After a two-day stretch brought losses for all three of the Big 12 teams ranked in the top 10 including his third-ranked Kansas squad, Jayhawks coach Bill Self said the importance of this weekend’s games is elevated.
Which NFL team lands Jim Harbaugh as their next head coach?
“The depth of the league’s great,” Self said. “You’re going into Week 2 (of Big 12 play) and there’s must-win games. Who would’ve ever thought in a 19-game season you’d have must-win games going into Week 2, but that’s kind of how it feels right now for not only us but for others as well.”
Saturday, Self’s No. 3 Jayhawks take on No. 9 Oklahoma in Lawrence, Kan.
Advertisement
Both teams are looking for bounce-back games after Wednesday road losses.
Kansas fell to Big 12 newcomer UCF 65-60 to snap a nine-game winning streak while Oklahoma’s three-game winning streak ended with an 80-71 loss at TCU.
For the Sooners (13-2, 1-1 Big 12), Saturday’s game is a chance to break their long losing streak to the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse before Oklahoma makes the move to the SEC next season.
The Sooners haven’t won in Lawrence since 1993, dropping 22 consecutive games in the historic venue.
Saturday’s game will be the third the teams have played in Lawrence as top 10 opponents during that streak.
Advertisement
In 2016, the top-ranked Jayhawks beat No. 2 Oklahoma 109-106 in triple overtime. In 2002, No. 4 Kansas beat the No. 5 Sooners 74-67.
While there have been several blowouts during the stretch, plenty of the matchups have been close, including four of the past five.
The Jayhawks (13-2, 1-1) have won five straight games against the Sooners. Their last matchup was a Kansas 78-55 victory on Norman, Okla. Prior to that game, Kansas’ four wins came by a combined 16 points.
Kansas averages 12.9 turnovers per game, but the Jayhawks have turned the ball over 18 times in each of their first two Big 12 games.
“We’ve got to take care of the ball,” Self said. “We did some things that I think good teams shouldn’t do.”
Advertisement
Oklahoma is forcing just 13.3 turnovers per game, and just 7.5 per game in their first two conference games.
Otega Oweh entered Big 12 play as the Sooners’ leading scorer, but he has set a season low in scoring in each of the past two games, going a combined 2 for 10 from the field and 1 for 7 from inside the arc. He is averaging 14.3 points per game.
Oklahoma has moved the ball well lately, with 36 assists on their 50 made shots over the past two games.
“It is our system,” Sooners coach Porter Moser said. “Pace is space and taking that. …. That’s really good basketball. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, who is averaging 18.9 points per game, was limited to 28 minutes in Wednesday’s loss. It was Dickinson’s fewest minutes since early Nov. 10.
Advertisement
Self said Dickinson was dealing with what he called a “bad knee.”
“I don’t know,” Self said when asked if Dickinson’s health needed to be monitored moving forward. “I don’t think so. It’s just a bruised knee, but we’ll see. We’ve been really fortunate — knock on wood — with our health so far because we don’t have a lot of depth.”
The Oklahoma Sooners are continuing to rebuild their wide receiver room through the transfer portal. After the 2024 season saw the top five wideouts miss all or the vast majority of the season due to injuries, and three of those five players decided not to come back, Brent Venables and his coaching staff have been hard at work building back the wide receiver depth chart in stronger, healthier fashion.
Oklahoma has now added former Arkansas Razorbacks wideout Isaiah Sategna in the transfer portal, marking the third WR that will be transferring to Norman.
Javonnie Gibson (Arkansas Pine-Bluff) and Keontez Lewis (Southern Illinois) will have some work to do when it comes to playing in the SEC, but Sategna will be right at home in college football’s toughest conference. That trio will join returners Deion Burks and Jayden Gibson to try and help the wide receiver room rebound.
Sategna is a smaller receiver at 5’11 and 185 pounds, but he managed to haul in 37 receptions for 491 yards this season. He also had a punt return touchdown for the Hogs.
