A 6 p.m. CT kickoff supplies a unbelievable alternative to look at an amazing day of soccer as we prepare for Oklahoma’s week two matchup with the Kent State Golden Flashes.
The Sooners come into this sport as heavy favorites and will come away with one other decisive victory to start out the season.
It was a dominant efficiency towards UTEP, however there have been nonetheless some areas that the Oklahoma Sooners wanted to enhance as they ready for week two. Our Ben Dackiw checked out 5 issues the Sooners wanted to work on this week forward of their matchup with Kent State.
Surrounding the sport, the Sooners can be internet hosting a number of prospects from the 2023 recruiting class and past. Gamers like Cayden Inexperienced and Heath Ozaeta, who’ve dedicated, and four-star line of defense goal Jordan Renaud. Our Bryant Crews outlines the prospects confirmed to be in attendance Saturday night time.
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There are a number of gamers on each the offensive and defensive sides of the ball that we’ll be watching in Oklahoma’s matchup with Kent State.
And as you prepare for tonight’s matchup, check out how we see this one enjoying out with our Sooners Wire workers predictions.
Open up the Passing Recreation
Sep 3, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) throws throughout the first half towards the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Household-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities
The Oklahoma Sooners didn’t want Dillon Gabriel to throw the soccer a lot of their win over UTEP. And that probably gained’t be the case this week towards Kent State. Although they gained’t must, Kent State supplies a unbelievable alternative to get extra reside passing sport reps in earlier than your highway journey to Nebraska subsequent weekend.
Attempt to get Dillon Gabriel to 30 cross makes an attempt simply to assist the passing offense discover a higher rhythm. Give the offensive line a bit extra work in cross units and permit the large receivers to get extra alternatives within the deep passing sport.
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Gabriel was simply 1 of 5 on passes 20 yards down the sector final week. For the Sooners passing assault to be a risk downfield, it’s going to have to be extra environment friendly than that.
Washington quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. threw for 345 yards and 4 touchdowns towards Kent State every week in the past. There can be alternatives to take some photographs down the sector and Oklahoma must take them.
Jalen Redmond breakout sport incoming
Oklahoma’s Jalen Redmond (31) chases UTEP’s Gavin Hardison (2) throughout a school soccer sport between the College of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Household – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Oklahoma gained 45-13. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Kent State quarterback Colin Schee was below strain on 13 of his 27 dropbacks of their week one loss to Washington. That’s almost 50% of his dropbacks.
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In week one, the Sooners created strain on simply 14 of UTEP quarterback Gavin Hardison’s 49 dropbacks. It was a strong sport from the cross rush, however this week has the prospect for a fair larger influence. Specifically from defensive deal with Jalen Redmond.
Redmond had three pressures towards UTEP. He had Hardison in his grasp a number of occasions however couldn’t deliver down the massive quarterback. His skill to hurry the passer is Redmond’s biggest energy, and because the Sooners try and get strain with simply their entrance 4, Redmond will have to be on the middle of that effort.
Redmond has flashed at occasions all through his Oklahoma profession. He led the Sooners in sacks in 2019 and had some unbelievable moments final yr regardless of accidents taking a toll.
So shut a number of occasions to creating a play in week one, Redmond is the Oklahoma Sooner that finishes Saturday’s sport with a number of sacks.
Run it again in a Main means
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Sep 3, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners operating again Marcus Main (24) celebrates with Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Tyler Guyton (60) after scoring a landing throughout the second half towards the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Household-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities
Eric Grey is the beginning operating again for this workforce. Of that there’s little doubt. On the similar time, let’s see a bit extra Marcus Main this week.
Main ran arduous within the season opener on his option to 57 yards and two touchdowns. He solely carried the ball seven occasions. He gained’t overtake Grey after the lead again ran for 102 yards and added 33 yards by means of the air, however that doesn’t imply Main shouldn’t see some extra work.
His power and physicality soar off the display and may be tone-setters for a workforce that wishes to be bodily. Get Main to 10 carries on this sport and provides him some work on the second drive to assist set up Oklahoma’s bodily presence.
