Postgame Thoughts: Oklahoma 17, Missouri 6
A physical 17-6 win over the Missouri Tigers on Saturday has the Oklahoma Sooners one step closer to the College Football Playoff.
OU’s defense refused to allow Mizzou to grind out a win behind the Tigers’ potent rushing attack, which the Sooners limited to just under three yards per attempt. An explosive catch-and-run touchdown in the first half from quarterback John Mateer to slot receiver Isaiah Sategna would have given the Sooners enough points to win, but another score late in the second quarter gave the home team ample breathing room.
Indulge me in a handful of postgame thoughts, based on one viewing of the broadcast.
*Mizzou’s opening drive left me – and about 82,000 people in Norman, Oklahoma – worrying that we might get the worst version of the game everyone seemed to expect before kickoff. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz clearly wanted to see his squad slow the pace to a crawl and lean on the Tigers ground game, as evidenced by a 14-play drive that bled more than eight minutes off the game clock. Holding Mizzou to a field goal, however, was a sign that the visitors were in for a frustrating day.
*The decision to play Mizzou QB Beau Pribula in the game actually made more sense after seeing how it played out. The OU defense is a tough assignment for any QB, let alone one coming off a dislocated ankle. However, head coach Brent Venables would have cooked up some defensive looks to bend the brain of Mizzou’s freshman backup Matt Zollers.
Credit to Pribula for taking one for the team, I guess.
*Has anyone noticed R Mason Thomas’ absence? OU’s top edge rusher obviously makes the defense even better, but the results haven’t changed much with him on the sidelines the last two games.
Defensive end Taylor Wein continued playing at an All-American level versus the Tigers, tallying 1.5 sacks and generally making the opponents’ lives miserable. Junior P.J. Adebawore likely played the best game of his career as a Sooner, notching a sack and three tackles. The same goes for senior edge Marvin Jones Jr., who has consistently demonstrated great range for his position.
*Jacobe Johnson’s interception in the second half helped snuff the life out of Mizzou’s hopes for a comeback. Much like the rest of the sometimes-maligned OU secondary, he has quietly improved as the season has worn on.
*There isn’t much to say about the performance of an offense that has apparently accepted its role, which is “don’t botch this.” To the credit of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, he used the tools at his disposal to fashion a solid game plan for a nasty Tigers defense. OU’s ailing running backs unit forced the Sooners ride a judicious passing attack later into the game than you would expect from a team nursing a not-insurmountable lead.
*Mateer overcame a dreadful start to provide a handful or timely throws. Also, you could make a good case that the Sooners would have lost without the contributions of his legs. Gritty performance by the veteran QB and all that.
*Speaking of gritty, injured RB Xavier Robinson came through in a big way for OU. He didn’t account for much on the stat sheet, but the Sooners frankly just needed someone on the field at running back. A total of 16 touches for a combined 59 yards was even more than the offense could have asked for, all things considered.
*Tight end Jaren Kanak hit a lull after a surprising start to the 2025 campaign, but the opportunities afforded to him versus the Tigers showed why he deserves more designed plays in the passing game. Hell, maybe the running game, too.
*One game away from a spot in the College Football Playoff for this team. That is wild.