Advertisement
There’s still plenty of work to be done when it comes to remaking OU’s wide receiver depth chart, but three additions in a few days is a good start.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has been in operation for 77 years with the goal of creating and maintaining Oklahoma’s turnpike systems.
Executive Director Joe Echelle spoke with News On 6 about various topics surrounding the OTA including why it hasn’t invested in a high-speed rail system despite having the authority to do so.
Has the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) considered implementing train systems or parking garages?
According to Joe Echelle, Executive Director of the OTA, there are provisions in state statute that allow for the potential development of parking garages or train systems under the agency’s purview. However, these concepts have not materialized due to their immense costs and logistical challenges.
Advertisement
What are the challenges of building a train system between Oklahoma City and Tulsa?
Echelle explained that constructing a high-speed rail system between the two cities would cost billions of dollars. Beyond the upfront expense, the operational logistics make it difficult to justify such a project.
“In order to affect the number of vehicles that travel the Turner Turnpike, which is north of 40,000 vehicles on a weekday, you’d need to get thousands of people on a train. That’s just not feasible,” said Echelle.
Factors like frequency, ridership demand, and infrastructure costs all contribute to the challenge.
Could other forms of transportation, like buses, be more feasible?
Advertisement
Echelle believes there is potential for alternative solutions, such as an express bus service connecting Oklahoma City and Tulsa. He pointed to the success of the OSU bus system, which transports students between campuses in Stillwater, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City.
“As we get the Turner Turnpike widened, I think it’s a real possibility to get an express bus service. But first, we need to address congestion by separating truck traffic from commuter lanes,” Echelle said.
To be clear, OTA wouldn’t have any role in creating or maintaining a bus service, but Echelle believes the expanded turnpike would be able to facilitate one.
Why is expanding the Turner Turnpike prioritized over alternative transportation?
Echelle said the Turner Turnpike currently handles traffic effectively, but ongoing efforts to expand it to six lanes aim to improve flow and address future congestion. Echelle emphasized that widening the turnpike will allow truck traffic to remain in the outer lanes, giving commuters smoother travel options in the inner lanes.
Advertisement
Could parking garages still be part of OTA’s future?
While state law includes provisions for parking infrastructure, the focus for the OTA remains on improving roadways and exploring more viable transportation alternatives.
What is OTA’s overall vision for transportation in Oklahoma?
Echelle stated that a well-rounded transportation network, which includes trains, buses, and rapid transit, is essential for the state’s growing metropolitan areas. However, practical solutions like express bus services are more likely in the near term, especially as the Turner Turnpike widening progresses.
Report Card: Oklahoma moves to 11-0 with an 87-86 win over Michigan
The No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners are now 11-0 after a wild 87-86 win over No. 24 Michigan, erasing an 11-point second-half deficit. Freshman Jeremiah Fears was the star down the stretch, finishing with 30 points, including a game-winning four-point play in the final seconds, to push OU to victory.
Advertisement
Fears wasn’t alone. Duke Miles contributed 17 points, with three big three-pointers, including a clutch shot during a 9-0 run that gave the Sooners their first lead of the second half. Jalon Moore also had 16 points before fouling out late.
The two seven-footers for Michigan — Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf — were a tough matchup for OU, as they are for most teams. Goldin dropped 26 points, while Wolf added 15. Both grabbed 10 rebounds for double-doubles.
Tre Donaldson (14 points) and Roddy Gayle (15 points) also had solid performances for Michigan. But in the end, it was Fears’ late heroics that sealed it for the Sooners. Now, let’s dive into the Report Card from Oklahoma’s ranked win:
MVP: Jeremiah Fears
Advertisement
It was a slower first half for Fears, but he continued to get to the line, drawing fouls at a high rate and racking up points from the free throw line. In the second half, though, he broke loose, scoring 20 of his career-high 30 points, including the game-winning four-point play.