Lower down on the penalties
Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners walks arm in arm together with his workforce earlier than a sport towards the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Household Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 3, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. Brian Bahr/Getty Photos
Penalties may be drive-killers for an offense, particularly one that wishes to play quick because the Oklahoma Sooners do. Defensively, it could possibly result in factors prefer it did final week towards UTEP.
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The Oklahoma Sooners had seven penalties for 59 yards on the day. Oklahoma was adequate to beat them final weekend, and even when they’ve extra penalties and yards towards Kent State, they’ll be adequate to take action once more Saturday night. Nevertheless, they will not be as lucky after they face more durable competitors sooner or later.
Defensive cross interference penalties are going to occur. That’s simply a part of the sport, however they’ve to chop down on the false begin penalties, particularly in an offense predicated on tempo and much more so once you’re enjoying at house.
Last Tune Up
Sep 3, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables sings the college track together with his workforce after the sport towards the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Household-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities
This can be a actual sport, and it issues. The primary precedence is successful the sport. Moreover, this sport permits Oklahoma to work out sure issues earlier than they prepare for his or her highway journey to face Nebraska and their Huge 12 schedule.
Each week will present alternatives to grasp the depth chart higher. Nonetheless, towards a lesser opponent like Kent State, the Sooners ought to have the ability to play lots of gamers like they did final week after they performed greater than 60 gamers on their roster.
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They nonetheless must work out how they’ll large receiver rotation will work past Marvin Mims and Theo Wease. With their defensive deal with group enjoying so effectively towards UTEP, it seems to be like they’ve a deep rotation there too. However this week supplies one other alternative for the highest 4 guys, Jeffery Johnson, Isaiah Coe, Jalen Redmond, and Jordan Kelley, to additional solidify the rotation.
This week supplies one other alternative for the Oklahoma Sooners to reply any lingering questions as they head into the meat of their schedule.
Surroundings
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables shakes palms with followers after Saturday’s 45-13 victory over UTEP in Norman. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
There was lots of speak in regards to the crowd for the season opener vs. the UTEP Miners. It was an extremely scorching day at kickoff, forcing some to search out protection from the solar, significantly within the scholar part. That gained’t be the case Saturday night when the Sooners host Kent State.
There’s nothing like an evening school soccer sport. Loss of life Vally in Baton Rouge or an evening sport in Lubbock supplies unimaginable backdrops for a soccer sport. Oklahoma has the potential to search out that gear as effectively, with a passionate fan base.
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On a workforce that wishes to create elite defenses, crowd noise could be a enormous issue. On essential third downs, when the opponent is backed into their very own finish zone and when the opposite workforce is lining as much as kick could make for alternatives for the followers in attendance to have an effect. A raucous, noisy atmosphere can create communication points and play a job in disrupting timing.
There can be higher retention this week as the sport goes alongside. The temperature can be 87 levels at kickoff and 77 levels by halftime. The climate gained’t hinder folks from staying within the stands.
With key video games at house this season towards Kansas State, Baylor, and Oklahoma State, the gang can be a key issue within the end result of the sport.
Let’s go, Sooner Nation!
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When Ben Arbuckle stepped foot on campus at Canadian High School in 2010, coach Chris Koetting felt like he had a crystal ball.
A freshman quarterback at the time, Arbuckle made an immediate impression on Koetting, who mentally made a bold prediction.
“I knew he was going to do big things in football,” Koetting said.
Fast forward more than a decade, and some might think Koetting is a fortune teller.
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Arbuckle, only 29, has already become a successful coach at the collegiate level. He accepted the offensive coordinator job at Oklahoma in December, following stints at Washington State and Western Kentucky.
Now he’s tasked with breathing new life into an Oklahoma offense that was among the worst in college football in 2024. Those who know him are confident he’ll succeed.
Canadian, TX, located on the far-right end of the Texas Panhandle, has a population of just 2,339 — so just about everybody knows everybody else.
Arbuckle’s high school career made him an even more recognizable name in the small town.
In his final two seasons of high school, Arbuckle passed for 7,500 yards and 95 touchdowns. He led the Wildcats to the UIL 2A state quarterfinals as a senior.
