Game Day - November 9, 2024

gameday

November 9, 2024

G3, The View | G4, Gameday Info | G5, Looking Back G6, Previewing

| G7, Things to Watch

Gameday

Recipes Ingredients 1 (10-oz.) pkg. tortilla chips (such as Tostitos Cantina) 2 (16-oz.) cans refried black beans, warmed 8 oz. shredded smoked pork 1 lb. pepper Jack cheese, shredded (about 4 cups)

Pulled Pork Nachos

1/4 cup sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 500°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2. Arrange layers of chips, beans, pork, and cheese on prepared baking sheet.

2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 1 large lime) 1 medium-size ripe avocado, chopped 3/4 cup chopped plum tomato (from 1 large tomato)

3. Bake in preheated oven until cheese is melted and chips are lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

1/2 cup fresh corn kernels (from 1 ear)

4. Meanwhile, stir together sour cream and lime juice in a small bowl. Set aside.

1/4 cup sliced pickled jalapeño chile

5. Remove nachos from oven; immediately sprinkle with avocado, tomato, corn, jalapeño, and cilantro. Drizzle with sour cream mixture. Serve immediately.

1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves (from 1 bunch cilantro)

https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/pulled-pork-nachos

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THE VIEW

Venables showing signs of growth? Maybe Oklahoma at Missouri

Clay Horning GUEST COLUMNIST

et’s say the way everybody thinks it will go for Oklahoma the last three weeks of its, for lack of a better term, “regular season,” is indeed how it goes.

That is, the Sooners may win one of their last three games but not more than that, for after Saturday’s skirmish at Missouri, No. 11 Alabama and No. 14 LSU remain.

Let’s also say, though everybody presumes said finish would make next season a make or break campaign for head coach Brent Venables, it won’t be because his buyout will be too big still and, like it or not, OU’s stuck with him for at least two more seasons after this one.

But even if that’s the case, can we all agree on this?

The only way Venables

L

Where: Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri When: Saturday, 6:45 p.m.

TV: SEC Network Radio: KREF FM 99.3 / AM 1400

makes it to 2027 will require real growth on his part because if he’s the same head coach he’s been to this point in his tenure, he won’t make it.

Agreed?

Even if everything he appears to be doing well from a macro standpoint remains in place, that still leaves a bunch of daily, Saturday and annual decisions he must become better at making.

I present it like that because if he’s indeed capable of climbing the steep curve that turns a terrific coordinator into a great head coach, just maybe Venables offered some of that growth on See HORNING on G10

Paxson Haws | The Transcript

OU coach Brent Venables during College GameDay on the South Oval Sept. 21.

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OU FOOTBALL NUMERICAL ROSTER 0 Kalib Hicks RB 5-11 213 R-Fr. 0 David Stone DL 6-3 294 Fr. 1 Jayden Gibson WR 6-5 197 Jr. 1 Dasan McCullough LB 6-5 223 Jr. 2 Jovantae Barnes RB 6-0 207 Jr. 2 Billy Bowman Jr. DB 5-10 200 Sr. 3 Jalil Farooq WR 6-1 207 Sr. 3 Robert Spears-Jennings DB 6-1 219 Jr. 4 Nic Anderson WR 6-4 219 R-So. 4 Dez Malone DB 6-0 204 Sr. 5 Andrel Anthony WR 6-1 183 Sr. 5 Woodi Washington DB 5-11 195 R-Sr. 6 Deion Burks WR 5-9 190 R-Jr. 6 Nigel Smith II DL 6-4 267 Fr. 7 Jaren Kanak LB 6-2 223 Jr. 7 Zion Kearney WR 6-1 200 Fr. 8 Taylor Tatum RB 5-10 205 Fr. 8 Makari Vickers DB 6-1 192 So. 9 Michael Hawkins Jr. QB 6-1 204 Fr. 9 Gentry Williams DB 6-0 187 Jr. 10 Kip Lewis LB 6-1 221 R-So. 10 Bauer Sharp TE 6-4 247 R-Jr. 11 Jackson Arnold QB 6-1 211 So. 11 Kobie McKinzie LB 6-2 242 R-So. 12 Devon Jordan DB 5-11 179 Fr. 12 Brendan Zurbrugg QB 6-2 202 Fr. 13 J.J. Hester WR 6-4 202 R-Sr. 13 Reggie Powers III DB 5-11 208 Fr. 14 Jaydan Hardy DB 5-10 174 Fr. 14 Steele Wasel QB 6-3 219 R-Fr. 15 Kendel Dolby DB 5-11 185 Sr. 15 Brenen Thompson WR 5-9 165 Jr. 16 Danny Okoye DL 6-3 253 Fr. 16 Casey Thompson QB 6-0 192 R-Sr. 17 Taylor Heim LB 6-6 216 R-Fr. 17 Jaquaize Pettaway WR 5-10 189 So. 18 Kaden Helms TE 6-5 239 R-So. 18 Erik McCarty DB 6-1 185 R-Fr. 19 Jacobe Johnson WR/DB 6-2 200 So. 19 Kade McIntyre TE 6-3 221 R-Fr. 20 Lewis Carter LB 6-0 227 So. 20 Sam Franklin RB 5-10 198 R-Jr. 21 Jeremiah Newcombe DB 5-9 182 Fr.

