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Oklahoma Preparing True Freshman Quarterback to Handle ‘Tremendous’ Auburn Atmosphere

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Oklahoma Preparing True Freshman Quarterback to Handle ‘Tremendous’ Auburn Atmosphere


NORMAN — Brent Venables has made his decision. 

True freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. will start this week at Auburn, and he’ll become the first OU true freshman quarterback to make his first start on the road since Troy Aikman against Kansas in 1984.

Auburn week was always going to be crucial for Venables’ No. 21-ranked Sooners (3-1, 0-1 SEC), as it was expected to be the first true road start for Jackson Arnold. 

Though the situation has gone differently than anyone expected at quarterback, the fact still remains that a first time road starter will have to take on a desperate group in the Tigers (2-2, 0-1).

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“We as coaches gotta be the headlights for our players,” Venables said during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. “They’ve never been a two-year veteran yet. Mike hasn’t. He hasn’t played a whole bunch of college football. He hasn’t been to that stadium.”

Much like last week’s battle with Tennessee, Sunday wasn’t the first time Auburn was brought up to the offense. 

The Sooners dedicated bits and pieces of the offseason to looking ahead to SEC play, as OU is taking on eight new conference opponents for the first time this year. 

That prep work included a quick crash course on everything to expect inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. 

“(We) try to paint the picture. Accurate picture,” Venables said. “Pump in the crowd noise, tell him to focus on the things you can control. If he’s a strong-minded guy, he’ll do that. Try to think about the process. Think about managing things the right way, don’t try to do too much, and all those kinds of things.

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“… We’ve been talking about going to Auburn for several months. So, if he’s been paying attention, this isn’t the first time he’s hearing about it.”

When he was at Clemson, Venables coached on the plains, so he has some experience to draw on to prepare his football team. 

“Got a great opponent… a great history and tradition in Auburn University,” Venables said. “… It’s electric. They’ve got tremendous tradition and pageantry. They’ll be deep. They’re hungry. Very much like what we saw here. Our fans were (just) amazing. It’ll be an environment like that.”

Oklahoma does have some experience to lean on in its quarterback room, however. 

Though he’s not in line to take snaps if everything goes to plan this weekend, Casey Thompson has been through the highs and lows of running an offense in college football. 

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He’s dealt with transferring from Texas to Nebraska to FAU, he’s dealt with injuries and he’s battled through multiple quarterback competitions. 

The Sooners have leaned on Thompson to help both Jackson Arnold and Hawkins, and getting a young quarterback prepared to handle a hostile environment is no different. 

“He’s been there, done that,” Venables said of Thompson. “He’s started a gazillion games, played a lot of ball, been in a lot of meeting rooms, seen a lot of that kind of stuff happen, and so he’s got tremendous wisdom. 

“… He’s going to be a coach. He’ll be a fantastic coach. He’s kind of a coach now. But he’s been wonderful. He’s very intentional, constantly, about using the gifts that he has to make people around him better. … We have a great appreciation for Casey.”

Hawkins will have an excellent opportunity to build on his second half showing against Tennessee and make the quarterback job his own on Saturday. 

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And Oklahoma is doing everything it can to prepare its new young starter to take on the unknown against the Tigers. 

“He’ll have to bear a heavy burden, like a lot of guys,” Venables said. “So you try to coach ‘em and prepare him in a week’s period of time.”



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Does Drew Mestemaker Have Path to Heisman at Oklahoma State?

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Does Drew Mestemaker Have Path to Heisman at Oklahoma State?


Oklahoma State hasn’t had a Heisman winner since 1988, but it might have a candidate next season.

Throughout OSU football history, there have been some iconic players to roll through Stillwater and plenty more iconic college football seasons. Most recently, Ollie Gordon’s 2023 campaign sent shockwaves through the college football landscape as he broke out to become the nation’s leading rusher and led OSU to a Big 12 Championship appearance and a 10-win season.

Of course, that would be the final big season of the Mike Gundy era. After that 10-4 campaign that saw OSU reach heights no one could have expected, the Cowboys fell off a cliff, winning only four games since.

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With Gundy now out at OSU, Eric Morris is looking to bring another era of success to Stillwater, and it might all start with a bang with Drew Mestemaker running the show under center in 2026. Last season, Mestemaker was the starting quarterback for Morris’ North Texas squad and established himself as one of the top passers in the country.

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While OSU has seen guys like Brandon Weeden, Mason Rudolph and Zac Robinson over the years, it’s been a while since the Cowboys have had an elite gunslinger, which Mestemaker could soon be in Stillwater. With the Mean Green in 2025, Mestemaker finished with 4,379 yards, 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions, marks which would make him the talk of college football if he can repeat that against Big 12 competition.

Of course, any Heisman campaign for Mestemaker will be about much more than his impressive numbers on the field. OSU has managed to win only two games against FBS teams in the past two years and is riding a 19-game Big 12 losing streak.

Anything Mestemaker can do in the stat sheet is great, but his real impact that would catch Heisman-like attention is how his play changes the Cowboys’ fate. If OSU can climb back into the Big 12 title picture in just one season after a 1-11 record in 2025, Mestemaker will almost certainly be at the front of that story. After Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman run at Indiana, the stage is clearly set for players like Mestemaker to use immense team success to their advantage in the Heisman race. 

Perhaps putting Mestemaker in any sort of Heisman talks is premature, but considering his year at North Texas and how quickly turnarounds can happen in this era of college football, don’t be shocked if a Cowboy is at the Heisman ceremony in December.

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Two arrested on murder complaints following fatal NW OKC sledding crash

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Two arrested on murder complaints following fatal NW OKC sledding crash


OKLAHOMA CITY –

Two people were arrested on murder complaints following a deadly sledding crash in northwest Oklahoma City Sunday night, according to police.

Police said the crash happened near Northwest 81st Street and Northwest Walker Avenue.

According to police, Makayla Mitchell, 31, was on a sled being pulled by a car driven by Angel Walzier, 22. Police said the rope connecting the sled to the car broke, and caused Mitchell to stop in the street.

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Police said James Kirk, 24, was in a separate car and hit Mitchell.

Mitchell was pronounced dead on the scene, police said.

Kirk and Walzier were both evaluated by a Drug Recognition Officer, who believed they both showed signs of impairment.

Police said blood draw warrants were completed for Kirk and Walzier.

Kirk was arrested on multiple complaints, including murder II, aggravated DUI, child endangerment, and causing fatality collision w/o a license.

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Walzier was arrested on complaints of murder II and aggravated DUI.





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ODOT warns Oklahomans of black ice forming overnight Sunday

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ODOT warns Oklahomans of black ice forming overnight Sunday


OKLAHOMA –

Oklahoma Department of Transportation is warning travelers of black ice throughout the state, discouraging any travel overnight Sunday.

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Black ice is defined as a dangerous hazard that blends in with the dark road where it appears wet, but is a thin layer of ice that can cause cars to slide while driving.

Agency officials say they are continuing the roadway treatments and plowing statewide, with minor improvements in West and North/Central Oklahoma roadways.

ODOT says there are still various interstates and highways that can remain slick and snow-covered, including some in OKC and Tulsa.

If travel is necessary, drive with extreme caution.

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You can find traffic advisories through the official ODOT portal here.

Live blog tracking Oklahoma traffic impacts, snow totals, and closures in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas.

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