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While most of Arbuckle’s high school highlights are passing-related, it’s where he first dove into instructing others.
Canadian’s backup for Arbuckle’s final two seasons was Tanner Schafer, who later played at OU. After waiting behind Arbuckle and learning from him, Schafer led Canadian to back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015.
“(Ben) has helped a lot of quarterbacks along the way, not just as a coach,” Koetting said. “He’s special.”
After high school, Arbuckle took two seasons off from playing football before joining West Texas A&M’s program in 2016. Located in Canyon, just outside of Amarillo, Arbuckle continued to learn more about the game on a small scale.
He spent half of the 2016 season as the Buffaloes’ starter, completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns. Arbuckle didn’t start in 2017, but he was WTAM’s top backup, appearing in 10 games.
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While Arbuckle didn’t break records at West Texas A&M, his time there showed others his work ethic, killer instinct and love for the game — traits that have allowed him to succeed as a college coach.
“I definitely learned about Ben’s competitiveness from my time playing,” said Allen Roberson, who played with Arbuckle at WTAM as a defensive end. “It was always fun competing each day against the offense in practice. As a QB, it’s always important to learn and process quickly. Ben always showed that, along with his enthusiasm and fun spirit every day.”
Arbuckle’s love for the game really shined through at his first collegiate coaching stop.
Immediately after graduating from West Texas A&M, Arbuckle joined the staff at Houston Baptist (now Houston Christian), which competes at the NCAA Division I FCS level.
Arbuckle was an unpaid quality control assistant for the Huskies — and it got his foot in the door to where he wanted to be.
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Koetting guided Arbuckle as he entered the college coaching realm. And it didn’t surprise Arbuckle’s high school coach that he’d be willing to coach for free — or take a second job as a food delivery driver to make ends meet.
“His trail to get to where he’s at right now is kind of crazy,” Koetting said. “His work ethic is something else.”
After that, Arbuckle returned to the Texas Panhandle for one year, serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Seminole High School.
Arbuckle then landed his first paid college coaching job at Western Kentucky, where he started as an offensive quality control assistant. He was then promoted to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Hilltoppers in 2022, helping lead the nation’s No. 1 passing offense (433.7 passing yards per game) with eventual NFL quarterback Bailey Zappe.
That instant success helped Arbuckle land the same job at Washington State.
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The body of work is just three years for Arbuckle-led college football offenses, but he hasn’t missed yet. After heading a successful air-raid system at WKU, he was just as successful in Pullman.
In 2023, Arbuckle worked with Cam Ward — who later transferred to Miami (FL) and was a 2024 Heisman finalist — and produced a passing offense that was fourth nationally with 336.8 yards per game.
A year later, Arbuckle ran an offense with John Mateer, who recently transferred to Oklahoma. The Cougars finished 2024 with 30 passing touchdowns, which was sixth in the nation.
“One of the best offensive minds in the last several decades in college football,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said in December. “He has his own report — everything that I continue to look at.”
Now, Arbuckle heads to his biggest program yet — and it’s a full-circle journey for him.
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Canadian is just over three hours away from Norman, and his wife, Lauren, grew up a die-hard OU fan. On their first date, Arbuckle took Lauren to an Oklahoma game.
Game day for those two will look quite different when Arbuckle takes the reins in the fall. But it’s a return to the place that sparked their love for one another and Arbuckle’s love for OU.
“Here we are 12 years later, and we’re very proud to be here,” Arbuckle said on the National Signing Day show on Sooner Sports TV in December. “We’re ready to get this thing rolling.”
In addition to Arbuckle’s short-but-impressive resume and his family ties, his leadership is what those closest to him think will stand out.
Rosemary Koetting, Chris’ wife, described Arbuckle as a “player’s coach” who is kind, intelligent and competitive.
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“He makes everybody feel important,” Rosemary Koetting said. “Kids flock to him.”
Jett Niu, a 3-star quarterback prospect who signed with OU in December after Arbuckle’s hiring, had similar first impressions.
