In what's become a biweekly tradition this football season, the Oklahoma Sooners have a fifth chance at finally putting together back-to-back wins for the first time in 2026.
The Sooners are coming off a 23-7 road upset of then-No. 24 Florida last week, but a victory has meant doom the next week so far for the Sooners, as they've yet to follow up one of their previous four wins with another to enter Week 11 at 5-4.
OU could also knock out two birds with one stone on Saturday by erasing two zeroes. No. 19 Ole Miss (6-3) will be in Norman for the second year in a row. The Sooners are 0-4 against the Rebels, including three straight losses as SEC foes over the past three seasons.
History would all but guarantee a loss for the Sooners this week, but a lot has changed in Oklahoma in just the last two weeks, so hopefully that also means different results in all-too-familiar situations.
Here's a final score prediction for the Sooners' fourth crack at Ole Miss, plus three more bold predictions to come true on Saturday:
1. John Mateer scores first rushing TD of 2026
Even through all his struggles this season, it's still a surprise that OU quarterback John Mateer hasn't run into the end zone yet, considering his legs are his greatest strength, and he totaled eight rushing touchdowns last year.
Mateer technically got into the end zone last week, but the points were erased from the board because of a pre-snap penalty. It would have been an exclamation point for what was a rebound performance for Mateer in his first experience in someone else's system.
Interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten strategically took advantage of Mateer's rushing ability against Florida in his play-calling debut. Mateer led the Sooners with 14 carries for 56 yards. That also elevated him as a passer, as he threw for 207 yards and two TDs.
Witten should let Mateer run wild again against an even weaker Ole Miss run defense. The Rebels have the benefit of actually being able to prepare for what Witten does with Mateer, so even though his rushing total could dip compared to last week, Mateer will still end up in the end zone for the first time, but the last time this season.
2. Sooners hold Ole Miss under 100 rushing yards
OU's rushing defense is about as strong as it gets, while the Rebels' run game is at its weakest.
Ole Miss will be without star running back Kewan Lacy, while the Sooners are fully healthy on the other side of the ball. OU's run defense is giving up 122.67 yards per game, while Ole Miss is rushing for 147.33 yards per game. Obviously, both of those averages are over the century mark, but Georgia just held the hobbled Rebels to only 66 yards on the ground, and they should experience tough sledding again against OU's defensive front.
3. Jack Van Dorselaer catches first TD as a Sooner
This is a redo from last week.
We knew even before Witten ever called a play that his tight ends would be a centerpiece of the Sooners' new-look offense. Jack Van Dorselaer transferred from Tennessee, Witten's alma mater, and hasn't caught a TD since, so I predicted last week that Witten would find a way to get the ball to Van Dorselaer in the end zone after back-to-back multi-catch games.
Instead, Witten dialed up a slick play to get Hayden Hansen a touchdown against his old team. I should have seen that coming from a mile away. Now, it's Van Dorselaer's turn to finally visit the end zone.
Final score prediction: Oklahoma 31, Ole Miss 30
I made a vow to myself just last week that I wouldn't pick this OU team to win another football game this season. But then I saw Witten run an offense and Ole Miss' lengthy injury report.
Witten was less concerned about a flashy offense and more concerned with just winning in any way possible. He chewed the clock and unlocked Mateer. Playing in the mud is not only the best way for this OU team to win, but it's also the greatest chance of slowing down this Ole Miss offense with Trinidad Chambliss at QB.
This could be another nail-biter like the Red River Rivalry that Sooner Nation already endured, and might even feature more Tate Sandell heroics, but the Sooners tend to give OU fans plenty to be thankful for in November after a lot of stress.
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