Oklahoma
Schedule Review: A Look at Oklahoma’s Opponents After Week 3
Temple
Temple is still looking for its first win of 2024 three weeks into the season. Most recently, the Owls got the closest they’ve gotten so far in a 28-20 loss to Coastal Carolina in Temple’s home opener on Saturday. Temple was unable to overcome a 14-0 deficit to start the game.
After losing to Oklahoma in Week 1, Temple then lost to Navy 38-11. Next, the Owls stay home to play Utah State in search of their first win.
Houston
Like Temple, Houston is still trying to tally its first victory of the young season. However, the Cougars ended up being handed a pretty daunting start. Even before a trip to the SEC-bound Sooners, Houston lost to UNLV 27-7 in Week 1. Fast forward, and UNLV is now 3-0 after just beating Kansas on Friday night. Saturday night was the Cougars worst loss so far – a 33-7 embarrassment to Rice at home. Houston will now start Big 12 play at Cincinnati at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Tulane
We all know what happened to Tulane on Saturday in Norman. If not, read more of Sooners on SI.
The Green Wave went to Norman 1-2 after nearly upsetting a top-20 Kansas State team the week before at home. Tulane led 20-10 at halftime before dropping the game 34-27. The Green Wave beat Southeast Louisiana 52-0 Week 1.
Things likely get easier for Tulane here on out with conference play starting. The Green Wave gets Louisiana first in AAC action.
Tennessee
Tennessee comes to Norman next. And the Volunteers are rolling under former OU quarterback Josh Heupel.
The No. 7 Volunteers have outscored opponents 191-13 so far. That includes a 51-10 beat down of then-No. 24 NC State Week 2. Most recently, they thumped Kent State 71-0 on Saturday night.
How impressive Tennessee has been, plus the storylines of Heupel’s return and OU’s inaugural SEC game, has garnered enough national attention to attract ESPN College GaneDay to Norman on Saturday morning. The game will then be under the lights at Memorial Stadium at 6:30 p.m.
Auburn
The sky was falling for a week at Auburn, and a victory over a winless New Mexico team on Saturday might not have really fixed anything.
The Tigers handled New Mexico 45-19, but the week before that they lost to California 21-14 at home. Week 1 was another beatdown but against Alabama A&M.
The loss to Cal led Auburn to go with freshman Hank Brown at quarterback on Saturday. He was 17-of-25 for 235 yards and four TDs compared to no interceptions in his first start. So when OU goes to Auburn in a few weeks, it looks like for the first time in his career, Jackson Arnold will be the most experienced QB on the field.
But before hosting the Sooners, the Tigers welcome Arkansas on Saturday.
Texas
The Longhorns might be the only SEC team hotter than Tennessee right now. A battle between the UTs for an SEC title and the sole possessor of the acronym would be fun.
Texas handled Colorado State 52-0 Week 1 before going into the Big House and embarrassing then-No. 10 Michigan 31-12. This week, UTSA was the victim, 56-7. Do the math, and the Longhorns have outscored their opponents 139-19 through three weeks.
Unlike OU, though, Texas still won’t start its SEC journey this week. The Longhorns will host Louisiana Monroe at 7 p.m. Saturday before getting Mississippi State the next week.
South Carolina
South Carolina was oh-so-close to upending No. 16 LSU on Saturday but instead dropped to 2-1.
After starting the season against Old Dominion, the Gamecocks have already played two SEC games, handling Kentucky 31-6 before losing to LSU 36-33 on Saturday while hosting GameDay.
The Gamecocks go back to nonconference play next, though, hosting Akron at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Ole Miss
OK, so Ole Miss might be just as hot as Tennessee and Texas but hasn’t had as tough of a test yet.
The Rebels outscored their three nonconference opponents 168-9. Their biggest challenge, though, was Wake Forest, which Ole Miss beat 40-6 on Saturday. The other two were Furman and Middle Tennessee State. And that soft schedule only continues for the Rebels with Georgia Southern upcoming.
Maine
Speaking of easy matchups.
Maine beat Colgate 17-14 Week 1 before dropping its next two games to Montana State and Monmouth. OU is the only FBS opponent on Maine’s schedule. But the Sooners will definitely need this break in the midst of an SEC gauntlet.
Missouri
And back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Missouri is another undefeated top-10 team from the SEC ahead of OU. Mizzou most recently slipped past No. 24 Boston College 27-21 on Saturday in Columbia. That was the first time this season the Tigers gave up a point after shutting out Murray State and Buffalo.
Next, Missouri hosts Vanderbilt.
Alabama
Alabama looked vulnerable after Week 2, but then thumped an undefeated Wisconsin team 42-10 on Saturday. Before that, the Crimson Tide struggled early in a 42-16 win over South Florida.
