Oklahoma
Oklahoma OC Ben Arbuckle to Prioritize Getting Veteran Wideout More Opportunities
The No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners have plenty of opportunities before them to make their losses to Mississippi and Texas feel like distant memories. A road matchup with the No. 14-ranked Tennessee Volunteers provides a great platform for a potential strong OU run to end their regular season.
In order to make that happen, Oklahoma must correct issues that seem simple in theory but have proven elusive in several games. Namely, get players like Deion Burks the ball.
It’s something that Ben Arbuckle wants to do.
“Deion’s a talented kid,” Arbuckle said during his Tuesday press conference. “Finding ways to get him the ball in space, he has the ability with his quick twitch and speed. Just have to keep working with him.”
Against the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2, Burks revealed the game-breaking ability that followed him from Purdue when he transferred to Norman during the 2024 offseason. Burks had seven catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Since then? 22 catches for 201 yards and no touchdowns. His back-to-back seven catch games in Oklahoma’s first two games have yet to show themselves since.
By now, Sooner fans are familiar with dozens of isolated plays over the last three weeks showcasing open receivers downfield — that Mateer either missed on throws or simply never looked their way. Burks has been a frequent star in those examples
Burks is looking at his lack of impact in the right way.
“Just know it’s football, man,” Burks said on Monday when asked about if he’s frustrated when he doesn’t get the ball. “Just know there’s more than me on the field. Never know really what’s going on behind the play. But no. Just next-play mentality. Just trying to get open again if I’m missed or anything like that.”
While Burks has been quiet, Isaiah Sategna III has blossomed. Since the Michigan game, Sategna has snagged 37 catches for 564 yards and five scores. If Oklahoma wants to have success on the road in the SEC, they cannot only rely on Sategna. They have to get Burks the ball to ensure the offense can hit its ceiling and reward its capable defense for stops.
Arbuckle knows how important Burks is to what the Sooners want to do.
“Just gotta keep working with him,” Arbuckle said. “There were times in that game where the ball should have found him.”
Both Arbuckle and Burks stressed that John Mateer cannot be expected to make every play, especially against great conference competition. “It’s not all on John,” Arbuckle relayed. But there’s no doubt that Oklahoma is leaving potential greatness on the field instead of on the scoreboard.
“John’s a leader,” Burks said. “He wants to be great so of course he’s in and out of this facility and we have our conversations but no conversation where it’s down in a sense. Just trying to bring each other up and how can we continue to get better each and every week.”
Arbuckle has been encouraged by Burks’ work ethic since the loss in the Cotton Bowl. That encouragement makes Arbuckle all the more hungry for getting Burks more involved to piggyback off of Sategna’s last month of play and to help his struggling quarterback.
“Dion’s a talented kid who honestly has had the best two weeks of practice from a technical standpoint and a straining to win standpoint,” Arbuckle said. “I’m really proud of the way he’s attacking practice.”
Oklahoma
Texas A&M makes massive splash in transfer portal landing Oklahoma LHP
Texas A&M baseball made a massive splash in the transfer portal Friday morning with the pickup of a premier left-hander from a Southeastern Conference foe.
Oklahoma southpaw Trent Collier is returning to his home state to play for the Aggies in 2027, according to reports from TexAgs’ Richard Zane. Collier pitched for the national-championship-winning Sooners this past season, posting a 3.80 ERA through 23.2 innings pitched and striking out 28 hitters. He was called upon for two appearances in Oklahoma’s postseason run to the national title, allowing no hits with two strikeouts against Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
Collier will come to Bryan-College Station to pitch for the Fightin’ Texas Aggies as a junior for head coach Michael Earley in 2027.
Rebuilding a depleted pitching staff was one of the top priorities for Earley this offseason, after posting a 5.24 team ERA in 2026. Collier is the sixth pitcher to commit to the Aggies out of the transfer portal and the ninth overall addition.
The lefty from Prosper, Texas, began his college career at Weatherford Junior College before landing with the Sooners. He made eight appearances, including nine starts, and earned second-team all-conference for recording a 2.65 ERA and 85 strikeouts across 68.0 innings.
