The eighth-ranked Sooners and ninth-ranked Crimson Tide meet Friday in Norman, Okla., in the opening game of the first-ever 12-team CFP bracket, but it’s the second time they’ve played in five weeks.

The winner will take on top-ranked Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Oklahoma comes into the game with momentum, having won four consecutive games to close the regular season, including a 23-21 victory over Alabama on Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“I want our guys to be fully immersed in the moment,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said. “… The enormity of the challenge is real. We’re going to have to be an improved version of ourselves.”

Getting into the 12-team playoff settles as a pretty strong statement from two teams entering fall camp with questions — or at the very least, uncertainty — at quarterback and beyond.

The Sooners have been playing with no margin for error since the beginning of November, winning out after an Oct. 25 loss to Ole Miss.

Alabama has struggled some beginning with the meeting against Oklahoma, dropping both that game and the SEC championship game to Georgia, 28-7, and going down to the wire before beating Auburn 27-20.

The Crimson Tide also have been dealing with speculation over Kalen DeBoer and his future at the school after the coach was mentioned prominently regarding the open Michigan job. DeBoer said he hadn’t talked to anyone about another job and didn’t plan to.

“Our guys, if there’s any distraction, I haven’t seen it, haven’t felt it,” DeBoer said. “And so, I’m really proud of the way they’ve handled whatever noise that’s out there.”

Oklahoma is in the CFP for the first time since 2019 and is looking for its first playoff victory after losing in the semifinals in each of its four appearances in the four-team playoff era.

The Crimson Tide are in the playoff for the ninth time and the first time since 2023. Alabama is 9-5 in CFP games and emerged as champion in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

FILM-ROOM FOCUS: A matchup between Oklahoma’s secondary and Alabama’s wide receivers highlights the elite position group crossover on Friday night.

Sooners cornerback Eli Bowen has two interceptions over the past three games, including an 87-yard pick-six against the Crimson Tide. Germie Bernard leads the Crimson Tide with 57 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bowen said beyond the one-on-one matchups, he’s expecting a better showing from the OU defense.

“We caused turnovers, which saved us. We didn’t have a highly detailed and executed game from the defensive side,” Bowen said. “I feel like we’re focusing on fixing those mistakes and having a better game overall instead of just the matchup.”

HEALTH WATCH: Oklahoma got better news than Alabama early this week regarding top defensive linemen. The Sooners’ R Mason Thomas missed the past three games after suffering a quad injury while returning a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown Nov. 1 against Tennessee. However, he was listed as fully available for this week’s game on Tuesday.

Alabama defensive end LT Overton, whose father played for Oklahoma, won’t be available on Friday due to an illness. He also missed the SEC championship game because of the ailment.

PRO DAY: Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor widely is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen available in the 2026 NFL Draft and might work into conversations as a top-five draft pick.

He’s massive and moves with the ease of a skill-position player, the foundation for why he allowed just four sacks over the last four seasons. The game against the Sooners will be a prime opportunity for Proctor to showcase his talents.

Oklahoma features one of the deepest defensive lines in all of college football, even if Thomas remains out. Taylor Wein and Marvin Jones Jr. on the outside and a deep group of interior defensive linemen will give Proctor plenty of opportunities to put (more) good film in the hands of scouts and further solidify his first-round status.

FUTURE IS HERE: Oklahoma redshirt freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis (6-foot-3, 314 pounds) has played a significant role for the Sooners’ offensive line late in the season as one of three freshmen to break into the starting lineup.

True freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje are the others. Pierre-Louis has started the last four games and not only performed well in his own rite, but has added an aggressive edge to the group. Pierre-Louis figured to continue to carve out a bigger role after being one of the top guard prospects in the 2024 class. While the Sooners lose Febechi Nwaiwu and Derek Simmons up front, the trio — led by Pierre-Louis — have a chance to help anchor Oklahoma up front for the next couple of years.

NOTEWORTHY: DeBoer is 19-5 all-time against AP Top 25 opponents and only once active FBS coach has more wins over ranked teams (Kirby Smart, Georgia, 26). DeBoer is 6-2 against top-10 opponents.

–Field Level Media

High-stake rematch: Oklahoma, Alabama clash in CFP opener

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Just more than a month after meeting in the regular season, Oklahoma and Alabama square off again in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

The eighth-ranked Sooners and ninth-ranked Crimson Tide meet Friday in Norman, Okla., in the CFP opener.

The winner will take on top-ranked Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Oklahoma (10-2) comes into the game with momentum, having won four consecutive games to close the regular season, including a 23-21 victory over Alabama on Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“I want our guys to be fully immersed in the moment,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said. “… The enormity of the challenge is real. We’re going to have to be an improved version of ourselves.”

The Sooners have been playing with no margin for error since the beginning of November, winning out after an Oct. 25 loss to Ole Miss.

