7 weeks ago, the Oklahoma Sooners were the toast of college football. Gameday was in Norman. The Sooners delivered with a decisive victory over Michigan due to a combination of a swarming defense and a swashbuckling QB, NIL import John Mateer. Mateer was touted as a Heisman favorite.
Oklahoma’s good fortune continued. Thanks in large part to an illegal TD, the Sooners outlasted Auburn. HOWEVER…..Mateer broke his hand during the game. Three weeks later, he was rushed into the Texas game and played poorly.
Still, with a 6-1 start, OK was still OK, as long as they could beat the Lane Kiffins in Norman on Saturday. Despite rallying from a 12-point second half deficit, Oklahoma could not hold off a hot Ole Miss offense, succumbing 34-26. The bloom has gone off Mateer. The ABC commentators opined that Mateer took too many risks.
6-2 is still not bad but for a team that had playoff and national championship aspirations, the consequences of the Ole Miss loss can not be overstated. Oklahoma’s final 4 games are against Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri and LSU.
OUCH! Oklahoma is not OK.