21 Xavier Robinson RB 6-0 222 Fr. 22 Peyton Bowen DB 6-0 200 So. 22 Chapman McKown RB 5-5 174 R-Fr. 23 Eli Bowen DB 5-9 186 Fr. 23 Emeka Megwa RB 6-0 211 R-Jr. 24 Samuel Omosigho LB 6-2 236 So. 25 Andy Bass RB 5-11 208 Fr. 25 Michael Boganowski DB 6-2 211 Fr. 26 Kani Walker DB 6-2 205 R-Jr. 27 Jayden Rowe DB 6-2 223 R-So. 27 Gavin Sawchuk RB 5-11 200 R-So. 28 KJ Daniels WR 5-9 152 Fr. 28 Danny Stutsman LB 6-4 241 Sr. 29 Casen Calmus DB 5-10 196 R-Fr. 29 Gabe Sawchuk RB 5-10 185 Fr. 30 Trace Ford DL 6-2 246 R-Sr. 31 Cale Fugate DB 5-10 190 R-Fr. 31 Ashton Logan P 6-2 217 R-So. 32 R Mason Thomas DL 6-2 240 Jr. 33 Phil Picciotti LB 6-3 239 R-Fr. 34 Adepoju Adebawore DL 6-4 251 So. 34 Zach Schmit K/P 5-10 196 R-Sr. 35 Liam Evans K 5-7 181 Fr. 35 Jakeb Snyder DB 5-8 180 R-Fr. 36 Josh Plaster K/P 6-0 187 R-Sr. 38 Owen Heinecke LB 6-2 227 R-So. 39 Peter Schuh DB 5-8 184 R-So. 40 Ethan Downs DL 6-4 265 Sr. 41 Emmett Jones III DB 6-0 182 R-Fr. 42 Wyatt Gilmore DL 6-4 245 Fr. 44 Taylor Wein DL 6-4 267 R-Fr. 45 Hampton Fay TE 6-5 245 R-Jr. 45 Mykel Patterson-McDonald DB 5-10 172 Fr. 46 Dax Noles DB 6-0 192 Fr. 47 James Nesta LB 6-3 216 Fr. 48 Luke Elzinga P 6-4 229 R-Sr. 48 Jocelyn Malaska DB 6-1 186 R-So. 50 Ben Anderson LS 6-5 240 R-So. 51 Branson Hickman OL 6-2 301 R-Sr. 52 Troy Everett OL 6-3 308 R-Jr. 52 Damonic Williams DL 6-1 319 Jr. 54 Febechi Nwaiwu OL 6-4 339 R-Jr. 55 Eddy Pierre-Louis OL 6-3 305 Fr.

