Oklahoma
3 Sooners Takeaways: Oklahoma Barely Squeaks By Houston; Concern Mounts In Norman
“A win is a win.” Every University of Oklahoma player we talked to after the game said that exact quote. It is true — even if the Sooners won by four points in a game in which they were favored by four touchdowns. But alas, the Sooners are 2-0, just like they are supposed to be.
That said, OU fans have every right to be concerned right now. That leads directly into my first takeaway.
OU is WAY behind schedule
Let’s start with what should be the easiest fix. No more stupid penalties! A silly personal foul penalty stops the clock with under a minute left and forces the Sooners to punt the ball back to the Cougars, giving Houston 29 seconds to try to go win the game. You just can’t leave the door open like that. Especially, not in the SEC.
Now to a harder fix: the offensive struggles. All spring and summer we heard about how new Offensive Coordinators Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley were about to run the ball right down opponents’ throats. Instead, OU rushed for just 75 yards against a team that surrendered nearly 200 a week ago to UNLV. Starting running back Gavin Sawchuk had four carries for four yards. After the game, Brent Venables chalked the run game issues up to struggles across the board.
Coach Venables said, “[There was] too much penetration at times for sure. No doubt, we have to be a lot better,” he added, “[We] need to go back and see if we were making the right cuts and the right reads. We have to make people pay in the back end too- we have to make plays throwing the ball as well.”
To make matters worse, the Sooners don’t have much time to get back on schedule. Tulane took a really good Kansas State team to the wire Saturday and the Green Wave will be hungry when it comes to Norman next Saturday.
OU officially has a ‘3rd down’ problem
Brent Venables had high praise for his punter after the game. Luke Elzinga had 8 punts, pinning 5 of them inside the 20 yard line. Venables also had a concerned chuckle, almost in disbelief, recognizing it probably isn’t a good sign when he’s “coming to a press conference and bragging on our punter.”
The Sooners were 1/12 on third down last week. It was Week 1, and the offensive game plan was vanilla, so there was reason to believe it could be an anomaly. After going 4 of 14 on third downs this week, it is time to sound the alarm.
I asked OC Seth Littrell about the issues after the game. He said, “There were a lot of opportunities that I felt like we had that we did not capitalize on… I have to man up and look myself in the mirror first. We will figure out if they were good or bad calls when it is all said and done. At the end of the day, we have to execute better.”
The most noticeable struggle — a QB draw on 3rd and 11 in Houston territory early in the fourth quarter. The conservative play call picked up 5 yards and a loud collection of boos from the crowd. It would lead to a missed field goal.
An improved run game would help the offense stay on schedule, setting up more third-and-short and third-and-manageable situations. Crucial drops by fill-in wide receivers didn’t help either. Sooner fans are rightfully anxious for Nic Anderson to return to the field… soon!
Defense wins championships… and, apparently, close nonconference games
It wasn’t always pretty on defense (see 44-yard Houston touchdown to open the second half), but in the biggest moments, the defense made its biggest plays.
Early in the fourth quarter, Robert Spears-Jennings jumped a hook route for an interception, setting the offense up inside the red zone. If the Sooners get points there, the game may have been blown wide open.
But they didn’t capitalize.
Then with under two minutes left to play, Gracen Halton makes the play in the backfield for a safety. Those were the only points OU would score in the second half. It also gave the ball back to the Sooners so they could milk the clock. CLUTCH.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Danny Stutsman’s 15 tackles, 12 of them solo tackles. That’s unbelievable from an All-American-caliber linebacker who only seems to be getting better. And one who is still hungry, saying after the game that he didn’t feel like he tackled very well.
Tulane is coming with a vengeance this Saturday… Tennessee making a visit September 21st.
The Sooners better wake up!
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.
The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.
The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.
Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.
Governor Kevin Stitt has said he wants the State Superintendent of Education to be a governor-elected position instead of an elected one. Political analyst Scott Mitchell examines what this would mean for the state.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is urging lawmakers to send a state question to voters that would make the state superintendent an appointed position, as he named Lindel Fields of Tulsa to the role and announced a turnaround team to help implement his education agenda.
Is the State Superintendent an elected role?
Yes, the State Superintendent of Education is still an elected role. Elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
Cons of making the superintendent an appointed position
Mitchell said making this position appointed could cause distrust among some Oklahomans
“Over the years, we’ve seen that capture of regulatory sort of is easy to do when you have term limits, then lobbies become more powerful, and they have all the history. It’s very complicated.
He also said if the position were to be elected, they would likely have the same agenda as the governor.
“Yes, and I think the governor would be absolutely saying, ‘Yes, they’re going to do what I want them to do.’”
Changing how the superintendent is chosen changes what the founding fathers set.
“Voters are going to have to say yay or nay if it gets to them, is whether or not we want to change the way that the founding fathers set up the way that we make sure that power is not concentrated in Oklahoma,” he said.
Is Ryan Walters’ term the reason Stitt wants to make this position appointed?
Mitchell said he believes the former State Superintendent played a role in the government wanting to appoint this position.
During his time as superintendent, Walters was known to have multiple controversies. He resigned in 2025, allowing Stitt to appoint Lindel Fields.
“His impact on this, even though he’s gone, is certainly evident,” said Mitchell. “Walters left midstream, right? And so the governor had a chance to appoint someone. Well, it wasn’t just an appointment; it was chaos before and relative calm and competency after. And that has given the governor an opening for people to see with their own eyes. Yeah, you can put somebody in, we’re talking about Lindel Fields, that appears to get up every day, not trying to find some, get a click on social media, but rather to do his job. And across the board, for the most part, this guy’s getting thumbs up.
Stitt said electing Fields has already given him some leverage since he has been well perceived so far.
“That allows a governor to say, Look, I’ve got some standing, some leverage to go to the voters and say, let’s put expertise as the main reason that a person’s there, not because they were able to win an election because they had some sort of populist or dramatic ideas.”
Who is running for Oklahoma State Superintendent?
Republican Ballot
- Sen. Adam Pugh
- John Cox
- Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
- Ana Landsaw
Democrat Ballot
- Craig Mcvay
- Jennettie Marshall
Independent
To learn more about each candidate, click here.
A full breakdown of candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent race, including party affiliation, background and key education priorities.
An Oklahoma highway could soon be named after the late country superstar, Toby Keith, pending new legislation.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 would rename a proposed turnpike project the “Toby Keith Expressway.” This roadway is set to be built from Interstate 44 East to Interstate-35, continuing East and North to Interstate 40. This road is a part of the ACCESS Oklahoma Long-Range Plan, which is meant to update and expand the state’s turnpike system.
This resolution was adopted by the House on Wednesday.
“Toby Keith was more than a country music star. He was a proud Oklahoman who never forgot where he came from,” said Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore. “Naming this turnpike in his honor is a fitting way to recognize a man who represented our state with ultimate patriotism and generosity.”
Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, raised in Moore and resided in Norman. He died on February 5, 2024, in a battle with cancer.
“Over the course of his legendary career, Toby Keith never forgot where he came from or what he stood for,” said Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman. “His Oklahoma roots shaped him, and his love of America defined him. He was a country music superstar and a true patriot. I can think of no better way to honor his memory than by naming this future stretch of Norman turnpike in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to the legacy he leaves behind.”
During his career, Keith sold over 40 million records and more than 20 number-one singles
Legislation authors believe this would commemorate the life and legacy of Toby Keith.
The bill will now head to the Senate.
To read the full House Resolution, click here.
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