He’ll never regain his position. Flame away. Arch is the real deal.

I saw this comment from Ian Boyd posted elsewhere, but haven’t seen discussion of it here. I’m interested in others thoughts. He said:

“Seth Fisher of MgoBlog was noting that the SEC gave the easiest year one schedules out in a manner that would maximize playoff spots. They protected Texas, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, the three fledgling contenders. OU got the shaft.”

When I looked at OU and Florida’s schedules this year, they seem/are exponentially harder than TX and some others. I thought how much easier this year would go if we had TX’s schedule. But it never occurred to me it was done on purpose—ie, that OK (and arguably FL) would be the sacrificial lambs in order to bolster the likes of TX and Ol Miss—all orchestrated by the SEC. Seems a rather scummy thing for a conference to do.

And that has real repercussions on athletes’ health, ability of schools to fundraise and recruit, and coaching retention. And now there’s news they may be firing Billy Napier this week.

Anyhow, the thought that all this has been intentional on the part of the SEC leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. But it makes a lot of sense as to the huge discrepancy in difficulty of schedules.

Thoughts?

Hopefully all these dudes play next week

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Login to view embedded media I’m going to go with Mississippi State here. OU tried to sway him but was unsuccessful. He visited on Tuesday.

But, What if We Win??

This Tennessee matchup is a great spot for OU this week for a lot of reasons.

- Tennessee opponents are 2-7. The 2 Ws are both NC State (W Carolina and La Tech, unimpressively). They've played nobody, but have looked incredibly sharp doing so and considered Top 5 by most.

- They're bringing a Fr QB to his first road game. He's made mistakes this year already, against fully bad competition.

- Our atmosphere is going to be it's best in a decade (or more) at night. Tough spot to be exposed to adversity for Nico/Heupel.

- We should get (at least) Dolby and Anderson back this week. Anderson (and hopefully Hickman) potentially changes everything on O if they're right.

Feels a lot like the Texas game spot to me last year, except we're at home. We came out of that Defense-led win with the Heisman frontrunner and some considering us the #1 team in the country (TX had just whipped Bama in Tuscaloosa). It was proof of concept of the team we've been trying to build under BV. I don't expect an offensive explosion, but I don't think it's impossible for our Defense to create favorable offensive opportunities (or even a score).

If we can continue to produce turnovers, there's no reason we can't win a close game with both teams scoring in the 20-30 range. That's SEC football. We can't (and don't want to) shoot it out, like we did under Riley.

If we win, we will be the new Top 5 hotness and universally considered a playoff team; and the conversation will shift to the not-impossible reality that our defense is actually elite and good enough for us to win ANY game on the schedule.

Believe!

I'm watching UK v UGA and watched a lot of USC v LSU and one thing PROGRAM wise that I am extremely fearful of is our sheer lack of physicality.

I'm not talking strength where we look weak. Or even size were we look small. I'm talking about how physical we are whistle to whistle. My one exception being our dline and Stuts.

I don't wanna touch on players too much as I'll do so in Ten Thgts...( hilarious someone said we played so bad last week I left out the "ou" 😅)

But program wide...we don't look physical to me. Our oline don't move people and I feel like technique wise they aren't trying very hard. I know..I know..I said the oline played the best as a position group last week (I still stand by that having watched that game 3 times) but the ceiling is low or at best extremely inconsistent.

I watch our back 4 on defense and I simply see too many guys not physical enough in coverage or tackling. 3 and 4 are probably the most physical and I'm really starting to like him, but to me it feels like guys are playing at 88% or so and not fully pulling the trigger.

I'm watching these games and guys are full throttle and triggering at all positions. Rbs dishing. Offensive and defensive linemen mauling. Backers form tackling and even wrs or dbs on the edge with sheer malice going on on the outside.