55 Ashton Sanders DL 6-1 295 R-Fr. 56 Eugene Brooks OL 6-3 336 Fr. 56 Gracen Halton DL 6-2 291 Jr. 57 Gunnar Allen OL 6-0 297 R-So. 58 Spencer Brown OL 6-6 321 R-Sr. 58 Ethan Lane LS 5-11 230 R-Sr. 61 Kenneth Wermy OL 6-5 305 R-Fr. 64 Joshua Bates OL 6-3 309 R-Fr. 65 Jayden Jackson DL 6-2 300 Fr. 65 Ty Kubicek OL 6-2 294 R-Fr. 66 Geirean Hatchett OL 6-5 312 R-Sr. 70 Michael Tarquin OL 6-6 317 R-Sr. 71 Logan Howland OL 6-6 317 R-Fr. 72 Josh Aisosa OL 6-3 323 Fr. 73 Isaiah Autry-Dent OL 6-6 310 Fr. 74 Evan McClure OL 6-4 275 Fr. 75 Daniel Akinkunmi OL 6-6 321 Fr. 76 Jacob Sexton OL 6-6 322 Jr. 77 Heath Ozaeta OL 6-5 318 R-Fr. 79 Jake Taylor OL 6-6 309 R-So. 80 Josh Fanuiel TE 6-3 250 R-Jr. 80 Bergin Kysar DL 6-3 245 Fr. 81 Zion Ragins WR 5-8 145 Fr. 82 Ivan Carreon WR 6-6 223 Fr. 83 Major Melson WR 5-10 187 R-Sr. 84 Davon Mitchell TE 6-3 250 Fr. 85 Trey Brown WR 5-9 181 R-Fr. 87 Jake Roberts TE 6-4 252 Sr. 88 Jacob Jordan WR 5-9 182 Fr. 89 Eli Merck WR 6-0 206 R-Fr. 90 Caiden Woullard DL 6-4 259 Sr. 91 Drew Heinig DL 6-5 288 R-Fr. 93 Ace Hodges DL 6-1 284 Fr. 94 Mari Atchison DL 6-2 268 Fr. 95 Da’Jon Terry DL 6-3 323 R-Sr. 96 Davon Sears DL 6-2 295 R-Sr. 97 Kyle Carlson LB 6-3 190 R-Fr. 98 Tyler Keltner K 5-11 181 R-Sr. 99 Markus Strong DL 6-3 290 R-Fr. Last updated Aug. 7, 2024 Weights as of June 27, 2024

AVAIL ABILIT Y REPORT MISSOURI DE Darris Smith — Out QB Sam Horn — Out LB Khalil Jacobs — Out DE Joe Moore — Out WR Mookie Cooper — Doubtful LB Brayshawn Littlejohn — Doubtful RB Nate Noel — Questionable QB Brady Cook — Questionable OL Logan Reichert — Questionable

OL Cayden Green — Probable

OKLAHOMA WR Jayden Gibson — Out WR Nic Anderson — Out WR Andrel Anthony — Out DB Gentry Williams — Out DB Kendel Dolby — Out OL Geirean Hatchett — Out OL Jacob Sexton — Out OL Jake Taylor — Out

OU Two-Deep Roster OFFENSE QB 11 Jackson Arnold 9 Michael Hawkins Jr. RB 2 Jovantae Barnes OR 27 Gavin Sawchuk TE 10 Bauer Sharp OR 87 Jake Roberts WR 15 Brenen Thompson 19 Jacobe Johnson LT 70 Michael Tarquin 71 Logan Howland LG 77 Heath Ozaeta 55 Eddy Pierre-Louis 51 Branson Hickman OR 52 Troy Everett RG 54 Febechi Nwaiwu 55 Eddy Pierre-Louis RT 79 Jake Taylor OR 58 Spencer Brown SLOT 6 Deion Burks 17 Jaquaize Pettaway WR 13 J.J. Hester 7 Zion Kearney

DEFENSE RB Jovantae Barnes — Questionable WR Jalil Farooq — Questionable WR Deion Burks — Questionable RB Gavin Sawchuk — Questionable DL Adepoju Adebawore — Questionable OL Joshua Bates — Questionable OL Michael Tarquin — Questionable DL Ethan Downs — Probable

LDE 40 Ethan Downs 90 Caiden Woullard DT 65 Jayden Jackson OR 56 Gracen Halton NT 52 Damonic Williams OR 95 Da’Jon Terry RDE

