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.”

OU football grades vs Maine: Jovantae Barnes, game-time change get high marks for Sooners

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.”

More: How much is OU football paying Maine for Week 10 game in Norman?

OU at Missouri

KICKOFF: 6:45 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. (SEC Network)