Anywho...just a first glance observation that I feel is pertinent going into a game (idk if you've seen the UT score 😬) where I PROMISE you Hype is coming with full intention to get a standing ovation during pregame and then to Kick. Our. Asses. for 4 quarters. Zero "quarter" (full pun intended) will be provided. I don't pick Ls until we lose, but we will have to play a whole hellofa lot more physical if we want to win that game. They'll be chomping at the bit

Ten Thgts...in the am
We're recording our Post Game this evening

Also..I talk my shit and clearly voice my opinions. But I also respect everyone and there's, especially if u back it up. But don't disrespect me. I will respond in kind and probably worse. And if u wanna rebutt, please do so with receipts. I aint perfect, and they damn sure don't pay me a coach's salary. I'll admit if I'm wrong or had a bad take. Ofherwise...talk yo shit too. I like mixing it up.

#Boomer

*** First, I can confirm that big-time 2026 IMG Acdamey and Rivals100 EDGE Jake Kreul will be visiting the Sooners this weekend.

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This will be Kreul’s third visit to OU. Oklahima was his first big offer and he is very much interested in the Sooners.

Also, Kreul was a standout at the Rivals 5-star Challenge this past summer. His motor and elite competitive drive makes him one of the better edge rushers in the 2026 class.

Sooners DE coach Miguel Chavis has built a very strong relationship early on with Kreul. More after his visit to OU.


*** On a negative note, Oklahoma won't be hosting 2026 Rivals100 DT Tank Carrington. His dad told OUInsider that the visit just wasn't able to line up. Unsure if this will lead to a visit, potentially, down the line but we will stay watching.

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Good news is that Tennessee game next week is LOADED with elite DL coming in and even 2026 Rivals100 (likely 5-star) DT Deuce Geralds is supposed to return for yet ANOTHER visit to OU. So I wouldn't get too down about Carrington not being able to visit.


*** Reminder: As we reported yesterday, 2025 five-star OL commit Michael Fasusi will be on hand Saturday.

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*** Other 2025 commits on hand:

4-star DE CJ Nickson
4-star S Marcus Wimberly
4-star WR Gracen Harris
3-star LB Marcus James
PWO OL Sean Hutton
PWO LS Seth Freeman





*** A few other 2026 Sooners offers and targets that will be on hand in Norman for the game Saturday:

4-star ATH Jermaine Bishop Jr
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As we reported last week and earlier this week, 2026 Owasso (TX) 4-star DT Tajh Overton will be in Norman this weekend.
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2026 Jenks (OK) four-star RB Kaydin Jones
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2026 three-star Hinsdale (IL) Hinsdale Central OL Eugene Riordan
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2026 Spring (TX) Legacy three-star WR Michael Brown
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2026 Bethany (OK) DB offer Evenson Malaska
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2027:
Owasso DB Bryson Brown - OU OFFER
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Waco (TX) University ATH Davontrae Kirkland - OU OFFER
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Jenks (OK) Safety Semaj Stanford - OU OFFER

Jenks (OK) Safety Kailib Dillard - Expect him to be looked at strongly after this season and don't be shocked if an offer rolls out before next summer. Saw live last Friday and really impressed with frame and potential.

Washington (OK) TE Case Alexander - OU OFFER


2028

Spring (TX) Klien Oak RB Micah Rhodes - OU OFFER


*** We will let you all know if there are more players that we see on the sidelines on Saturday. Always more than what's on the list that show up.



















***

… and I will discuss them in the postgame column.

Please tell us WTH with all the empty seats at Owen Field??? It looked terrible on TV. Is that normal? I attended a Kansas game 4 years ago and it was packed. Live far away in another state. Very sad state of affairs???

Just leaving the stadium, and I'm sitting in traffic after a game we had no business losing (or really winning). I spoke to ppl 1st hand, understand the injuries, and believe we aren't seriously scheming opponents yet...BUT...

This is an offensive centered game. Our qb is NOT accurate. He's not savvy. He got scared to throw the ball during the game. He's problem #1

Our rbs consistently run straight into a pile of players like we're running 22 power versus inside zone or counter and are the easiest rbs to tackle in America. I said I'd eat crow and I don't have to. Barnes is NOT a natural runner to daylight. He's big strong and fast but easy to tackle. Chuk 😬 idk what to say. But I'll say it again. 8 is the most natural we have. He needs to play.