32 R Mason Thomas 30 Trace Ford MIKE 28 Danny Stutsman OR 11 Kobie McKinzie WILL 10 Kip Lewis OR 20 Lewis Carter CHEETAH 24 Samuel Omosigho 1 Dasan McCullough LCB 26 Kani Walker OR 5 Woodi Washington SS 2 Billy Bowman Jr. 14 Jaydan Hardy FS 3 Robert Spears-Jennings OR 22 Peyton Bowen RCB 4 Dez Malone OR 23 Eli Bowen

SPECIALISTS 34 Zach Schmit OR 98 Tyler Keltner 48 Luke Elzinga 31 Ashton Logan KO 34 Zach Schmit 98 Tyler Keltner KR 2 Billy Bowman Jr. 6 Deion Burks PR 22 Peyton Bowen 2 Billy Bowman Jr. LS 50 Ben Anderson 58 Ethan Lane 36 Josh Plaster 48 Luke Elzinga As of Ole Miss Game

As of Wednesday’s availability report

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LOOKING BACK

Venables remembers ‘nothing easy’ about facing Missouri in Big 12 TARIK MASRI TRANSCRIPT SPORTS E D I TO R

Oklahoma and Missouri met almost every season from 1910 to 1995. The only thing that kept the old Missouri Valley rivals apart during that span was the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.

The early days of the series were highly competitive with the Tigers winning 15 of the first 35 meetings. The two schools ended up sharing a trophy — a peace pipe that mysteriously vanished at some point in the 1970’s and has never been recovered since.

Around that same time, the series started becoming far more one-sided. From 1969 until 1995, the Sooners won 23 of 26 games and never lost at home.

However, when asked about what he remembers about facing Missouri back when he was the defensive coordinator for the team he now leads, Brent Venables remembers a team that’s been constantly competitive.

“Wasn’t nothing easy about any of ‘em,” Venables said.

The Sooners’ head coach remembers the rivalry during one of its heydays.

ily-covered Chris Chester in the end zone, to take the lead for good.

In 2007 the Tigers would’ve been in the national championship if not for two losses to the Sooners. The second matchup came in the Big 12 Championship with Missouri ranked No. 1 and the ninthranked Sooners rolled to a 38-17 win.

The last time the Sooners visited Columbia, Missouri, they were the No. 1 team in the country when the Tigers took the opening kickoff 86 yards to the house to set the stage for a 36-27 upset.

The fol low i ng se a son the Sooners won their last meeting with Missouri as conference opponents in 2011.

“I don’t remember Missouri being a team that wasn’t really competitive as far as competing,” Venables said. “I played against them Eric Gay | Associated Press in Columbia and competed against them as a coach while Oklahoma defensive back Lendy Holmes (11) carries the Oklahoma flag after the I was at Kansas State as well. team beat Missouri 38-17 in the Big 12 Conference championship football game, And always a really good Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, in San Antonio. tough chore.”

Though they went 8-1 in competing every year, but the trailing in the fourth quarter.

O n fou r t h dow n t he Tarik Masri is the sports editor those games, several were Tigers were typically a threat Sooners faked a short field for The Transcript covering highly-competitive and had to win the conference title. national title implications.

In 2002, the Sooners went goal, backup quarterback OU athletics and area sports.

The Big 12’s divisional for- into Memorial Stadium unde- and holder Matt McCoy You can reach him by emailing mat kept the two sides from feated and found themselves completed a pass to a heav- tarik@normantranscript.com

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OU Football Schedule • W Oklahoma 51, Temple 3 • W Oklahoma 16, Houston 12 • W Oklahoma 34, Tulane 19 • L Tennessee 25, Oklahoma 15 • W Oklahoma 27, Auburn 21 • BYE WEEK • L Texas 34, Oklahoma 3 • L South Carolina 35, Oklahoma 9 • L Ole Miss 26, Oklahoma 14 • W Oklahoma 59, Maine 14 Nov. 9 at Missouri, 6:45 p.m SEC Network Nov. 16 BYE WEEK Nov. 23 vs. Alabama, 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m.

Nov. 30 at LSU, 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m.