Alabama (10-3) has struggled some beginning with the meeting against Oklahoma, dropping both that game and the SEC championship game to Georgia, 28-7, and going down to the wire before beating Auburn 27-20.

The Crimson Tide also have been dealing with speculation over Kalen DeBoer and his future at the school after the coach was mentioned prominently regarding the open Michigan job.

DeBoer said he hadn’t talked to anyone about another job and didn’t plan to.

“Our guys, if there’s any distraction, I haven’t seen it, haven’t felt it,” DeBoer said. “And so, I’m really proud of the way they’ve handled whatever noise that’s out there.”

Oklahoma is in the CFP for the first time since 2019 and is looking for its first playoff victory after losing in the semifinals in each of its four appearances in the four-team playoff era.

The Crimson Tide are in the playoff for the ninth time and the first time since 2023. Alabama is 9-5 in CFP games and emerged as champion in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

The matchup between Oklahoma’s secondary and Alabama’s wide receivers figures to be a key one.

Sooners cornerback Eli Bowen has two interceptions over the past three games, including an 87-yard pick-six against the Crimson Tide.

Germie Bernard leads the Crimson Tide with 57 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.

Oklahoma got better news than Alabama early this week regarding the health of a key defensive linemen.

The Sooners’ R Mason Thomas missed the past three games after suffering a quad injury while returning a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown Nov. 1 against Tennessee. However, he was listed as fully available for this week’s game on Tuesday.

Alabama defensive end LT Overton, whose father played for Oklahoma, won’t be available on Friday due to an illness. He also missed the SEC championship game because of the ailment.

The Crimson Tide got more encouraging reports regarding tight end Jose Cuevas and running back Jam Miller.

Cuevas, who had six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown against the Sooners, has not played since that earlier matchup. He hasn’t played since then due to a foot injury, but he was back practicing this week and was considered questionable for Friday.

Miller missed the SEC title game because of a leg injury, but he should be set for the rematch against Oklahoma.

In addition to Thomas, Oklahoma was also without center Jake Maikkula for the regular-season finale as he battled an infection. He is considered questionable to oppose the Crimson Tide.

The Sooners are one of the few teams with a winning record against Alabama. Oklahoma is 5-2-1 all-time against the Crimson Tide.

–Field Level Media

Oklahoma-Alabama rematch to kick off CFP slate of games

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Multi-time national championship winners Oklahoma and Alabama will square off in the opening game of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 19.

As the No. 8 seed, the Sooners will host the No. 9 Crimson Tide in a first-round game at Norman, Okla.

It will be a rematch of a Southeastern Conference clash on Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., which the Sooners won 23-21.

The CFP committee released the schedule on Sunday for the 11-game tournament, which culminates Jan. 19 with the crowning of a national champion in the title game in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Here is the full schedule of CFP games:

FIRST ROUND

Dec. 19, 8 p.m. ET
No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2) vs. No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at Norman, Okla.

Dec, 20, noon ET
No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1) vs. No. 10 Miami (10-2) at College Station, Texas

Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m. ET
No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1) vs. No. 11 Tulane (11-2) at Oxford, Miss.

Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET
No. 5 Oregon (11-1) vs. No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at Eugene, Ore.

QUARTERFINALS

Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
Cotton Bowl, Arlington, Texas
No. 2 Ohio State vs. winner of Texas A&M-Miami

Jan. 1, noon ET
Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.
No. 4 Texas Tech vs. winner of Oregon-James Madison

Jan. 1, 4 p.m. ET
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
No. 1 Indiana vs. winner of Oklahoma-Alabama

Jan. 1, 8 p.m. ET
Sugar Bowl, New Orleans
No. 3 Georgia vs. winner of Ole Miss-Tulane

SEMIFINALS

Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m. ET
Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.
Winner of Cotton Bowl vs. winner of Sugar Bowl

Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m. ET
Peach Bowl, Atlanta
Winner of Orange Bowl vs. winner of Rose Bowl

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. ET
Miami Gardens, Fla.

–Field Level Media

No. 8 Oklahoma gets late TD to survive LSU, likely clinch CFP bid

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John Mateer threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns, overcoming three interceptions to help No. 8 Oklahoma to a 17-13 win over LSU on Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma.

The win, their fourth consecutive, likely puts the Sooners into the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019.

It wasn’t over, though, until Peyton Bowen batted down Michael Van Buren Jr.’s fourth-down pass from deep in Oklahoma territory with 1:16 remaining.

The Sooners’ offense struggled overall but found just enough late to avoid the upset.

Mateer hit Isaiah Sategna III for a 58-yard touchdown with just 4:16 remaining, and then Oklahoma (10-2, 6-2 SEC) held on in the closing minutes to escape.

LSU (7-5, 3-5) got a 47-yard kick return by Barion Brown to get near midfield after Sategna’s touchdown but they couldn’t find the end zone, as Gracen Halton broke through the line on fourth-and-2 from the Oklahoma 29, forcing Van Buren to get rid of the ball quickly and setting up Bowen’s clinching pass breakup.

