Ben Arbuckle’s offense simply got out of the way in the Oklahoma Sooners’ rather dominant win over Mississippi State on Saturday.
The Sooners went to Starkville and left with an easy 23-15 win to improve to 4-3, now over the midway point of the season. It unfortunately took half the season for Arbuckle to finally realize what it takes for his offense to actually help the Sooners succeed, but better late than never if he actually sticks to the game plan we saw on Saturday.
It was a case of less literally being more for the Sooners, as the offense put up more points against a Power 4 opponent than it has all season. They also totaled a season-high 467 yards, which is also the most yards the Sooners have ever had in an SEC matchup. Their 97-yard touchdown at the end of the second half was also OU's longest drive since 2022, when the Sooners were still in the Big 12.
Even more, if Tate Sandell had made the three field goals he missed, then it would have been the most points OU has scored against an SEC opponent in three years in the conference without a defensive or special teams score to boost the total.
Sooners finally rely on run game to bolster John Mateer
Obviously, 23 points is nothing to brag about, but Sooner Nation is more concerned about just having wins at all to boast about than how they’re accomplished. It has felt like this season that OU’s offense has done more to prevent the Sooners from winning games than to benefit them.
But not on Saturday. Even if the offense didn’t help much, or enough to create a blowout, Arbuckle’s unit at least didn’t get in the way.
How? THE SOONERS RAN THE DANG BALL!
OU, from the opening possession, showed a commitment to run the football against the Bulldogs. That also took the entire offense off the shoulders of quarterback John Mateer and limited the chances for him to turn the ball over while trying to make something happen.
Mateer didn't hold onto the ball too long to see if something opened up. When nothing was there, he either scrambled for a short gain or threw the pass away. There was also never a time he needed to, as OU was never desperate for production or consistently behind the chains. That resulted in no turnovers and OU allowing just one sack.
“It felt good,” Mateer said during his postgame interview with SEC Network. “You prepare all week, and you’re in the dark to come out here and play free, and I felt that way. The guys did a really good job.”
When needed, Mateer was extremely efficient, completing 76% of his 29 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers. He also rushed for 37 yards, but again, only when necessary, as Arbuckle finally let the running backs carry the load.
Running backs accounted for 125 of OU’s season-high rushing total of 184 yards and 27 of 41 rushing attempts. It was the first time since Week 1 against UTEP that Mateer didn’t lead the team in rushing attempts.
Tory Blaylock led the backfield with 71 yards on 12 attempts, while Lloyd Avant was still RB1 with 13 carries for 55 yards. Wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III also contributed 24 yards on three rushes.
OU’s offense, with Brent Venables’ elite defense behind it, does not need to go win games — just don’t lose them. This is the way.
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