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Scouting the opponent: Missouri Tigers DAVIS CORDOVA CNHI SPORTS OKL AHOMA

Series History

Oklahoma needs another win to avoid missing its first bowl game 1998 and will travel to a familiar conference rival this weekend in search of a victory.

Oklahoma football visits old Big 12 foe No. 24 Missouri on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 6:45 p.m. on the SEC Network.

The Tigers had a bye week last week, but are coming off of a blowout loss to Alabama two weeks ago. The Tigers have lost two of their last three SEC games, with a win against Auburn and another blowout loss to Texas A&M. The Tigers are unproven this year, with their best win over either Boston College or Vanderbilt and getting blown out by the two biggest oppoL.G. Patterson | Associated Press nents on their schedule.

Here is a look at Missouri The Missouri mascot sprays the crowd before an NCAA college football game against Auburn Saturday, Oct. 19, on both sides of the ball: 2024, in Columbia, Mo.

All-Time Meetings Overall: OU leads 67-24-5 In Columbia: OU leads 31-16 Last Five Meetings 2011 (Norman) — OU 38-28 2010 (Columbia) — MU 36-27 2008 (Big 12) — OU 62-21 2007 (Big 12) — OU 38-17 2007 (Norman) — OU 41-31

OFFENSE The Mizzou offense goes as far as its quarterback goes.

The power of this offense comes from quarterback Brady Cook (wears No. 12), who has led the Tigers’ offense the past two seasons and helped lead Missouri to a Cotton Bowl victory last

season.

Though, Cook’s status for Saturday’s game is up in the air. During Missouri’s 34-0 loss at Alabama two weeks ago, Cook exited the game in the second quarter with a hand or wrist injury, giving backup quarterback Drew Pyne (No. 6) the reins of the

offense.

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said on Monday that Cook has “done everything in his power to prepare himself to play” against OU on Saturday. If Cook can’t go, Pyne will be the starter.

Last week after Cook went down, Pyne threw three

interceptions and completed 6 of 12 passes for 42 yards.

Missouri has one of the best players in the country at wide receiver, but this season, it’s been a struggle to get him the ball.

Wide receiver Luther Burden III (No. 3) is one of the best receivers in the

country, but has 40 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns. Last season, Burden had more than 1,200 yards with nine touchdowns.

On the other side of the offense is a former Sooner who leads the Tigers in receiv ing. Theo Wease Jr. (No. 1) leads Mizzou in

receiving yards with 482 this season. Wease was with the Sooners from 2019-22 and was more of a depth option at receiver for OU. The Tigers haven’t had as much success as running the ball like last season with an All-American in the backfield, but they have been efficient moving the ball on the ground with a two-back system this year.

Running backs Nate Noel (No. 8) and Marcus Carroll (No. 9) have See MISSOURI on G10

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KEY STATS

3 THINGS TO WATCH

6.2

Sooners rushed for 147 yards days. It’s a rivalry that once had a against Ole Miss and torched trophy – the Tiger-Sooner Peace Maine last week for 381 rushing Pipe – but has since been lost since yards. For OU, rushing the ball will the 70s.

1. INJURED PLAYMAKERS be a key part if the Sooners want a The teams haven’t played since The of fense has improved win at Missouri.

2011, but have had some fanbaseslightly since quarterback Jackson led feuds on X (Twitter) the past Arnold regained the starting quar- 2. BRADY COOK’S few years. terback spot and former offensive AVAILABILITY Missouri’s star wide receiver coordinator Seth Littrell was fired.

Missouri quarterback Brady Luther Burden III once was a Saturday’s game at Missouri will Cook is vital for Missouri’s success commit to Oklahoma as a five-star recruit, but then flipped his combe a test on how much the offense on Saturday.

On Wednesday, the initial avail- mitment to his hometown-state to has improved.

Though, Saturday, the Sooners ability reports were released and Missouri on Signing Day. Missouri offensive lineman could have one or two playmakers Cook was listed as questionable back on the field. Wide receivers for OU’s game on Saturday. Cook Cayden Green has been another Deion Burks and Nic Anderson was injured two weeks ago in Mis- hot topic between the fan bases as he was once a Sooner lineman who are listed as questionable for Sat- souri’s 34-0 loss to Alabama.

