Game Day - November 23, 2024

gameday

November 23, 2024

G3, The View | G4, Gameday Info | G5, Stutsman’s Last Ride G6, Previewing

| G7, Player Spotlight | G8, What to Watch

Gameday

Recipes Ingredients 1 package (18 ounces) Hawaiian sweet rolls 12 slices cheddar cheese 1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean) 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 can (15-1/2 ounces) sloppy joe sauce 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 3/4 teaspoon pepper

Sloppy Joe Sliders 1.Preheat oven to 350°. Without separating rolls, cut rolls in half horizontally; arrange bottom halves

in a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Top with half the cheese slices.

2. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is no longer pink and onion is tender, 6-8 minutes, crumbling beef; drain. Stir in sloppy joe sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce and pepper. Cook and stir until combined, 1-2 minutes. Spoon beef mixture evenly over rolls; top with the remaining cheese. Replace top halves of rolls.

3. For the glaze, stir together butter, brown sugar, mustard, soy sauce and garlic powder. Brush over rolls; sprinkle with sesame seeds and minced onion. Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until tops are golden and the cheese is melted. If desired, top with pickle slices. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/sloppy-joe-slider-bake/#RecipeCard

GLAZE: 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon sesame seeds 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds 1 teaspoon dried minced onion Dill pickle slices, optiona

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THE VIEW

As crazy as it seems, playing well still an option t is hard to listen to Brent Venables.

Not frustrating, really.

It shouldn’t make anybody angry.

But it’s hard.

This past week, Venables spent a moment reflecting on the challenges of modern college football and what it requires from him and his staff, none of which is easy or fun.

Venables was speaking of getting his roster down to 105 players with an eye toward next season, an approaching signing day, the inevitable comings and goings of the transfer portal and a certain amount of ruthlessness his regime must employ between this season and next to make the most of the process.

“That means you’re going to have to tell several players that they don’t have a spot …

But I”m not here complaining,” he said. “My job is to make the best decisions for our program and try to help people through the carnage …

“I’ve been telling guys for over 12 months, everything’s getting ready to change.

There will be more of a business type approach that we will operate under.”

I

Oklahoma vs.

Alabama

Clay Horning GUEST COLUMNIST

Though he may not have addressed roster shedding and building just so in the past, he’s nonetheless addressed myriad things with a similar tone.

Be it how hard his team continues to work, or how the buy-in of individuals remains top notch. Or how, even as the team’s fallen way, way, way short of the program standard, improvement really is occurring.

It’s sort of all under the umbrella of Venables, his staff, the players, the program, everybody, is doing what must be done, no matter how difficult, to be the team Oklahoma ought to be.

It’s hard because the message is valiant, on point, all he can really say and might well be true.

It’s hard because all of that, and when he says it, all

When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium TV: ABC Radio: KREF FM 99.3 / AM 1400

you can think is: great, but you didn’t just get here, this is your third season; great, but the landscape didn’t just arrive, it was already here and, oh, yeah, this is your third season; great, but everybody’s abiding by the same rules (or lack of them) and, anyway, this is your third season.

Is it possible the last true believer is the head coach, while others, though still around, have retreated?

OU could improve and still it’s likely to lose to Alabama today, LSU in a week and finish the season 5-7 with a single conference victory, one that required a heavy dose of Sooner Magic See HORNING on G10

Paxson Haws | The Transcript

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables during the Oklahoma Sooners game against the Missouri Tigers Nov. 9.

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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 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 WR Deion Burks — Doubtful RB Jovantae Barnes — Questionable OL Joshua Bates — Questionable

ALABAMA DB Keon Sabb — Out WR Cole Adams — Out LB Quandarrius Robinson — 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 82 Ivan Carreon LT 71 Logan Howland 73 Isaiah Autry-Dent LG 77 Heath Ozaeta 55 Eddy Pierre-Louis 52 Troy Everett 51 Branson Hickman RG 54 Febechi Nwaiwu 55 Eddy Pierre-Louis RT 70 Michael Tarquin 58 Spencer Brown SLOT 13 J.J. Hester 17 Jaquaize Pettaway WR 5 Jalil Farooq 7 J.J. Hester

DEFENSE 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 1 Dasan McCullough 24 Sammy Omosigho 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 Missouri Game

— As of Wednesday’s availability report

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PL AYER SPOTLIGHT

‘I have no regrets’ Danny Stutsman recognizes unique legacy he’ll leave at Oklahoma TARIK MASRI TRANSCRIPT SPORTS E D I TO R

Senior linebacker Danny Stutsman has been vocal about his desire to leave a legacy at the school where he began his college career.

