The Oklahoma Sooners clocked their best offensive performance of the season against Mississippi State on Saturday, racking up an eye-popping 467 yards of total offense. This wasn’t another road win, it was the kind of performance that moves them to 4-3 overall, 2-2 in SEC play, and gives them serious juice for bowl eligibility and the final five games of the year. They left points on the field with three Tate Sandell misses and a Rocky Beers touchdown that somehow didn’t get called, but for the second week in a row, the Sooners outgained their opponent by over 100 yards, all against a Bulldogs defense that was giving up 28.5 points per game. That’s a statement.
Mateer Is Making It Happen, Folks
Aside from that fourth quarter against Kentucky, quarterback John Mateer has been slinging it over the last three weeks. We’re talking solid football here, managing the game perfectly in those wins over Texas and Mississippi State, and for three quarters in the Kentucky loss. On Saturday, he flashed that improvisational playmaking that had him in Heisman contention early last season. But he also showed some smarts, checking the ball down to keep the chains moving.
The dude completed 76% of his passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns against the Bulldogs. If tight end Rocky Beers had just held onto that one pass in the end zone, Mateer would have cruised past 300 yards and had another TD. Mateer’s got work to do, sure, but he’s playing some really solid ball right now. That’s our QB1, building momentum when it matters most.
The Run Game Found Its Legs
Just like Mateer, the Sooners running game has been making strides in recent weeks. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s getting there. Against Mississippi State, the Sooners churned out 184 yards on 41 carries. Forty-one carries! That’s the first time this season they’ve hit 40 or more carries, a number they hit four times back in 2025.
Tory Blaylock rumbled for 71 yards on 12 carries, and Lloyd Avant added 55 yards on 13 carries. Even Mateer got in on the action with nine carries for 37 yards. If the Sooners can keep leaning on this run game, it takes so much pressure off Mateer to be everything for the offense. It lets him manage the game, and with that defense, that’s the recipe for some seriously complementary football.
Adebawore Is Unleashed
Remember Adepoju Adebawore? The five-star signee from the 2023 class? The guy has played well, but injuries have hounded him. Well, guess what? He’s healthy now, and this fourth-year player is absolutely having a breakout season. He is simply everywhere.
Against Mississippi State, Adebawore racked up two total tackles and 1.5 sacks. That included one on the very first defensive snap of the game, setting the tone from the jump. He’s always been strong against the run, but this season, he’s showing off some serious pass-rush prowess. He’s tied for second on the defense with 11 total pressures. When Adebawore is healthy and cooking, this defense is a whole different beast.
Next up, the Sooners have a big test with the South Carolina Gamecocks coming to town. Their pass rush is relentless, so Mateer and that O-line are going to have to be dialed in. We need to see this momentum carry forward. It’s time to show the SEC what this team is made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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