Blatant Homerism: On to Kentucky (and beyond)
Even though the Oklahoma Sooners still have more than half of their games left to play, this week makes for a logical divider in their season.
Using the SP+ national rankings, the Sooners have already played road games against teams against No. 2 Georgia and No. 23 Michigan and a neutral site game at No. 6 Texas. Even the supposed paycheck games weren’t entirely layups, as OU hosted No. 29 New Mexico in week three. Despite drawing one of the worst teams in the country, UTEP, to start the season, the Sooners’ slate ranks as the toughest in college football so far, per SP+. The next seven games are far from easy, but the Sooners’ path is easing up.
Combined with the unexpected win over the Longhorns, a newfound sense of optimism now surrounds OU’s season. So what kind of improvement will it take to achieve a respectable outcome by the end of the year?
You can point to major positives for OU that come from beating Texas. A win over your most hated rival always lifts spirits. Psychologically, there is a mammoth difference between a 3-2 record and 2-3 at this point in the season.
On the other hand, OU’s performance in the Red River Shootout underscored the team’s offensive futility. You won’t find any metrics to suggest the Sooners did anything well versus the UT defense. That’s a good group, but even allowing that, OU’s inability to do more than move the ball in fits and starts didn’t offer signs of improvement after a two-week break between games. OU currently ranks 84th overall in Offensive SP+.
Assuming OU’s offense remains this punchless the rest of the year, the Sooners can probably hope to win three or four of their remaining seven games. Counting on touchdowns from the defense and special teams units is a recipe for mediocre results.
The biggest reason for hope that OU can get its offense back on track lies in the expected return of left tackle Michael Fasusi, one of the most promising offensive line prospects in the country. Fasusi played roughly a dozen snaps in OU’s season opener versus UTEP and hasn’t set foot on the field since then.
You could gauge the impact of Fasusi’s absence – and return to the lineup – in different ways. We’re talking about one player, after all. His injury doesn’t explain why his teammates in the trenches have performed so poorly. Adding Fasusi doesn’t change the fact that the other four players on the line have underperformed to this point.
The flip side is that losing Fasusi has arguably taken a broader toll on the rest of the OL. Ryan Fodje had to learn how to play left tackle on the fly after showing promise last year at right guard and right tackle. Meanwhile, with Fodje playing out of position, OU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh experimented with a revolving door of right guards, including Noah Best and Heath Ozaeta. Bedenbaugh also couldn’t evaluate alternatives at right tackle to Arkansas transfer E’Marion Harris, who left lots to be desired in the first half of the year.
Also, when you consider that OU counted on Fasusi to anchor the OL, the potential knock-on effects of missing him in terms of offensive identity and play-calling seem significant.
Fasusi won’t cure all the problems with the OU offense, especially if he’s still dealing with lingering effects of his injury. The Sooners can’t afford to give him multiple games to shake off rust.
However, Fasusi could give an extra boost to OU’s running game. The Sooners didn’t run the ball well versus Texas, but they did flash potential for a more productive ground attack at points throughout the game.
A 42-yard run by running back Lloyd Avant in the second half represented easily the most productive play for the OU offense in the entire game. Avant gained a total of 30 yards on his other nine rushing attempts. Taken as a whole, you could look at his outing as something to build on for the future.
Avant and freshman Jonathan Hatton now form a de facto one-two punch in the backfield. Creating room for Hatton to run in the coming weeks should be a priority for offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Although the rookie has yet to break out in any game this season, he continues showing glimpses of explosiveness in his carries that appear promising.
Not to mention, a healthy ground game seems like a necessity for a team with a turnover-prone quarterback.
Kentucky profiles as a standard bend-don’t-break defense. Opponents have high success rates versus the Wildcats, who don’t force many three-and-out possessions. Conversely, UK rarely allows explosive plays by land or by air.
That sounds like the kind of defense OU wants to face. With Fasusi waiting in the wings to return, how offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle chooses to attack UK on Saturday should offer a glimpse of the game plan going forward for the OU O.
Other games on my radar
A sneaky good slate of games in store for college football fans this weekend.
Ohio State at Indiana
The early window on Saturday is stacked with intriguing matchups, but they all take a backseat to this rematch of last year’s Big Ten championship. Despite their unblemished record, the Hoosiers appear to be an uninspiring imitation of the 2025 national champions. But does anyone really think Curt Cignetti is going to allow Ohio State coach Ryan Day to come into Bloomington and push him around?
Northwestern at Michigan State
The Pat Fitzgerald Bowl. Blech.
Mississippi State at LSU
It doesn’t feel like Lane Kiffin and his expensive roster are giving LSU fans what they paid for.
Alabama at Tennessee
Tough spot from the Crimson Tide after falling short last week versus Georgia. Frankly, though, UT doesn’t seem like the kind of team that can capitalize.
Notre Dame at BYU
The Fighting Irish are doing what they can to cement themselves as contenders for the national championship. Hanging a crooked number on the Cougars offers one of few opportunities on this schedule for ND to make a statement.