It was one of the reasons Stutsman returned to Oklahoma this spring for his senior season instead of entering the NFL Draft. This season though, like much of Stutsman’s prolific career with the Sooners, hasn’t gone exactly how he might have planned.

The Florida native doesn’t look back on his career with regret.

“We’ve had the highest high’s and the lowest low’s but I have no regrets with how my career has gone,” he said before his final home game at Oklahoma.

Stutsman has been one of the few consistencies in the program during its most turbulent stretch in over 25 years.

Sarah Warnock | Associated Press

Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman (28) and defensive back Woodi Washington (5) tackle Mississippi running back Ulysses Bentley IV (24) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Oxford, Miss.

After the Sooners’ 30-23 loss to Missouri, a game in which Stutsman made a career-high 19 tackles, he and safety Billy Bowman reminisced on their careers with just two games remaining.

“No one’s been at Oklahoma who’s had a career like us,” he said to Bowman.

On Saturday the Sooners will celebrate senior day ahead of their game against Alabama at 6:30 p.m. on ABC. When Stutsman committed to the program in 2020, the Sooners had been to three straight College Football Play-

offs and had won the last six Big 12 Championships.

After his freshman season, head coach Lincoln Riley went to USC along with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and linebacker coach Brian Odom. A product of Windermere, Florida, Stutsman had no prior allegiance to OU and could’ve followed his coaches or likely gone many other schools if he wanted.

He chose to stay and eventually became the foundation for implementing head coach Brent Venables’ new defensive scheme.

“Every time I step on that field I leave it all out there,” Stutsman said. “I just got to take advantage of the opportunity and take it all in one last time.”

Stustman started all 13 games as a sophomore and led the Big 12 in tackles (125) and was 18th nationally in tackles per game (9.6). That season he made double-digit tackles in eight games while the Sooners struggled to a 6-7 record.

Still, there were reasons to be optimistic about the direction of the defense and the inside linebacker was a big part of that.

Last year, he was a thirdteam AP All-American as a junior and a first-team AllBig 12 selection. Meanwhile the Sooners went 10-3 and entered their first season in the SEC with one of their top defenses in over a decade, anchored by Stutsman.

He’s currently second in the SEC in tackles with 96 and he’s currently 10th on the school’s career tackles list with 363. With 1.5 more tackles for loss over the last two games Stutsman would move into the top four in the school’s record book.

Meanwhile, OU’s defense

OU Career TFL Leaders

OU Career Tackle Leaders

(Inside Linebackers) 1. Rocky Calmus (199801) — 59.0 2. Teddy Lehman (2000-03) — 48.5 3. Brian Bosworth (1984-86) — 39.0 4. Kenneth Murray (2017-19) — 37.0 5. Rufus Alexander (2003-06) — 36.0 Torrance Marshall (1999-00) — 36.0 7. Danny Stutsman (2021-24) — 35.5 8. Travis Lewis (200811) — 31.0 Lance Mitchell (200204) — 31.0 10. Tyrell Peters (199396) — 29.0

1. Daryl Hunt LB (197578) — 530

has allowed just 319 yards per game this season, which would be the fewest in program history in a season since 2009.

“What a great legacy that all of them have left … to pour into the program and to make the most of their opportunities, squeeze all the juice out of it that you can,” Venables said about the seniors.

Still, certain team achievements have eluded him in a way that few other Sooner greats have ever experienced.

Over his four seasons, Stut-

sman never got to experience a conference title game or a College Football Playoff. The Sooners went 11-2 his freshman season and 10-3 during his junior season.

