NORMAN — Walking out of the stadium after his team’s 59-14 win over Maine on Saturday afternoon, OU coach Brent Venables crossed paths with one of his staff.
“Storm’s coming,” Venables said with a big grin.
Venables, of course, was talking about the clouds and expected rain that were rolling through the state, causing the game against the Black Bears to be moved up two-and-a-half hours.
But he could just as well have been referencing what his team will face over the final three games of the regular season.
Missouri.
Alabama.
LSU.
The Sooners need at least one victory in that trio — all ranked — to extend their bowl streak to 26 seasons.
It won’t be easy or even expected, but Saturday’s blowout win has the potential to pay dividends for OU’s offense that goes far beyond the gaudy numbers posted against a middling FCS opponent.
“I think it’s a sign of progress for us — the way we prepare, the way we went into the game mentally,” Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold said. “I think it speaks volumes about the coaches and how they prepared us for the week and the game play they put together.”
Jovantae Barnes, who had been one of the few bright spots for the OU offense in recent weeks, exploded.
He had a career-high 203 yards and three touchdowns and added a 19-yard reception.
The Sooners came into the day with one of the worst rushing offenses in FBS but rushed for 381 yards — their most since the 2020 Cotton Bowl win over Florida.
Arnold played efficiently, going 14 of 21 for 224 yards and two touchdowns while running for 45 yards and a score.
But he was also explosive, hitting J.J. Hester for a 90-yard touchdown pass — the longest in Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium history and the longest catch by a Sooner in any game since 1995.
The offensive line started its eighth different combination in nine games but opened up consistent holes for not only Barnes but Taylor Tatum, Sam Franklin and Xavier Robinson as well. And it kept Arnold clean.
The Sooners allowed no sacks after South Carolina and Ole Miss had nine each in wins over OU. Ole Miss was originally credited with 10 sacks but one was changed after review as Arnold was attempting to run.
OU had 402 yards of offense in the first half — more than they’d had in any complete game this season. They finished with 665 yards, their most since posting 672 yards against Texas Tech in 2022.
Again, it was against Maine but the Sooners said there was tangible progress that could pay off down the stretch.
“Today was a testament to what we can do on offense,” tight end Kaden Helms said. “I’m honestly really proud of the guys. We haven’t flinched. Things haven’t gone our way the whole season but every single day we come to practice ready — ready to work ready to do our job and ready to just fight for each other.”
The Sooners had 14 big plays — rushing plays of 10 or more yards or passing plays of 15 or more yards.
They hadn’t had more than 10 such plays in any game this season.
Two of those plays Saturday went for touchdowns. Seven more gave the Sooners the ball inside the red zone.
“You put pressure on the other team when you have an explosive touchdown,” Venables said. “Next thing you know, they have to play everything differently.”
Then there’s the offensive line, which was missing starters Michael Tarquin, Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor.
The Sooners started redshirt freshmen Heath Ozaeta and Logan Howland there. True freshmen Eddy Pierre-Louis, Isaiah Autry-Dent and Daniel Akinkunmi saw significant action as well.
Venables said the difference was palpable even considering the opponent.
“Just targeting people, finishing blocks, playing through the whistle, playing physical, playing sure of themselves, not catching but attacking,” Venables said. “… It doesn’t have anything to do with them. It’s us. And doing the things that you’re coached to do and doing that at a high level and doing it with the physicality and an effort standpoint that you … look back and you’re like, ‘OK, that’s what it looks like,’ so you can build off that.”
And then there’s the confidence aspect with a largely young group.
“With what’s going on this season, it hasn’t always been the best, but today was great, a good confidence builder,” center Troy Everett said. “We were able to run the ball efficiently, get a lot of young guys in there.”
Two sets of Tigers and the Crimson Tide will pose much more of a threat than the Black Bears, but Saturday at least provided some hope that the Sooners still might be able to salvage something out of what has felt in recent weeks like a lost season.
“It’s good to get back on the winning train,” Arnold said, “and hopefully these last couple of games, this last stretch we just stay on that winning train.”
KICKOFF: 6:45 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. (SEC Network)
While influenza remains the top concern for Maine public health experts, other viruses are also currently circulating, including norovirus and COVID-19.
“Influenza is clearly the main event,” said Dr. Cheryl Liechty, a MaineHealth infectious disease specialist. “The curve in terms of the rise of influenza cases was really steep.”
Maine reported 1,343 flu cases for the week ending Jan. 3, an uptick from the 1,283 cases recorded the previous week, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalizations increased to 147 from 108 during the same time periods.
“I hope the peak is now,” Liechty said, “but I’m not really sure.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday that all of New England, except for Vermont, is currently experiencing “very high” levels of influenza. Vermont is in the “moderate” category.
“What we are seeing, overwhelmingly, is the flu,” said Andrew Donovan, associate vice president of infection prevention for Northern Light Health. “We are seeing both respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses in our patients.”
Norovirus also appears to be circulating, although due to its short duration and because it’s less severe than the flu, public health data on the illness — which causes gastrointestinal symptoms that typically resolve within a few days — is not as robust.
“Norovirus is the gastrointestinal scourge of New England winters and cruise ships,” Liechty said.
According to surveillance data at wastewater treatment plants in Portland, Bangor and Lewiston, norovirus levels detected in those communities are currently “high.” The treatment plants participate in WastewaterSCAN, which reports virus levels in wastewater through a program run by Stanford University and Emory University.
Dr. Genevieve Whiting, a Westbrook pediatrician and secretary of the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said viruses are prevalent right now, especially the flu and norovirus.
“For my patients right now, it’s a rare encounter that I hear everyone in a family has been healthy,” Whiting said. “I’ve had families come in and say their entire family has had norovirus. Several of my patients have had ER visits for suspected norovirus, where they needed IV fluids because they were dehydrated.”
Both Liechty and Whiting said they are seeing less respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, likely because there has been good uptake of the new RSV vaccine, which is recommended for older people and those who are pregnant. The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023.
“The RSV vaccine has been a real success, as RSV was a leading cause of hospitalizations for babies,” Whiting said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases increased to 610 in the final week of 2025, compared to 279 the previous week. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations are available at primary care, pharmacies and clinics across the state.
“If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet,” Liechty said, “you should beat a hasty path to get your shot.”
Defensemen Max Wanner was re-assigned to the Maine Mariners from the Providence Bruins on Thursday. Defenseman Michael Underwood was also re-assigned to Maine.
Wanner, 22, was acquired by the Boston Bruins when they traded Trent Federic to Edmonton last March. He played in 15 games for the AHL Providence Bruins at the end of last season, and seven this season.
Underwood returns for his second stint with the Mariners. He appeared in 67 games with Maine last season.
2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
Power bank feature creep is out of control
Defensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
Viral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
Pat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
Oregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska
Nebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek
Damon Wilson II, Missouri DE in legal dispute with Georgia, to re-enter transfer portal: Source
