NORMAN — Jake Taylor’s return to the lineup against Auburn brought Oklahoma’s offensive line some much-needed stability. 

It was just the second time the OU right tackle has been able to take the field this year, and his return meant that the Sooners’ starting unit all rolled out together for the first time in 2024. 

Taylor started against Houston, though he exited that game early, but he finished all four quarters in OU’s 27-21 win over the Tigers last Saturday after battling injuries for the first month of the season. 

“I was fortunate enough to play in Houston for about a quarter and a half,” Taylor said on Wednesday. “Even that experience was amazing. Was able to play all of Auburn. Great competition, knocked the rust off and stuff like that. It’s been an amazing experience. Definitely been having to be tough through this journey, but almost to the end of the bumps and bruises journey to say the least.”

As a result of Taylor’s return, Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line had its best game from a simple communication standpoint, even in the face of Auburn’s rowdy crowd. 

“They were much more consistent,” OU coach Brent Venables said. “Our communication was cleaner. Everything was cleaner from how we’re targeting and our protection was really pretty good.”

The Sooners gave up a season-low two sacks, though there are still gains that need to be made in the running game. 

Those improvements will come, Oklahoma hopes, as the offensive line continues to build chemistry. 

For Taylor, though, Saturday’s win was about knocking off some of the cobwebs because it’s been a long time since he’s played four quarters of football. 

“Me and my family talked about — the last time I played a full game was back in senior year of high school (during) one of the four out-of-state games,” Taylor said. “Because (with) Las Vegas competition, you were out at halftime. So it was definitely rough on the body, to say the least. Conditioning wise, you got into the game a little over halfway through, but didn’t really help being out the majority of the start of the year, too.”

Oklahoma’s coaching staff is aware it will take a few weeks for Taylor to fully get back to where he was before the injuries on the conditioning front. 

“Obviously there’s some rust for him, the endurance piece,” Venables said. “And some of the limitations that you have when you’re out, so the things that you can’t do — maybe it’s weight room and some of your lower body strength and stuff like that — and when you’re out several weeks, that adds up quick. And you lose — physically you can lose a lot quick.”

But Taylor will have two weeks to work throughout practice to get ready to face off against No. 2 Texas’ talented defensive line. As the physical work to get fully into game shape continues, Venables is pleased with the mental edge Taylor brings every day. 

“He’s worked hard to get himself back where he needs to be and it was good to get him back,” Venables said. “He’s a long athletic guy that has been in the system for a while, and so if he does make a mistake, he quickly understands that it’s not real complicated for him.”

Taylor is just excited to continue to work with the starting offensive line, as the unit has faith it can still take a massive step forward as the Sooners enter this key stretch to take on the Longhorns, South Carolina and No. 12 Ole Miss. 

“Getting a stable O-line out there is amazing to see,” Taylor said,

“Course, all of us are going through some stuff. When we’re able to get rest up — this bye week is gonna be great for that — we’re just gonna get closer. The chemistry’s gonna get tighter. We’re just gonna be better overall.”

Oklahoma football hasn’t looked pretty through five games into its first season in the SEC — but will certainly take a 4-1 record heading into its bye week, all things considered.

The Sooners’ offense has been the worst in the conference this season, ranking last of 16 teams in total offense (297.8 yards per game) this season. They also benched five-star sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold in the second quarter of their game 25-15 loss to Tennessee, replacing him with true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., who led Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1 SEC) to a 27-21 comeback win over Auburn in Week 5.

REQUIRED READING: Did OU football find right offensive line mix vs. Auburn? ‘Getting the continuity’

Oklahoma faced a 21-10 deficit but came back and won 27-21, thanks to a 63-yard pick-six by linebacker Kip Lewis with just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter to take a 22-21 lead. Hawkins Jr. flipped into the end zone for a 2-point conversion to give the Sooners a three-point lead that ballooned to six points after a Zach Schmit 39-yard field goal.

Now the Sooners have two weeks to prepare against archrival No. 1 Texas (5-0, 1-0), one of the top contenders for the College Football Playoff national championship. They’ll also hope to get some of their top receivers back for the Red River Rivalry.

Here’s everything to know about Oklahoma’s bye week for Week 6 of the college football season:

REQUIRED READING: OU football injury updates: Deion Burks, Taylor Tatum ‘potentially’ available vs. Texas

Does Oklahoma play today?

The Sooners are idle in Week 6 of the college football season, giving them an extra week to prepare for No. 1 Texas at the Cotton Bowl on Oct. 12. The Longhorns are also idle for Week 6, meaning both teams have ample preparation time for the first Red River Rivalry as SEC opponents.

Oklahoma has one more week off this season on Nov. 16, a week after it travels to Missouri and a week before it hosts Alabama.

Watch select Oklahoma football games live on Fubo (free trial)

Oklahoma football schedule 2024

Here’s Oklahoma’s full 2024 schedule:

All times Central.

• Friday, Aug. 30: vs. Temple (W, 51-3)
• Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Houston (W, 16-12)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Tulane (W, 34-19)
• Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Tennessee (L, 25-15)
• Saturday, Sept. 28: at Auburn* (W, 27-21)
• Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
• Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. No. 1 Texas* (Dallas) | 2:30 p.m. | ABC (ESPN+ and Fubo)
• Saturday: Oct. 19: vs. South Carolina*
• Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 11 Ole Miss*
• Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. Maine | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN+, SEC Network +
• Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 9 Missouri*
• Saturday, Nov. 16: BYE
• Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 4 Alabama*
• Saturday, Nov. 30: at No. 12 LSU*

*Denotes conference game

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DURANT, Oklahoma (KXII) – There’s a new statue at Southeastern Oklahoma University that’s part of an old story.

The statue of the “Two Brothers” weighs 1700 pounds and symbolizes the bond between the Choctaw and the Chickasaw nations.

“We recognize and honor the historic connection between the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which started many years before the story of the two brothers, Chiksa’ and Chatah, even began,” SOSU Student Senator Alexander Robinson said.

Before the Choctaw and the Chickasaw, there was just one tribe, led by two brothers.

Eventually, the brothers parted peacefully, each taking a part of the tribe with them.

The sculpture captures that very moment.

“It has been long known that we needed to create something to commemorate the importance of these two huge tribes and how important they are to the students that come here,” artist Jane Umsted said.

To this day, though they are separate, the two tribes work hand in hand.

They chose the SOSU campus because leadership in both tribes strongly believe in education.

Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Chickasaw Governor Bill Anoatubby said, when the youth excel, the whole tribe excels.

Before this ceremony, SOSU did not have any bronze art on campus. Now, the growing school is home to a piece of the past — and a model for the future.

“What we’re trying to do for our kids, for our grandkids, that’s so important to us, and the legacies we want to leave behind,” Choctaw Chief Gary Batton said. “A lot of times, I hope I’m just living out the vision our ancestors set for us many many years ago.”

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