After the program parted ways with Jason Kelly, following the regional final loss to USC in College Station, new pitching coach Barry Enright has reeled in some of the top-rated pitchers in the country this offseason, including Collier. The former Sooners star will have the opportunity to develop under Enright, who had stints in the MLB with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Oklahoma
Four arrested after 30 pounds of meth, dozens of animals seized from Oklahoma City home
Four people are in custody after Oklahoma City police seized approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine and removed dozens of animals from a home in southeast Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Police executed what they confirmed was a drug-related search warrant at a home near Southeast 15th Street and High Avenue. Authorities have not released information about what led investigators to the residence.
Drug Investigation Leads to Large Seizure
According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, officers recovered approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine from the home during the search.
Police said at least four people were taken into custody. Authorities have not released the identities of those arrested or any related charges.
Numerous Animals Removed From Property
Alongside the drug investigation, Oklahoma City Animal Welfare officers assisted in removing numerous animals from the property.
News 9 cameras captured at least 20 dogs being taken from the home, including one wearing a muzzle. Police said a horse, cats, chickens and snakes were also removed.
Neighbors watched as officers spent hours at the residence.
“This is crazy. Like this is literally crazy,” said Nisha who lives nearby.
Another resident said she saw several people in handcuffs but did not initially know what was happening.
“I saw a couple men in handcuffs. I had no idea what was going on until my neighbor,” Dora Garcia said.
Neighbors say they were aware the home had dogs but were shocked by everything else discovered.
“I knew they had dogs. Everybody over here knew they had dogs, but the rest of this is just mind-boggling,” Nisha said.
She also expressed concern about how close the investigation was to her homes.
“Too close for comfort. Way too close for comfort,” Nisha said.
Investigation Continues
Police said the search warrant was related to a drug investigation but have not released additional details about why officers targeted the home.
The investigation remains ongoing. Oklahoma City police said additional information about those in custody is expected to be released as it becomes available.
This is a developing story.
Oklahoma
What Houston Does Better Than Oklahoma State and Why It Matters
Oklahoma State and Houston have an odd tradition dating back to their matchup in 1986. Neither team has won two games in a row.
Since that game in Stillwater in 1986 the Cougars and the Cowboys have alternated victories. Houston won that game in Stillwater, 28-12. The Cowboys followed that with a win in Houston in 1987.
Then the Cougars won in 2006 in Houston, followed by an Oklahoma State win in Stillwater in 2008. The two teams met again in 2009 in Stillwater and Houston won.
That was followed in 2023 by Oklahoma State’s first visit to Houston in Big 12 action with the Cowboys claiming the victory. And, of course, there was Oklahoma State’s loss to Houston last year in Stillwater.
If things hold the form, Oklahoma State will beat Houston this October. But the Cowboys are going to have to overcome something that Houston does better than them.
What Houston Does Better Than Oklahoma State
Given that both teams have talented offenses and have the potential to dominate in the passing game, it’s safe to say that’s a draw. Same for the running game with Caleb Hawkins at Oklahoma State and the incoming Makhi Hughes at Houston.
So, it could come down to who can defend the pass the best. In that area, Houston would have a clear advantage.
In terms of yards allowed in the air last year Houston was No. 10 in the Big 12 and Oklahoma State was No. 13. There wasn’t much separating the pair. But Houston had 12 interceptions to Oklahoma State’s six, and much of that production is coming back in the form of three returning starters. Plus, the Cougars managed to replace some of the lost production with an impressive transfer.
Will James was an All-Big 12 cornerback last year who returns with three interceptions and five pass breakups in what was a breakthrough season for the junior. Both safeties are back after last season as well. Kentrell Webb is more of a ball-hawkish type safety who can also tackle (71 tackles, one interception) while Jordan Allen had 48 tackles and broke up two passes.
New corner Jalen Mayo replaces much of the lost production on the back end. The Stephen F. Austin transfer helped the Lumberjacks win the Southland Conference and an FCS playoff game as he picked off four passes. He’ll combine with James to build a formidable group of cornerbacks that can also count on another transfer, Javion White, in a 4-2-5 formation.
Game planning will be a bit easier for Oklahoma State since it plays the same 4-2-5 scheme. But, on paper, Houston’s secondary looks much better than Oklahoma State’s, which only has one returning starter in LaDanian Fields, who is a sophomore. Fields has two interceptions as a redshirt freshman. But transfers will make up for what else was lost last season.
Given the continuity on Houston’s side, it’s easy to see why their secondary is the thing they do better than Oklahoma State. Of course, the Cowboys have enough runway to nullify that advantage before they meet in October.
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