Game Day - November 9, 2024 by ntranscript

gameday

November 9, 2024

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

G6, Previewing | G7, Things to Watch

Gameday

Pulled Pork Nachos Pulled Pork

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)

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.

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

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

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

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

1/4 cup sour cream

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)

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

1/4 cup sliced pickled jalapeño chile

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

Venablesshowingsignsofgrowth?Maybe

Let’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

Oklahoma at Missouri

Where: Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri

When: Saturday, 6:45 p.m.

TV: SEC Network

Radio:

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

Paxson Haws | The Transcript

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

Horning GUEST COLUMNIST

21 Xavier Robinson RB 6-0 222 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.

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

AVAILABILITY REPORT

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

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.

82 Ivan Carreon WR 6-6 223 Fr.

83 Major Melson WR 5-10 187 R-Sr.

OU Two-Deep Roster

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

Wednesday’s availability report

LOOKING BACK

Venablesremembers‘nothingeasy’aboutfacingMissouriinBig12

TARIK MASRI TRANSCRIPT SPORTS EDITOR

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 following season 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 in Columbia and competed against them as a coach while I was at Kansas State as well. And always a really good tough chore.”

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

Though they went 8-1 in those games, several were highly-competitive and had national title implications.

The Big 12’s divisional format kept the two sides from

competing every year, but the Tigers were typically a threat to win the conference title.

In 2002, the Sooners went into Memorial Stadium undefeated and found themselves

trailing in the fourth quarter.

On fourth down the Sooners faked a short field goal, backup quarterback and holder Matt McCoy completed a pass to a heav-

Tarik Masri is the sports editor for The Transcript covering OU athletics and area sports. You can reach him by emailing tarik@normantranscript.com

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.

Eric Gay | Associated Press

Oklahoma defensive back Lendy Holmes (11) carries the Oklahoma ﬂag after the team beat Missouri 38-17 in the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, in San Antonio.

Scouting the opponent: Missouri Tigers

DAVIS CORDOVA

CNHI SPORTS OKLAHOMA

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 opponents on their schedule.

Here is a look at Missouri on both sides of the ball:

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 receiving. Theo Wease Jr. (No. 1) leads Mizzou in

Series History

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

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

L.G. Patterson | Associated Press

The Missouri mascot sprays the crowd before an NCAA college football game against Auburn Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Columbia, Mo.

See MISSOURI on G10

KEY STATS

6.2

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

DAVIS CORDOVA CNHI SPORTS OKLAHOMA

1. INJURED PLAYMAKERS

The offense has improved slightly since quarterback Jackson Arnold regained the starting quarterback spot and former offensive coordinator Seth Littrell was fired. Saturday’s game at Missouri will be a test on how much the offense has improved.

Though, Saturday, the Sooners could have one or two playmakers back on the field. Wide receivers Deion Burks and Nic Anderson are listed as questionable for Saturday’s game, but Venables said there is, “definitely a chance,” for the duo to play against Missouri. If Anderson and Burks, who led the team in receiving yards through the first four games of the season, can return for Oklahoma this weekend, then it will boost the productivity from the offense and help the much-needed rushing attack against the Tigers.

The Tigers’ defense is one of the best in the country – No. 13 in total defense – but one slight deficiency is the Tigers’ rush defense. In Mizzou’s two losses, the Tigers allowed 236 rushing yards to Texas A&M and 271 rushing yards to Alabama.

For Oklahoma, running the ball has not been easy against SEC opponents. In OU’s losses to South Carolina, Texas and Tennessee, the Sooners ran for an average of 60 yards per game and never rushed for more than 90 yards.

But, in the past two weeks, the

3 THINGS TO WATCH

Sooners rushed for 147 yards against Ole Miss and torched Maine last week for 381 rushing yards. For OU, rushing the ball will be a key part if the Sooners want a win at Missouri.

2. BRADY COOK’S AVAILABILITY

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook is vital for Missouri’s success on Saturday.

On Wednesday, the initial availability reports were released and Cook was listed as questionable for OU’s game on Saturday. Cook was injured two weeks ago in Missouri’s 34-0 loss to Alabama.

Cook has been the driving force for the Tigers’ struggling offense this season, but when he’s playing, he gives the Tigers a greater chance to win.

When Cook exited the game, the Tigers were down 6-0, but backup Drew Pyne entered and almost immediately threw an interception. Pyne threw three interceptions against Alabama.

If Cook is not able to go on Saturday, the Sooners could wield a great advantage against the Tigers.

3. REKINDLING OF AN OLD FOE

The Sooners and the Tigers used to play (almost) every season back in the good ole’ Big 12 and Big Eight

days. It’s a rivalry that once had a trophy – the Tiger-Sooner Peace Pipe – but has since been lost since the 70s.

The teams haven’t played since 2011, but have had some fanbaseled feuds on X (Twitter) the past few years.

Missouri’s star wide receiver Luther Burden III once was a commit to Oklahoma as a five-star recruit, but then flipped his commitment to his hometown-state to Missouri on Signing Day.