Over four seasons and with two games remaining this senior class is 32-17.

They’ve also experienced an unexpected head coaching change and the school’s first venture into the toughest conference in college football.

Stutsman said he doesn’t have any regrets about how his career has gone.

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2. Jackie Shipp LB (1980-83) — 489 3. Travis Lewis LB (2008-11) — 446 4. George Cumby LB (1975-79) — 437 5. Rocky Calmus LB (1998-01) — 431 6. Rod Shoate LB (1972-74) — 426 7. Brian Bosworth LB (1984-86) — 413 8. Tyrell Peters LB (1993-96) — 380 9. Ricky Bryan DL (1980-83) — 365 10. Danny Stutsman LB (2021-24) — 363

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Scouting the opponent: Alabama Crimson Tide DAVIS CORDOVA CNHI SPORTS OKL AHOMA

Past Meetings

“Blue” Bloods

Alabama has not been as dominant as year;s past, but is still one of the best teams Oklahoma will play all season.

OU football will host No. 7 Alabama Saturday at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at 6:30 p.m. and the Crimson Tide have had an eerie season, but are still in contention for a CFP spot.

Alabama beat top-ranked Georgia in one of the best games of the season to become the best team in the SEC — but a loss to Vanderbilt the next week was near the start of this chaotic college football season.

The Crimson Tide had a rough three-week stretch starting with the loss in Nashville. The Crimson Tide struggled, and almost lost to, South Carolina, winning by two points. Then Alabama lost to top-ranked Tennessee on the road.

It’s been an up-and-down season for Alabama, but they’ve steamrolled the past two SEC opponents — Missouri, winning 34-0 and LSU, beating the Tigers 42-13.

Alabama, in its first season with coach Kalen DeBoer, is firmly in control of its own destiny for a CFP spot, just as

OU leads series 3-2-1 2018 (Orange Bowl) — Bama, 45-34 2014 (Sugar Bowl) — OU, 45-31 2003 (Tuscaloosa) — OU, 20-13 2002 (Norman) — OU, 37-27 1970 (Bluebonnet Bowl) — T, 24-24 1963 (Orange Bowl) — Bama, 17-0

OU Bama AP National Titles: 7 12 Conference Titles: 50 34 Total Wins: 949 973 Wins Rank: 6 2 Since WWII: 705 677 Winning Pct: .724 .734 Heisman Winners: 7 4 Heisman Finalists: 10 9

long as the Crimson Tide win their final two games.

W it h a h ig h-powere d offense and an elite defense, the Crimson Tide enter the matchup against the Sooners Saturday as one of the best teams in the country.

Here is a breakdown of the Crimson Tide on each side of the ball.

OFFENSE The Crimson Tide’s offense is led by one of the best quarterbacks in the countr y.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (wears No. 4) is among the best in college football with 2,232 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns and six interceptions.

Milroe is 13th in quar-

Saturday.

“Incredibly explosive, and they have great playmakers everywhere,” Venables said. “Certainly, it starts, everything goes through the quarterback. But they have an offensive line playing, they’re Gerald Herbert | Associated Press really good up front. They Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) celebrates a touchdown run in the second know what they’re doing, half of a game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 9, 2024. they’re making everything work. And then the running terback efficiency and is a struggled against scramble- touchdown with less than backs are fantastic.” projected first-round draft friendly quarterbacks this three minutes left went viral pick in May’s NFL Draft. season. after Alabama’s win over DEFENSE Milroe, though, does the Along with Milroe, the Georgia.

A labama’s defense has most-critical damage in a Crimson Tide has a weapon For Alabama, the Crimson seen a spike in improvement defense with his legs. He has on the outside that can Tide go as far as their quar- the past three weeks and will 608 rushing yards, which change a game. terback goes, especially with look to feast on the struggling is 11th among quarterbacks Freshman wide receiver Milroe relying on his ground OU offense. in FBS, and has 17 rushing Ryan Williams (wears game for a lot of his producAlabama’s defense ranks touchdowns, seventh-best in No. 2) leads the team with tion.