Sategna finished with nine catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Mateer’s passing total was his second-highest of the season and highest since the season opener.

Oklahoma outgained the Tigers 393-198, holding LSU to just 113 yards passing and 85 yards on the ground.

It was LSU’s lowest offensive output since November 3, 2018, when they mustered only 196 total yards against then-No. 2 Alabama.

The Tigers made the first big defensive play, with Harold Perkins Jr. intercepting Mateer’s pass on third down and returning it 44 yards to the Oklahoma 4 just three minutes into the game.

But the Sooners immediately answered, with Bowen intercepting Van Buren on the next play to give Oklahoma the ball back.

Much of the Sooners’ first-half offense came two drives later, when they converted twice on third downs before getting a 38-yard field goal by Tate Sandell.

After Oklahoma turned the ball over on downs near midfield late in the first, LSU was able to get a 25-yard field goal from Ramos to tie the game.

The Tigers took advantage of a short field in the third quarter after A.J. Haulcy’s 42-yard interception return gave LSU the ball at the Oklahoma 33.

Van Buren’s 23-yard run on third down set up his 1-yard touchdown pass to Thomas a play later to put the Tigers up 10-3.

The Sooners tied it 10-10 late in the quarter, on John Mateer’s 45-yard touchdown pass to Deion Burks.

Oklahoma’s defense looked like it had come up with a major stop, pushing the Tigers out of field-goal range with a 17-yard loss on a fumbled lateral.

However, Van Buren hit Zavion Thomas for an 18-yard gain on third down to put LSU back in field-goal territory, and Damian Ramos hit a 43-yard field goal to put the Tigers on top 13-10 with just less than eight minutes remaining.

–Field Level Media

LSU hopes to play spoiler in No. 8 Oklahoma’s ‘win and in CFP’ game

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Last season, Oklahoma played spoiler by knocking off Alabama in late November to essentially eliminate the Crimson Tide from College Football Playoff contention.

This season, the Sooners will try not to have their CFP destiny ruined when they host LSU on Saturday in Norman, Okla. The No. 8 Sooners (9-2, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) are almost certainly in the field — provided they earn a win over LSU (7-4, 3-4).

Oklahoma has so far navigated a tough November schedule, knocking off then-No. 14 Tennessee and No. 4 Alabama on the road before beating No. 23 Missouri last week.

“We caught our stride very, very well,” Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis said. “Keep coming and keep doing what we’re doing. Don’t change the process now.”

The Tigers hope to end their regular season with a third straight win after a midseason lull led to Brian Kelly’s firing.

LSU dropped its first game under interim coach Frank Wilson before beating Arkansas and Western Kentucky in the last two weeks.

“We can go out here and raise a white flag and say, ‘You know, no one expected (us to win). We’re not going to the playoffs,’” Wilson said. “What’s your legacy?… And 8-4 is a lot better than 7-5. For us, it’s about self-reflection.”

Though LSU has struggled, its defense remains one of the nation’s best.

The Tigers come into the game 16th nationally in scoring defense (18.5 ppg), 23rd in total defense, 30th in passing defense and 31st in rushing defense.

“They try to confuse you, and they’ll man you up,” said Sooners quarterback John Mateer. “So we’ve got to get after it.”

After Mateer was hurt in the SEC opener, Oklahoma’s offense has struggled through much of conference play. The Sooners have been outgained in each of their last four games.

But Oklahoma’s defense has been excellent, forcing eight turnovers during its three-game winning streak while the offense has avoided turnovers the last two games.

“They’ve done a good job of tackling in space and getting guys to the ground,” Wilson said. ” … We just have to be able to create matchups where we win our one-on-ones.”

The Tigers again will be without quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who has missed the last two games with an abdominal injury after being replaced by Michael Van Buren Jr. in the Nov. 8 loss to Alabama. He was ruled out in Wednesday’s initial availability report.

Van Buren has completed 63% of his passes for 423 yards, two touchdowns and one interception over the last two games.

“He’s a guy that throws with great anticipation before the receiver’s open,” said Sooners coach Brent Venables. “He throws them open. He’s got great talent as far as his arm talent and plays with a lot of confidence.”

The Tigers also likely remain without left tackle Tyree Adams, who Wilson said had a “slim” chance to play against Oklahoma. He’s listed as questionable.

Running back Caden Durham (team-high 463 yards) is probable after sustaining a neck injury in last week’s win.

The Sooners will be without backup “cheetah” Reggie Powers III in the first half after Powers was ejected for targeting in the second half of last week’s win over Missouri.

Oklahoma also has been without edge rusher R Mason Thomas for the last two games after Thomas was hurt early in the win over Tennessee. He’s listed as doubtful on the availability report.

The game is the first for LSU in Norman. The Tigers won last year’s game, 37-17, in Baton Rouge, La.

–Field Level Media