Cook has been the driving force started seven games as a freshman urday’s game, but Venables said there is, “definitely a chance,” for for the Tigers’ struggling offense in Norman in 2023. The former the duo to play against Missouri. this season, but when he’s playing, top-100 recruit then went into the If Anderson and Burks, who led the he gives the Tigers a greater chance portal after last season and a week later was committed to play at Misteam in receiving yards through to win.

When Cook exited the game, the souri, his hometown-state. the first four games of the seaThose two reversals, along with son, can return for Oklahoma this Tigers were down 6-0, but backup Drew Pyne entered and almost the flipped commitment of another weekend, then it will boost the productivity from the offense and help immediately threw an interception. Missourian in Williams Nwathe much-needed rushing attack Pyne threw three interceptions neri last summer, sent OU fans against Alabama. into frenzy and sparked a rivalry, against the Tigers.

If Cook is not able to go on Satonline, between the fans of the The Tigers’ defense is one of the best in the country – No. 13 in total urday, the Sooners could wield a schools.

Even though OU leads the alldefense – but one slight deficiency great advantage against the Tigers. time series 67-24-5, the Tigers is the Tigers’ rush defense. In Miz- 3. REKINDLING OF have been the better team so far zou’s two losses, the Tigers allowed AN OLD FOE this season. This weekend will 236 rushing yards to Texas A&M The Sooners and the Tigers used surely spark what has been left and 271 rushing yards to Alabama. to play (almost) every season back from the playing days and the For Oklahoma, running the ball in the good ole’ Big 12 and Big Eight online-fighting days, as well. has not been easy against SEC opponents. In OU’s losses to South Carolina, Texas and Tennessee, the Visit Sooners ran for an average of 60 us ONLINE at yards per game and never rushed for more than 90 yards. www.normantranscript.com But, in the past two weeks, the

When adjusting for sacks, Oklahoma has rushed for 578 yards over its last two games and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. These stats are heavily inflated by the Sooners’ most recent FCS opponent, but it’s a trend that actually started the week before against Ole Miss. Jovantae Barnes seems to be growing more confident every week and is coming off a career game against Maine. Over his last three games he’s averaging 113.3 yards per game and 6.7 yards per carry.

8 The Tigers have won their last 8 games on Faurot Field and are a perfect 5-0 at home this season. The last team to beat them in their own house was LSU on Oct. 7 last season. Since then they’ve beaten South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Boston College, Vanderbilt and Auburn at home. The Sooners have only lost 10 road games over the last decade but seven have come in just the last three seasons. They’ve gone 6-7 in true road contests under Brent Venables.

7 With Brady Cook leading the offense the Tigers’ offense has been one of the best in the country at avoiding costly turnovers. They’ve only had seven turnovers all season and three came in just their last game with Cook out due to injury. They limit penalties and are in the top 25 nationally in top of possession average.

56 Oklahoma expected to be in a lot of close games this season, but so far only one of its conference game has been decided by one possession. This game very well could be another. If it it’s it would be important to note that Missouri placekicker Blake Craid has had an up-and-down season (15 of 23) but did hit a 56-yard field goal, which is tied for fourth in MU history.

25 Oklahoma has three more games to get one more win and extend its nation-leading streak of 25 consecutive seasons of bowl eligibility. That streak began in 1999 and only trails Georgia (27) in active appearances.

9 Danny Stutsman’s career at Oklahoma is drawing to a close and with three games left in the regular season he needs just nine more tackles to move inside the top 10 in school history. Nine more tackles would put him in a tie with defensive end Kevin Murphy (1981-1985). He’s currently ninth among OU linebackers and seventh in career tackles for loss (35.5) among inside linebackers. Last week he recorded his first career sack against Maine.

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Alabama and LSU square off, trying to maintain SEC and playoff hopes GARY B. GRAVES A S S O C I AT E D PR E S S

Things to watch this week in the Southeastern Conference:

GAME OF THE WEEK No. 11 Alabama (6-2, 3-2 SEC, No. 11 CFP) at No. 14 LSU (6-2, 3-1, No. 15 CFP), 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC).