10th in the country in scor767 receiv ing yards and the country.

OU coach Brent Venables ing defense, giving up 16.9 Milroe’s running ability eight touchdowns. Williams said the Alabama offense is points per game. The past will be key for the Crimson became a national-sensa- a highly-potent offense that See ALABAMA on G10 Tide as the Sooners have tion when his game-winning will be a challenge to contain

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PL AYER SPOTLIGHT

Woodi Washington believes program is in a better place moving forward Sixth-year senior has seen a lot of change as Sooners’ longest-tenured player DAVIS CORDOVA CNHI SPORTS OKL AHOMA

It’s rare for a player to play six seasons of college football — it’s extremely rare for all six years to be with one school.

Oklahoma football’s Woodi Washington will be playing in his final home game Saturday when the Sooners host No. 7 Alabama at 6:30 p.m.

Washington has been with the Sooners since 2019, the longest-tenured Sooner.

He’s seen a lot of change — the Sooners going from Big 12 Champions and College Football Playoff contenders to OU’s current state of staying afloat in the SEC. Washington can remember back to his freshman season, when the Sooners were conference champions and were playing in the Peach Bowl, but he also remembers who he faced that day — two of the NFL’s best wide receivers.

In Oklahoma’s 63-28 blowout loss to eventual national champion LSU, Washington played most of the game and had the task of matching up with LSU wide receivers

Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, with Jefferson finishing the game with 14 receptions, 228 yards and four touchdowns.

Washington said that experience, especially defending some of the best receivers in the game, allowed him to elevate his game and learn through those experiences.

“I didn’t play much that year, but I kinda got thrown into the fire and it was a stepping stone for me,” Washington said. “It was hard, especially being a freshman and didn’t get to see the field much that year, so I didn’t really experience what college feels like, but going against Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and some of those guys was definitely the hardest task I’ve ever been a part of.”

Many things have changed since Washington arrived in 2019, but the biggest change has been coaches.

OU coach Brent Venables took over after the 2021 season and hasn’t had the traditional success at OU, See WASHINGTON on G9

The Transcript File Photo

OU’s Woodi Washington pulls down LSU’s Derrick Dillon during the Sooners’ game against LSU, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 13 : WHAT TO WATCH

No. 5 Indiana’s long-awaited big test comes at No. 2 Ohio State played 132 snaps against Utah last week and had five catches for 55 yards and a 5-yard rushing touchdown.

He became the first player in either the NFL or FBS to have 50 receiving yards, a rushing touchdown and interception in the same game in the past 24 years since Champ Bailey did it in the NFL for Washington.

ERIC OLSON A P C O L L E G E F O OT B A L L WRITER

College football fans will be treated to a fifth top-five matchup this season when Indiana visits Ohio State for the ultimate measuring-stick game.

Just how good are these unbeaten Hoosiers? We’ll find out Saturday.

No one would have predicted in August that AP No. 5 Indiana (No. 5 CFP) would be a participant in what will be one of the most-watched games of the year. The magic worked by first-year coach Curt Cignetti has resulted in the program’s first 10-win season, and the Hoosiers don’t plan to stop there.

But their schedule has been one of the weakest in the country. This game against the No. 2 Buckeyes (No. 2) will show if they’re real or a mirage.

Like Indiana, No. 18 Army (No. 19) will get its first major test when it plays No. 6 Notre Dame (No. 6) at Yankee Stadium. They meet when both are ranked for the first time since 1958. The last Army team coached by College Football Hall of Famer Red Blaik beat the Irish 14-2 in South Bend. Army has lost

Top 25 Matchups No. 5 Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State No. 14 BYU at No. 21 Arizona State No. 19 Army at No. 6 Notre Dame

major obstacle to reaching the Big Ten championship game. If the Buckeyes win in a blowout, Indiana’s College Football Playoff hopes take a huge hit.

Indiana’s defense is one of the nation’s best, but offense is the team’s calling card.