Arbuckle recruited Niu to Washington State early in his recruiting process, but the quarterback prospect ultimately chose to commit to Oklahoma State. But the two kept in touch even after Niu’s OSU commitment, and once Arbuckle landed in Norman, it was a no-brainer for him to flip.
“I love the way that he coaches and talks to his players,” Niu said. “He really just develops them.”
At 29 years old, Arbuckle is just over a decade older than Niu. His new coordinator’s youth — plus his proven track record with Zappe, Ward and Mateer — excites the Sooners’ incoming signal caller.
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“He’s developed multiple quarterbacks that have been successful in college football, and I think I can be one of them,” Niu said. “We’re going to have a great next couple of years.”
Arbuckle’s time in Norman could span more than a decade. It could last only a year. Regardless, Koetting thinks Arbuckle is the right man for the job.
But wherever Arbuckle’s coaching career takes him, Koetting will always see him as the small-town quarterback that he predicted to one day be a star.
“I have coached a lot of great quarterbacks, and he’s been my favorite,” Koetting said. “He’s one of ours. He’s special, and I can tell you that.”
The Texas A&M Aggies (8-7) will try to stop a three-game road skid when taking on the Oklahoma Sooners (13-3) on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at Lloyd Noble Center, airing at 5:00 PM ET on SEC Network.
Texas A&M is coming off of a 90-49 loss to South Carolina in its last game on Thursday.
Prepare for this matchup with everything you need to know about Sunday’s college hoops action.
Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
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Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M: How to watch on TV or live stream
Watch women’s college basketball on Fubo!
Texas A&M scoring
The Sooners put up 24.5 more points than the Aggies allow (64.8).
Oklahoma is 13-3 when scoring more than 64.8 points.
Oklahoma is 8-7 versus the spread and 13-3 overall when scoring more than 64.8.
Texas A&M is 2-3 versus the spread and has an 8-5 record overall when conceding fewer than 89.3 points.
Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M computer pick
Prediction: Oklahoma 81, Texas A&M 62
Watch women’s college basketball on Fubo!
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STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Stailee Heard scored 18 points and Oklahoma State made the clutch plays down the stretch to upset No. 17 West Virginia 64-57 on Saturday.
The Cowgirls were sitting on a 6-57 lead when they missed a 3-pointer put Heard snagged the rebound and scored on a putback. As the Mountaineers attacked the basket on the other end, Tenin Magassa came up with a big block.
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When West Virginia missed its last three shots in the final 30 seconds of the game Alexia Smith grabbed teh rebounds and she contributed the final points from the foul line with 11.4 seconds left.
Anna Gret Asi added 12 points and Micah Gray 11 for the Cowgirls (14-2, 4-1 Big 12 Conference), who are off to their best start since going 17-1 in 2013-14. Smith had 12 rebounds and Magass had five blocks.
Kylee Blacksten scored 16 points to lead West Virginia (13-3, 3-2) but only had three after the first quarter. JJ Quinerly added 10, nine below her average.
Oklahoma State was averaging more than 85 points a game but won two games in a row scoring 64. The Cowgirls held Cincinnati to 48 points and West Virginia to 27 below their league-leading average of 84.
Heard’s three-point play three minutes into the fourth quarter had the Cowgirls up 58-47 but West Virginia scored the next seven to get with 58-55 with 2:54 to play as Oklahoma State was missing seven-straight shots.
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Blacksten started and ended a 12-0 run with 3-pointers that gave the Mountaineers a 17-7 lead but Gray and Asi hit consecutive 3s and the Cowgirls got within 24-23 at the end of the first quarter.
The two teams combined to make 17 of 29 shots with Blacksten scoring 13 points.
The teams cooled off the the second quarter, combining tor 7-of-23 shooting and 10 turnovers but West Virginia upped the lead to 38-33 at halftime.
Oklahoma State scored the first seven points of the third quarter and outscored the Mountaineers 17-7 to take a 50-45 lead into the fourth quarter. The Cowgirls made just 2 of 15 shots and had six turnovers as only two players score. Six different players scored for OSU, which went 7 of 10.
Oklahoma State plays at Houston on Tuesday. Colorado is at West Virginia on Wednesday.
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