The Crimson Tide and the Tigers each return from byes looking to avoid a third loss that will likely eliminate them from conference contention and the 12-team College Football Playof f bracket.

Despite two losses, Alabama stands 11th in the initial CFP rankings announced Tuesday night. LSU is half a game ahead in the SEC but four spots lower. In either case, there’s no wiggle room for another defeat.

The Tide rolls in trying to build from a 34-0 home shutout of then-No. 21 Missouri, its best game after five shaky weeks. Besides outgaining the Tigers 458-239, Alabama intercepted three passes and turned two into touchdowns.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe passed for 215 yards and totaled 265 with a touchdown rushing. He averages 242.1 yards passing per game with 13 TDs and six interceptions.

LSU aims to regroup from

2 CFP) at No. 16 Mississippi (7-2, 3-2, No. 16 CFP), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC) Georgia aims to stay in the SEC title picture and maintain its status that could earn a first-round playoff bye. A loss all but knocks the Rebels out of both.

Mississippi boasts the SEC’s top-ranked offense (555.4 yards, 42.1 points per game) and the second best in FBS. The matchup features two of the league’s best quarterbacks in the Rebels’ Jaxson Dart and Georgia’s Carson Beck.

The host Rebels have won three of four and are coming off a 63-31 shellacking of Arkansas in which they broke 13 school records. Dart’s 515 yards passing and 562 total yards were two of them, the latter of which broke Archie Manning’s old mark.

The visiting Bulldogs have won four in a row since losing at Alabama and are tied atop the SEC with Texas A&M, a surge that has included a Sam Craft | Associated Press wire-to-wire victory at topranked Texas. Georgia beat LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) gets a pass by Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (4) for rival Florida 34-20 last week a first down catch during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in College in Jacksonville, behind 309 Station, Texas. yards and two TDs by Beck. a 38-23 loss to No. 15 Texas Garrett Nussmeier threw for yards per game with 20 TDs four TDs sushing. The Tide is Georgia is making its first A&M — tied for first with No. 405 yards with two scores and nine interceptions. a 3-point favorite, according trip to Oxford since 2016 2 Georgia at 5-1 and seeded and rushed for another, but Alabama leads the series to BetMGM. and has won 12 of 13 meetfifth in the CFP bracket he also tossed three intercep- 56-27-5, including last year’s ings against the Rebels. They — that ended a six-game tions. Nussmeier remains the 42-28 victory keyed by Mil- THE UNDERCARD See SEC on G9 winning streak. Quarterback SEC’s No. 2 passer at 328.4 roe’s 374 yards on offense and No. 2 Georgia (7-1, 5-1, No.

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Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) runs the ball against Missouri during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt | Associated Press

and made him the only SEC signal caller with that many scores and CONTINUED FROM G8 500 yards in a league game. Dart became the Rebels’ winningest lead the series 33-13-1, 10-6 on the QB at 25-9 and broke Bo Wallace’s road. The ‘Dawgs are favored by 2 career mark for total offense. He 1/2 points, according to BetMGM. has 10,805 yards and needs 36 to crack the SEC all-time top 10.

254 yards and five scores against Arkansas He joins DeVonta Smith as the only SEC receivers with those numbers in league play. ... Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson rushed for 141 yards and two scores against Kentucky and holds the singleseason school record with 19.

IMPACT PLAYER Gene McEver set the old mark of Dart piled up a bunch of mile- INSIDE THE NUMBERS 18 in 1929. ... South Carolina DB stones against the Razorbacks. His Mississippi receiver Jordan Wat- O’Donnell Fortune recorded his six TDs passing tied a school mark kins broke program records with third interception this season in

SEC

the 44-20 upset of then-No. 10 Texas A&M and is among four tied for second in the SEC behind Gamecocks Nick Emmanwori (four). ...

Vanderbilt’s 17-7 win at Auburn, its first in 10 trips, completed the Commodores’ first season sweep of the Tigers and Alabama since 1955. ...

Georgia QB Carson Beck has passed for 943 yards the past three games with eight interceptions.

