Well, this is different.
The first SEC availability report ahead of the Oklahoma and Ole Miss matchup was released on Wednesday evening, and in a turn of events for the Sooners, the Rebels actually had more players listed than OU. The Sooners had 12 players included, compared to Ole Miss' 17.
The Sooners have notoriously had more injured players than their opponents over the last three seasons. In fact, this is only the second time since availability reports were released in 2024 that OU has had fewer listed players than its opponent. The only other time was ahead of the Sooners' loss to Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff last season.
Why that has been such an issue is a completely different discussion.
Rebels missing Kewan Lacy and others, while Sooners get healthier
The Rebels aren't just missing a bunch of reserves that wouldn't make an impact, either, for their trip to Oklahoma on Saturday. They already have 11 players who will be out this week, including star running back Kewan Lacy, who has missed the past two games with a lingering shoulder injury.
Lacy is the best running back in college football when healthy, and he takes Ole Miss from a solid squad to a national title contender when on the field. The Rebels are 1-2 this season with Lacy on the sidelines, including a 42-7 blowout to Georgia last week. He suffered the injury against Texas and left in the third quarter of the 34-27 loss, so really, you could consider Ole Miss 1-3 without him.
In the five complete games with Lacy this season, the Rebels averaged 39.4 points per game. Without him, though, that number dips to 26.7.
Lacy also won't be the only vital offensive piece the Rebels will be missing. Starting right guard Patrick Kutas will also be out, which will hamper the Rebels' ground attack even more.
“There will be some moving parts to that, and looking at some guys bumping inside, and we’ve been rotating some guys anyway. But he’s the only one (besides Lacy) that we know for sure won’t be available on Saturday," Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding said during his weekly press conference.
Initial availability report ahead of Oklahoma vs. Ole Miss: pic.twitter.com/Aj4YJCxpl3
— Stormin In Norman (@StorminInNorman) November 12, 2026
Meanwhile, the Sooners are actually getting healthier on offense entering Game 2 under interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten. Offensive lineman Ryan Fodje is still listed as doubtful, but that's still the closest OU has been in weeks to having its starting O-line fully healthy.
It was mostly upgrades for OU players who have been out with injuries on this week's initial report, including linebacker Cole Sullivan (questionable) and cornerback Jacobe Johnson (probable).
The greatest question mark the Sooners have this week is running back Tory Blaylock being listed as questionable. Blaylock has been banged up most of the season but had started to assert himself as RB1 since getting healthy. Lloyd Avant still led the backfield with 13 carries for 47 yards last week, while Blaylock was next with seven rushes for 30 yards. Without Blaylock, freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. will get more touches.
That lopsided injury report (plus OU's newfound offensive success) is likely the biggest factor in OU being only a 1.5-point underdog, despite the Rebels being a top-20 team with a usually potent offense that's led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. However, based on the tiny sample size, being healthier doesn't guarantee a win for the Sooners.
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