The oline may have been the BEST position group tonight and they didn't play winning football, but anyone who says or thinks they regressed is drunk or wrong. They actually improved and got a hat on a hat much more consistently tonight. JFA had some clean pockets tonight. Rbs had some opportunities tonight. Not amazing opportunities but much better than last week.

This isn't Ten Thgts...
This is my disgust after leaving the game.
Our biggest issue is our qb. Our second is quality guys to run with and catch the ball. Third is our scheme. It needs players but it needs a plan. We are in big trouble if we don't make big strides.

Ohh..Our defense is NOT good enough to be leaned on for 8 SEC games. Sober moments. I'll discuss issues and fixes in detail on our Pod and within Ten Thgts...
#Boomer

Has anyone told our guys the idea is to GET THE QUARTERBACK??!!

We beat the spread against a solid team that took a good K State team to the wire. The defense held them to 13 points and kept them in check. The offense showed signs of life. Jackson made the 1 horrible mistake but was much better managing the game overall. The o line needs to improve but did play better overall.

This team is not where it needs to be. It will take its lumps. It needs the injured to get back. It still needs to grow and mature. I truly believe this team will be dangerous as the year progresses. Ready for next Saturday.

I'm not confident in this team right now and things could get ugly next week. There was improvement but this team needs more time. 8/16 on 3rd down, I'll take that but that was the only positive I saw from the offense. Jackson still panicks under pressure, hasn't been able to hit the deep ball, staring down Burks, offense still can't run the ball consistently nor pass block to save their lives.
BB, bro, what have you been doing these past 2 years? These transfers aren't it. 8 year senior Tarquin can't even line up properly and the 0-line can't pickup simple blitzes. The focus needs to be on the development of the high school recruits. BB can't keep cutting corners and ordering fast food (transfer OL) because nothing beats home cooking (high school OL recruits)

Snap counts, PFF grades, takeaways and notes from Saturday.

Who you got?

I will go with the good guys, I think maybe Houston got their attention and they realize they can't just roll their helmets out there and get a win because it has OU on them.

OU 24 tulane 14

Right off the bat, this was a GOOD win.

Players who stood out:
RMT
Sammy O
Dez Malone
Taylor Tatum

This team has the potential to be better than the first two games showed. I picked this team to get to 30 but it wasn’t easy.

Arnold still have work to do but showed immense progress from week 1-2 to today.

Burkes is still the best receiver but I like what I see in Kearney. He is going to be a one of the best receivers to play at Oklahoma.

Ragins, for his size, is a really solid blocker.

The defense made mistakes but with being injury riddled in spots, they are a legit good defense.

Okay run game looks better. Sawchuck is patient, Barnes is running straight downhill, Tatum is a combo of both. Line looks to be doing well w/ the exception of howland whiffing on a one v one. How much longer til we see JFA get the chance to throw a bomb?

During Bowman’s interception did you all see Ethan Downs try to make the block and get manslaughtered? 😂 🤦🏻‍♂️

Notes on R Mason Thomas, injuries, Kobie McKinzie and OU's two-running back sets.

"I thought they played pretty clean throughout the first half. I think the next step is when we lose a little bit of momentum... we’ve gotta bounce back a little quicker."

It was a tale of two halves for the offense in Saturday's win over Tulane.

Is Nic Anderson ever gonna play or is he pulling a Tyler Guyton ??

Kudos to the guys that played, played hard, improved, etc.

I thought Kearney #7 looked good.

R Mason was a beast today, as well as Halton, Williams, most all DTs and Stuts

Glad to see Eli Bowen starting CB or playing allot

Barnes ran really hard! Tatum next!!

Osamoah busted multiple times, got caught in traffic scraping and those plays turned out to be big plays for them

Dolby was missed!!

JA played good and can play better

Much improved across the board