The Hoosiers have been held under 31 points just once and average 44 per game. Ohio AJ Mast | Associated Press State’s defense has allowed two touchdowns over the last Indiana players celebrate after defeating Michigan in an NCAA college football game four games (a third TD was a in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

Penn State pick six). all 15 meetings since. play Kansas, a four-win team BEST GAME Ohio State is a 12 1/2-point Big 12 leaders BYU and that has knocked off back-toNo. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 favorite, according to BetColorado go on the road to back Top 25 opponents.

Big Ten, No. 5 CFP) at No. 2 MGM Sportsbook. face a couple of hot teams.

In the ACC, No. 13 SMU Ohio State (9-1, 6-1, No. 2), HEISMAN WATCH The No. 14 Cougars (No. 14), (No. 13) is assured of making who had their unbeaten sea- the conference championship Saturday, noon ET (Fox) Colorado’s Travis Hunter Skeptics w ill get their is the front-runner in most son end last week against game if it wins at Virginia.

Kansas, face a No. 21 Ari- The big SEC games are No. answer about whether the Heisman Trophy polls, and zona State team that’s won 7 Alabama (No. 7) at Okla- Hoosiers deserve to be con- he’ll get maximum exposure three in a row and five of six. homa, No. 9 Mississippi (No. sidered among the nation’s when his team plays Kansas The No. 16 Buffaloes (No. 16) 9) at Florida and No. 15 Texas elite. Ohio State is their first at Arrowhead Stadium on a go to Arrowhead Stadium to A&M (No. 15) at Auburn. ranked opponent — and last Fox national telecast. Hunter

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3 — Teams for which Marquez Cooper has rushed for 1,000 yards. He reached the milestone this year at San Diego State, last year at Ball State and in 2021 and ‘22 at Kent State.

6 — Oregon State sacks, 30 fewer than it had through 10 games in 2023.

18 — Consecutive games Texas has forced at least one turnover.

133 — Florida State’s point total, fewest by an FBS team through 10 games in a nonpandemic season since Akron scored 106 in 2019.

373 — Passing yards Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart needs to break Eli Manning’s career school record of 10,119.

UNDER THE RADAR Colorado State (7-3, 5-0 See WATCH on G9

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College Football Playoff Rankings 1. Oregon 11-0 2. Ohio State 9-1 3. Texas 9-1 4. Penn State 9-1 5. Indiana 10-0 6. Notre Dame 9-1 7. Alabama 8-2 8. Miami 9-1 9. Mississippi 8-2 10. Georgia 8-2 11. Tennessee 8-2

WATCH Paxson Haws | The Transcript

OU defensive back Woodi Washington during the game against Tulane Sept. 14.

WASHINGTON CONTINUED FROM G7

but has had a great impact on players like Washington, who elected to stay once Venables was hired.

Washington has seen the process of switching conferences to switching coaches and he said the program is in a good place going forward.

“I think it’s been great,” Washington said. “I think that coach (Venables) has transformed this place on a good note, not a bad note at all, despite the records.

The way coach V runs this program is great. Everything he talks about is like the sole mission and things

he’s talked about outside of football, making sure they are good once they leave this place.”

This season, Washington hasn’t had the same impact on the field as he’s had in year’s past. Washington has started four of the 10 games for OU this season, but has started the past two games and also has 15 total tackles.

The past two seasons, Washington started all 26 games and had a combined 115 total tackles.

Washington, though, has had a large presence off the field with the younger guys in the locker room. Venables said Washington’s leadership has been valuable for the program’s future.

“He’s just as loyal as they come,” Venables said. “He cares deeply about this place and his opportunity, his teammates. We don’t have a better leader, a guy that pours into his teammates more than Woodi. Great humility. He’s been a guy that’s plugged into a lot of different spots for us, has always been ready, great competitor, great example for the younger players of what leading looks like and again, to me, great leaders are ones that can reproduce it, and that’s what he’s intentionally tried to do and has done. He’s brought the best out of the young players around him, his teammates, and been a great, great example for others.”