Missouri offensive lineman Cayden Green has been another hot topic between the fan bases as he was once a Sooner lineman who started seven games as a freshman in Norman in 2023. The former top-100 recruit then went into the portal after last season and a week later was committed to play at Missouri, his hometown-state. Those two reversals, along with the flipped commitment of another Missourian in Williams Nwaneri last summer, sent OU fans into frenzy and sparked a rivalry, online, between the fans of the schools.

Even though OU leads the alltime series 67-24-5, the Tigers have been the better team so far this season. This weekend will surely spark what has been left from the playing days and the online-fighting days, as well.

AlabamaandLSUsquareoff,tryingtomaintainSECandplayoffhopes

GARY B. GRAVES ASSOCIATED PRESS

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 Playoff 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.

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 wire-to-wire victory at topranked Texas. Georgia beat rival Florida 34-20 last week in Jacksonville, behind 309 yards and two TDs by Beck.

LSU aims to regroup from a 38-23 loss to No. 15 Texas A&M — tied for first with No. 2 Georgia at 5-1 and seeded fifth in the CFP bracket — that ended a six-game winning streak. Quarterback

Garrett Nussmeier threw for 405 yards with two scores and rushed for another, but he also tossed three interceptions. Nussmeier remains the SEC’s No. 2 passer at 328.4

yards per game with 20 TDs and nine interceptions.

Alabama leads the series 56-27-5, including last year’s 42-28 victory keyed by Milroe’s 374 yards on offense and

four TDs sushing. The Tide is a 3-point favorite, according to BetMGM.

Georgia is making its first trip to Oxford since 2016 and has won 12 of 13 meetings against the Rebels. They

THE UNDERCARD

No. 2 Georgia (7-1, 5-1, No.

Sam Craft | Associated Press

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) gets a pass by Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (4) for a ﬁrst down catch during the ﬁrst quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in College Station, Texas.

See SEC on G9

CONTINUED FROM G8

lead the series 33-13-1, 10-6 on the road. The ‘Dawgs are favored by 2 1/2 points, according to BetMGM.

IMPACT PLAYER

Dart piled up a bunch of milestones against the Razorbacks. His six TDs passing tied a school mark

and made him the only SEC signal caller with that many scores and 500 yards in a league game. Dart became the Rebels’ winningest QB at 25-9 and broke Bo Wallace’s career mark for total offense. He has 10,805 yards and needs 36 to crack the SEC all-time top 10.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Mississippi receiver Jordan Watkins broke program records with

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.

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. Gene McEver set the old mark of 18 in 1929. ... South Carolina DB O’Donnell Fortune recorded his third interception this season in

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.

Vasha Hunt | Associated Press

HORNING

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.

“But in regards to how we do what we do, Joe Jon’s got really good strong leadership skills, [new quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator]

Kevin Johns does as well and I see a great collaboration … more of what you’d want and expect it to look like and that’s carried over to the field, from the staff room to the field.

“The way we practice, communicate, organizationally, details, all the constant coaching that guys are getting, just more cohesion is what it looks like and better rhythm.”

Sarah Warnock | Associated Press Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables discusses a call with line judge Michael Taylor during the ﬁrst half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Oxford, Miss.

Because if we’re to buy Venables has noticed that big a difference so quickly since letting Seth Littrell go, one has to presume, in retrospect, he now sees Littrell’s hire wasn’t a good one in the first place and things that did not cause him alarm originally should have.

One presumes (or hopes) he’s now spotting the error of some of his ways.

Another answer, about where his focus lies with at least three games remaining was illustrative.

“It’s been on where is Oklahoma beating Oklahoma, and what can we do to lean on the strengths of this football team and protect the weaknesses of this football team …,”

Venables said. “It’s always important that we win and put everything that we got into what the winning requires.”

That could be good news, too, because it hasn’t always been that way.

Venables’ first year on the job it was clear he was

in a hurry to install his entire defensive package no matter the cost on the field. He never simplified. He put up with confusion, consternation and penalties.

He did not lean on strengths and protect weaknesses.

It may have won him a better defense last season, but it did not help OU win his first season.

Ditto for the offense this season, as Littrell appeared to be running something aspirational but not possible given the offensive line’s limits; Finley, on the other hand, appears to be coaching away from his unit’s weaknesses.

One wonders how much of that Venables saw for

himself before the change. Whatever, he should at least see it now after the change.

I’m skeptical.

Even after beating Maine last Saturday, Venables was more frazzled by his defense than relieved by his offense, and that ought to be his next step.

Though it’s against his history, he must find a way to want as much from his offense as his defense, rather than one that’s good enough in a defense-first program.

A new job, after all, demands new priorities.

Because he has some time, even baby steps are good steps and maybe he’s taking some.

Tuesday, he sounded like he might be.

MISSOURI

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 Alabama. In the other six games, which were wins for Missouri, the Tigers allowed just 134.9 rushing yards per game.