Blatant Homerism: Big questions left for Sooners to answer
With one month of the 2025 season in the books, the 4-0 Oklahoma Sooners have spent the last two weeks preparing for a rugged stretch of games to close out the final two months. They ease their way back onto the field on Saturday for a matchup with the Kent State Golden Flashes. After that, OU gets Texas in the Red River Rivalry game along with six other SEC opponents, including trips to Alabama and Tennessee and home dates with Ole Miss and LSU.
Despite the strong start, the first four contests raised key questions about the Sooners to be answered in OU’s remaining games.
How will John Mateer’s injury affect the rest of the season?
The throwing hand of OU quarterback John Mateer seems to be all anyone is talking about lately regarding Sooner football. Let’s break this question up into two separate matters.
First, how long will Mateer’s injury keep him on OU’s sidelines? We know he’s sitting out this weekend versus Kent State. The most optimistic among Sooner Nation are putting their faith in speculation that he could play on Oct. 11 against the Longhorns. Sober-minded fans are pointing to the following week against South Carolina or the home date with Ole Miss after that as more likely scenarios. We should find out soon enough if Mateer’s extraordinary ability to recover from surgery is real or just a smokescreen.
Second, what does Mateer’s injury do to his performance? There are basic issues like the impact on his ability to grip the ball and his pain tolerance. Additionally, does the coaching staff have to alter game plans as a result?
Will the defense ever force a turnover?
It almost seems like a defense this good would have to try not to generate turnovers to not have one after four games. Interestingly, OU’s opponents have only fumbled once this season, and it was recovered by the offense. Fourteen passes defensed typically produces two or three interceptions, so the D may see some regression to the mean in that regard soon.
Anyway, teams generally produce turnovers by playing good defense, not trying to generate turnovers. OU will get its fair share of takeaways as the season progresses.
(On the flip side, six fumbles by OU’s offense through four games is kinda concerning.)
What can be done to kickstart the running game?
Aside from letting Mateer do his thing, OU’s ground attack has flopped this year. The Sooners rank 74th nationally in rushing success rate and 94th in yards per carry before contact. Taking sacks out of the equation, OU’s average of 3.9 yards per rush is pitiful.
About the only thing that could pass for a positive sign regarding OU’s running game is how it performed in the Michigan matchup. The raw stats weren’t overly impressive – 40 attempts for 138 yards and two touchdowns – but that’s a solid showing against the Wolverines’ stout run defense. Notably, freshman left tackle Michael Fasusi played 66 of 75 offensive snaps versus Michigan in his only extended action this season.
Adding a healthy Fasusi back into the mix would likely help the rushing attack going forward, as would center Jake Maikkula and right guard Febechi Nwaiwu healing up. However, absent some new development like Cal transfer Jaydn Ott finding a role in the backfield, there aren’t many good answers here.
Can the passing attack stretch defenses vertically?
So far, the Sooners are primarily working the short and intermediate areas of the field in the passing game. The average depth of John Mateer’s targets is 8.5 yards, which ranks 63rd nationally among players with at least 114 dropbacks this season.
To be fair, opening up the deep ball goes hand in hand with the question immediately above. Until OU can give defenses a reason to dedicate more players to stopping the run, opponents are going to continue playing safeties deep to limit shot passes over the top.
That aside, the Sooners played their first four games without their purported deep threat. Transfer Javonnie Gibson reportedly stood out as a downfield receiver during spring practices. A broken leg has prevented us non-insiders from seeing what he can do, but it appears we will get our first look at him in crimson and cream versus Kent State.
Did OU have a Cam Coleman problem, or does it have a coverage problem?
Auburn’s stud wideout burned OU’s cornerbacks multiple times when the two teams played in week four. Coleman nabbed three catches for 88 yards and a touchdown also drew a couple defensive pass interference flags. The damage could have been even worse, but Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold failed to deliver Coleman the ball on a few other big-play opportunities.
To be fair, Coleman’s combination of size and speed would give any defense fits, especially those that ask defensive backs to cover him one-on-one. OU head coach Brent Venables bet that he could leave CBs such as freshmen Courtland Guillory and Devon Jordan playing Coleman without help over the top to stymie Auburn’s RPO-heavy scheme. It paid off in this case.
If that’s the plan when OU faces other talented wideouts like Ryan Williams of Alabama and Ryan Wingo of Texas, the CBs will probably see plenty of the same routes that Coleman torched them with. Time for the freshmen DBs to grow up. (Note that OU’s best cover corner last year, Eli Bowen, will also return to action soon.)
Other Games on My Radar
Texas at Florida
Based on the forecast for Gainesville on Saturday, the Longhorns and Gators could be squaring off in an actual swamp. That sounds like trouble for struggling QBs DJ Lagway of Florida and Arch Manning of Texas. If Manning shows he is over the yips that plagued him to start the season, it would give a big boost to UT’s prospects going forward.
Vanderbilt at Alabama
Any other time, the Crimson Tide would be entering the danger zone. Getting upset by the Commodores last year should alleviate any complacency on Bama’s part, though. Bama may have a bigger problem this year: Vandy is just good.
Miami at Florida State
The stock price of the Hurricanes is flirting with getting overheated.
Together We’re More: James Winchester
Each month the Choctaw Nation - the title sponsor of Through the Keyhole - releases a video highlighting the lives of tribal members and how they impact their communities.
Choctaw tribal member James Winchester grew up in the heart of Oklahoma, where sports weren’t just a pastime—they were a way of life. Long before the former Sooner earned a spot in the NFL as the long snapper for the Kansas City Chiefs, he was immersed in the world of athletics in his hometown of Washington, Oklahoma.