CONTINUED FROM G8

Mountain West) at Fresno State (5-5, 3-3), Saturday, 9:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network) The Rams’ rise has gone largely unnoticed outside the Mountain West. Coach Jay Norvell was 8-16 in his first two years and entered this season feeling heat. CSU has secured its first winning season and first bowl bid since 2017 and now has its sights set on playing for its first conference championship since 2002.

12. Boise State 9-1 13. SMU 9-1 14. BYU 9-1 15. Texas A&M 8-2 16. Colorado 8-2 17. Clemson 8-2 18. South Carolina 8-3 19. Army 9-0 20. Tulane 9-2 21. Arizona State 8-2 22. Iowa State 8-2

23. Missouri 7-3 24. UNLV 8-2 25. Illinois 7-3 The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded Nos. 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. Seeds 5-12 will play each other in the first round. The higher-seeded teams will play host in their first round games.

A road win against Fresno and home win over Utah State would put the Rams in the MWC title game, likely against Boise State.

If the Rams split their next two games, they would need UNLV to drop one of its next two. The Rams missed Boise State and UNLV in the regular season. If they take care of business, they eliminate the possibility of the MWC’s computer-ranking system determining the matchup for the championship.

ginia. He was brought back in 2023 following back-toback losing seasons and responded with a 9-4 campaign ending with three straight wins.

Now Brown’s Mountaineers sit at 5-5 after losing 49-35 to Baylor at home, where they are 2-4. A home game against UCF on Saturday and road game at Texas Tech next week loom large.

Brown in the offseason signed a one-year contract extension, through 2027, HOT SEAT that included a $400,000 Neal Brown is perpetually pay cut over the next three on the hot seat at West Vir- seasons.

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G10

ALABAMA CONTINUED FROM G6

three games though, the Crimson Tide have allowed just 20 points combined.

Alabama, for the most part, has shut down offenses like Missouri, LSU and South Carolina — a few teams that have beaten OU.

Alabama’s defense has a bevy of key players, but one of its best is linebacker Jihaad Campbell (wears No. 11), who has 87 total tackles and five sacks along with an interception and two forced fumbles. Campbell, once committed to Venables at Clemson, will help lead a pass rush attack that can capitalize on OU’s worst sta-

tistic this season.

The Sooners allow 4.1 sacks per game, which is the worst in the country out of 133 teams, and although the Crimson Tide gets to the quarterback 2.15 times per game, the Sooners’ offensive line has given up a recordamount of sacks this season in multiple games.

Paxson Haws | The Transcript

Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. runs to the end zone after recovering the ball from Missouri during the Oklahoma Sooners game against the Missouri Tigers Nov. 9.

HORNING CONTINUED FROM G3

Vasha Hunt | Associated Press

Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell (11) chases Mercer quarterback Whitt Newbauer (8) Nov. 16, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

— Kip Lewis’ pick six — just to get.

Jackson Arnold could offer growth, returning receivers could catch a few balls, the offensive line could produce a 100-yard back and offer better pass protection, but does that stuff even matter when you’ve produced a worse conference season than even John Blake ever produced?

Perhaps a big game from Xavier Robinson might be fun no matter the outcome.

He’s sort of the only offensive player on the roster not tarnished by the horrendous season.

Perhaps that.

But there’s also this: It sounds crazy, but OU could beat Alabama. It sounds even crazier, but the Sooners could beat the Tide and the Tigers, too. Or they could just play great games, take them to the wire, offer serious improvement and give their fans enough to want them to reach a bowl game because, hey, a team like that, who wouldn’t want to see it play again?

It sounds ridiculous, of course; impossible given all that’s come before. And maybe that’s the hardest part of all.

The only way to save the season after so much failure, would be to watch OU become the team it ought

to be every season and certainly three years into any head coach’s tenure.

A good team.

A competitive team.

A team that offers hope.

A team you want to root for.

Every Sooner squad since ’98 has at least been that and it’s not a high bar.

Venables sounds like a coach who, every week is telling you, despite all you’ve seen, required steps are being taken and will be taken.

It would be so much easier if, instead, his team just played well, an opportunity it will be given twice more.

It’s not much to ask.

In year three.

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