The SEC conference game this Saturday between Oklahoma and Mississippi State marks a historic milestone for both teams.
The Sooners have played well over 100 different opponents from all across the country in their 132 seasons of varsity football, but this will be the first time against a team from Mississippi State. It also is just the second time an Oklahoma Sooner team has ventured into the Magnolia State to play a football game.
In Oklahoma's only other football trip to the state of Mississippi, the Sooners lost to Ole Miss, 26-14, in 2024.
That's just one of the intriguing storylines associated with this game. The matchup features Oklahoma's Brent Venables going up against a team headed by his former OU offensive coordinator, Jeff Lebby, who was Venables' first staff hire after being named head coach of the Sooners. Lebby is also an Oklahoma alum and was a member of OU's 2002 signing class under Bob Stoops.
Lebby's playing career at Oklahoma was cut short due to injury, but he transitioned to a student assistant role, in which he served for four years. He served on Venables' staff for two years, in 2022-23. In his role as offensive coordinator, Lebby directed a Sooner offensive unit in 2023 that ranked No. 3 nationally in total offense (507.0 yards per game), No. 4 in scoring offense (41.7 ppg), and No. 6 in passing offense (324.8 ypg) behind quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Lebby was offered the head-coaching job at Mississippi State after the 2023 season. Unfortunately, the Oklahoma offense hasn't been the same since and, in fact, has gotten progressively worse.
Both teams are coming into their inaugural matchup on the heels of disappointing losses this past weekend. Mississippi State (4-2, 2-2) suffered a 31-0 road loss at LSU. It was the Bulldogs' first game without quarterback Kamario Taylor. Meanwhile, Oklahoma (3-3, 1-2) fell at home, 21-13, to a Kentucky team that has quietly but convincingly forged a 6-1 record midway through the season.
Mississippi State had been ranked 16th in the AP Top 25 Poll but dropped out of the rankings this week after the loss to LSU. That was the Bulldogs' highest national ranking since 2018. Oklahoma began the season ranked 11th in the AP poll. The Sooners fell to 24th after the Week 2 loss to Michigan and dropped completely out of the rankings after Week 3.
How to watch Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State
When: 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 24, in Starkville, Mississippi
Watch: SEC Network (watch using FuboTV free trial)
Announcers: Dave Neal (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (analyst), and Tori Petry (sideline reporter)
What to know about Mississippi State
- The biggest question mark facing Mississippi State is the status of starting quarterback Kamario Taylor for Saturday's game with Oklahoma. Taylor is battling a foot injury that caused him to miss last week's game against LSU. Head coach Jeff Lebby has said Taylor's situation is "day-to-day" but that "he has a lot of work to do" before he can return. If he is unable to go against Oklahoma, it could seriously impact the outcome and betting line for the game. The sophomore quarterback leads all SEC quarterbacks in passing touchdowns, passing yards per game, points responsible for, and total offense.
- Mississippi State ranks 3rd in the SEC and 22nd nationally in total offense, averaging 454.3 yards per game. The Bulldogs are also 22nd nationally in passing offense (277.8 ypg). Senior wide receiver Anthony Evans III leads the team and the SEC with 47 receptions for 614 yards and five touchdowns.
- Junior running back Fluff Bothwell is the lead back in the Mississippi State run game with 403 yards and an average of 5.4 yards per carry. Bothwell, however, has been listed as questionable on the availability report. If he is unable to go, Kolin Wilson (212 rushing yards and 4.1 yards per carry) will get the call.
- Stat to watch: Mississippi State is 9-1 in two and a half seasons under Jeff Lebby when it leads at halftime and 3-0 this season. Additionally, the Bulldogs are 1-10 under Lebby when they score between 20 and 29 points, and 0-7 when they score fewer than 20.
What to know about Oklahoma
- The Oklahoma offense -- believe it or not, once the class of the Football Bowl Subdivision -- ranks 126th out of 138 FBS teams in total offense, averaging 311.0 yards per game. The Sooners are 113th in scoring (21.3 ppg) and a horrific 136th in rushing offense (92.5 ypg). John Mateer's seven interceptions are tied for the second-most by an SEC quarterback this season. His 52.2 quarterback rating is one of the worst of any Power 4 quarterback.
- While the Oklahoma offense ranks among the nation's worst this season, the OU defensive unit ranks in the top 20 nationally in seven different statistical categories, including first downs allowed per game (No. 1), 3rd-down conversion percentage (No. 2), total defense (No. 5), passing defense (No. 6), red-zone conversion percentage (No. 7), sacks per game (No. 14), and yards per play allowed (No. 19).
- The Sooners have won 38 of their last 52 true road games, dating back to 2014. Nine of the 14 losses have been by one score.
- Six Oklahoma players, including offensive linemen Ryan Fodje and Eddy Pierre-Louis, wide receiver Trell Harris and defensive back Jacobe Johnson are listed as out for the game on Saturday. Five others are listed as questionable or doubtful, including two more offensive linemen, Michael Fasusi and Heath Ozeata, and starting cornerback Eli Bowen.
Other storylines
- In addition to the Oklahoma connection with Lebby, there are several other OU connections involving Mississippi State players, members of the coaching staff, and even the administrative staff. MSU athletics director Zac Selmon is a Norman native and former Oklahoma senior associate athletics director for administration and development, and later deputy AD for external engagement and advancement. He is the son of OU All-American and College Football Hall of Famer Dewey Selmon and nephew of Lucious Selmon and Lee Roy Selmon, themselves both former Sooner All-Americans.
- The Mississippi State coaching staff includes former Oklahoma offensive line standout Phil Loadholt (2007-08), who is in his second season as the Bulldogs' offensive line coach, and former OU center Jon Cooper (2005-08), who is the MSU tight ends coach and run game coordinator. Three former Sooners are on the 2026 Mississippi State roster: defensive back Kendel Dolby (2022-25), wide receiver Zion Ragins (2024-25), and offensive lineman Isaiah Dent (2024-25).
- Sooner wide receiver Isaiah Sategna ranks fourth nationally and first in the SEC, averaging 18.3 yards on eight punt returns.
Through six games, the Oklahoma defense has allowed just 34 second-half points, an average of 5.7 per game, and just three points in the third quarter (vs. Georgia).
Prediction
It's a bit surprising to me that Oklahoma is a 3.5-point favorite in this game, according to FanDuel, and on the road. If the Sooners are to prevail on the road at Mississippi State, given the struggle of the offense to put the ball in the end zone, logic would dictate that it will be a low-scoring game. Mississippi State averages 32.5 points per game when its starting quarterback is healthy, which he may not be for this game.
The only way Oklahoma wins this game is if Taylor is out for a second straight game, and it is looking like that could indeed be the case. The Sooner defense turns in another standout performance and, Mateer and the OU offense do just enough to squeeze out a victory.
Oklahoma 20, Mississippi State 13
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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