WIN, AND GO BOWLING South Carolina (5-3, 3-3) and SEC newcomer Oklahoma (5-4, 1-4) can become bowl eligible with wins over improved Vanderbilt and Missouri, both of which have already qualified for postseason. The Gamecocks have won two straight, while the Sooners beat Maine 59-14 in nonconference play.

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HORNING

MISSOURI

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Tuesday at his weekly press conference.

One question asked him to look at his offense in terms of improvement made from pre Joe Jon Finley directing the unit to post Finley directing it, a state of affairs now 13 days old.

“We’ve taken care of the ball a lot better, so that’s helped,” Venables said.

Sarah Warnock | Associated Press “But in regards to how we do what we do, Joe Jon’s Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables discusses a call with line judge Michael got really good strong Taylor during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi, leadership skills, [new Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Oxford, Miss. quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator] have. in a hurry to install his himself before the change.

Kevin Johns does as well One presumes (or hopes) entire defensive package no Whatever, he should at least matter the cost on the field. see it now after the change. and I see a great collabora- he’s now spotting the error of some of his ways.

He never simplified.

I’m skeptical. tion … more of what you’d Another answer, about He put up with confusion, Even after beating Maine want and expect it to look where his focus lies with at consternation and penallast Saturday, Venables like and that’s carried over least three games remainties. was more frazzled by his to the field, from the staff ing was illustrative.

He did not lean on defense than relieved by his room to the field.

“It’s been on where strengths and protect weak- offense, and that ought to “The way we practice, is Oklahoma beating nesses. be his next step. communicate, organizaOklahoma, and what can we It may have won him a Though it’s against his tionally, details, all the do to lean on the strengths better defense last season, history, he must find a constant coaching that of this football team and but it did not help OU win way to want as much from guys are getting, just more protect the weaknesses his first season. his offense as his defense, cohesion is what it looks of this football team …,” Ditto for the offense this rather than one that’s good like and better rhythm.”

Venables said. “It’s always season, as Littrell appeared enough in a defense-first Because if we’re to buy important that we win and to be running someprogram.

Venables has noticed that put everything that we thing aspirational but not A new job, after all, big a difference so quickly got into what the winning possible given the offensive demands new priorities. since letting Seth Littrell requires.” line’s limits; Finley, on the Because he has some go, one has to presume, in That could be good news, other hand, appears to be time, even baby steps are retrospect, he now sees Littoo, because it hasn’t always coaching away from his good steps and maybe he’s trell’s hire wasn’t a good been that way. unit’s weaknesses. taking some. one in the first place and Venables’ first year on One wonders how much Tuesday, he sounded like things that did not cause of that Venables saw for he might be. him alarm originally should the job it was clear he was

split carries this season and have combined for more than 900 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

The Missouri offense has struggled against SEC opponents recently, scoring just over 10 points a game in its last three SEC games against Texas A&M, Auburn and Alabama.

If Cook is unable to play on Saturday, the odds could shift in the Sooners’ favor on Saturday. And even if Cook plays, the Sooners have been a team trending upward the past few weeks while the Tigers have had key injuries and offensive woes plague the team.

DEFENSE Missouri’s defense held Alabama to just three points in the first quarter two weeks ago, but the Tigers defense fell apart, giving up 34 to the

Crimson Tide. But, Mizzou’s defensive showing against the Crimson Tide doesn’t fully represent the Tigers’ defense.

The Tigers rank 13th in the country in total defense, giving up 299.6 yards per game.

Missouri has played two current-ranked teams – Alabama and Texas A&M – and have lost to those teams by a combined 65 points.

The defense has proven to be the consistent force for this year’s team, but with a few slip-ups against some of the top teams in the conference, it has shown it can be vulnerable in the right situations and for the Sooners, if they can find success on the ground, it could lead to a win.

In those two losses, the Tigers allowed 236 rushing yards against Texas A&M and gave up 271 rushing yards against A labama. In the other six games, which were wins for Missouri, the Tigers allowed just 134.9 rushing yards per game.

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook warms up before an NCAA college football game against Auburn Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. L.G. Patterson | Associated Press

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