In 34 minutes of action, Fears also recorded five turnovers and four assists. He shot 8-12 from the field, 3-4 from behind the arc, and 11-13 from the free throw line—making his 30-point performance even more impressive.
Oklahoma needed big-time shot-making from their guards if they were going to pull this one out, and Fears delivered, showcasing why he’s likely a future NBA lottery pick.
Fears has proven to be the biggest difference-maker in Porter Moser’s tenure at Oklahoma. The Sooners simply haven’t had a player who can do what he does. He showed the clutch gene that could make a huge impact as OU heads into SEC play.
Starting Five: A-minus
Fears was phenomenal, but Miles’ impressive play down the stretch cannot be overlooked. Oklahoma starts three guards, and we’ve seen each of them have their nights scoring-wise. The recipe for success, though, is having two of those guards clicking at once, and tonight, Fears and Miles delivered.
Advertisement
Miles totaled 17 points — 15 of which came in the second half — on 5-11 shooting from the field, 3-6 from behind the arc, and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. He hit several clutch shots, including one three-pointer that gave Oklahoma their first lead of the night.
Moore also contributed, adding 16 points on 4-12 shooting from the field and 3-5 from deep, despite being in foul trouble for much of the night. He ultimately fouled out late in the second half.
Sam Godwin chipped in with 6 points and 7 rebounds on 3-6 shooting, while Kobe Elvis added 5 points on 2-7 shooting, including 1-4 from behind the arc. With Fears going for 30, Miles putting up 17, and Moore adding 16, the starters had a strong night overall.
Bench: B-plus
Glenn Taylor stepped up in a big way for Oklahoma. Playing 29 minutes — second most on the team — Taylor totaled 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. He shot 3-5 from the field and 2-4 from behind the arc.
Advertisement
Taylor was a key defensive presence throughout the entire game, but he also contributed offensively, particularly in the first half. He scored 8 first-half points and hit two timely three-pointers. His all-around play, making several small but important contributions, helped Oklahoma secure the win.
In other bench news: Luke Northweather scored 2 points on 1-2 shooting in 14 minutes, while Brycen Goodine added 2 points on 1-2 shooting in 11 minutes. Dayton Forsythe had a solid 5-minute stint, and Mohamed Wague played just two minutes.
Rebounding: B
It’s important to note that Michigan’s two seven-footers posed a tough matchup for Oklahoma, and heading into the game, it was expected that the Wolverines would win the rebounding battle. They did, 37-32, but the Sooners kept it close, losing the battle by just five. Given the size disparity, losing by just five on the boards is a solid effort for OU.
Three-Point Shooting: A-plus
The Sooners were red-hot from beyond the arc, shooting 6-12 (50%) in the second half and finishing 12-25 (48%) for the game.
This sharp shooting played a huge role in their comeback win. With Michigan building an 11-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining, OU knew they needed to keep knocking down shots from deep—and they did just that. Miles, Fears, and Moore each hit three three-pointers, while Taylor contributed with two of his own.
Advertisement
Not an OUInsider.com premium member? Sign up today to get loads of inside information on Oklahoma football, softball, basketball, and recruiting, all for just a few dollars a month. Click HERE to get started!
Follow us on Twitter @OUInsider and on Instagram @ouinsiderofficial!
Subscribe on YouTube by clicking here for daily video content on all things Oklahoma!
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25782636/247422_ChatGPT_anniversary_CVirginia.jpg "Inside the launch — and future — of ChatGPT")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25789444/1258459915.jpg "OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever says the way AI is built is about to change")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25546252/STK169_Mark_Zuckerburg_CVIRGINIA_D.jpg "Meta asks the US government to block OpenAI’s switch to a for-profit")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23951353/STK043_VRG_Illo_N_Barclay_3_Meta.jpg "Meta’s Instagram boss: who posted something matters more in the AI age")