The Crimson Tide now get a week off before the granddaddy of SEC matchups – Georgia at Alabama at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
LSU
LSU has bounced back with two straight wins after losing its season opener to USC, 27-20. The Tigers came back from a 17-0 hole, though, to get by South Carolina 36-33 on Saturday.
The Tigers will go back to nonconference play next and play UCLA, which is, uhh, in L.A., like USC.
The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) offers support to residents affected by the severe storms that hit central and eastern Oklahoma on Jan. 8.
Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready emphasized the department’s commitment to helping those impacted.
“As we begin recovery after this severe weather, the Oklahoma Insurance Department is here to help,” Mulready said. “We want everyone affected to know that if you have questions about your policy, need assistance with the claims process, or just aren’t sure where to start, our Consumer Assistance Division is ready to support you every step of the way.”
Residents can reach out to OID’s Consumer Assistance division at 800-522-0071 or visit oid.ok.gov for support. Mulready also urged Oklahomans to report damage at damage.ok.gov.
The department provided several post-storm tips for victims, including documenting damage with photos or videos, making necessary temporary repairs, and consulting with trusted roofing contractors. Residents are advised to contact their insurance company after obtaining repair estimates and to save all receipts for any repairs made.
Additionally, the OID warned against contractor fraud, advising residents to get multiple bids, check references, and avoid paying upfront. Suspected fraud should be reported to the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit at 833-681-1895.
For more information on storm preparation and insurance coverage, visit oid.ok.gov/GetReady.
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8:45 p.m. Tornado Update from NWS Norman:
EF1 (high end) at Purcell
EF0 near Lake Thunderbird (south of Stella/northwest of Little Axe)
EF1 west and near the Shawnee Twin Lakes
EF1 in north Shawnee.
There are other areas of damage that we will continue to investigate.
Original story:
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Storms moved through parts of Oklahoma on Thursday morning, with at least five tornado warnings issued and two tornadoes that touched down in Purcell and Shawnee, leaving behind damage.
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through central and eastern Oklahoma early Thursday that producing tornadoes, damaging winds, and power outages.
Preliminary information from the National Weather Service in Norman shows that at least EF-1 damage was found in Purcell. Survey teams are continuing to assess the damage that was left behind from the morning storms.
Officials also reported that widespread power outages occurred in the city, along with downed trees and powerlines, with nine homes having damaged roofs, and a semi-truck rollover accident on I-35 with one injury.
Shawnee also suffered some damage Thursday morning, which includes downed fences and partial roof loss at the Holiday Inn Express. As of Thursday evening, NWS officials confirm that a tornado did touch down in the northern portion of Shawnee; however, a preliminary rating hasn’t been given at this time.
According to Comanche County Emergency Management, damages related to the storms were reported across the City of Lawton, with roof damage at Sheridan and Lee, along with power pole and power line damage.
Lawton Fire Department responded to a rooftop fire at MacArthur High School on Thursday morning, caused by wind damage to AC units.
Lightning strikes in Edmond were reported to have caused a transformer fire near Covell and Kelly, with another lightning strike having caused a tree to fall on top of a vehicle near Covell and Broadway, resulting in one person being injured.
Straight-line winds were also reported to have destroyed a barn north of Guthrie, while structures were damaged in south Wynona, including a shop building that was devastated and a mobile home that was damaged.
Damage assessments are said to be ongoing at this time. News 4 will provide updates as we learn more.
According to NWS Norman officials, the last time the department issued a tornado warning in January was on January 10, 2020. However, Thursday’s reported tornado was not the earliest for a tornado to occur in Oklahoma. Tornadoes happened in Osage, Mayes, McIntosh, Ottawa, and Sequoyah Counties back on January 2, 2023.
Purcell OK resident recounts how tornado damaged home
Jennifer Fox says she didn’t hear any warning sirens but knew there was a tornado in the area after severe weather tore her garage awning from the ground.
PURCELL — Jennifer Fox had just fed the pigs behind her house early in the morning Thursday, Jan. 8, and began getting ready for work before she and her two sons heard something hit her bedroom window.
“I said, ‘Is it hailing?” she said. “My oldest looked out the window and he saw our awning across the back. He said, ‘Mom, the awning’s gone.”
Fox looked out the window and saw debris everywhere. She said she didn’t hear tornado sirens, but she and her sons immediately took shelter in a closet. By that time, the suspected tornado had already passed through her neighborhood off of Johnson Avenue in Purcell.
At first, Fox didn’t think there was a tornado and attributed the damage and debris to strong winds.
But just one street over, the roof of one house had been destroyed. When she looked at the house behind hers, Fox said she knew a tornado had hit her neighborhood.
“I was thankful at the time,” she said. “I told my kids, I said, ‘It could’ve been a lot worse.’ We weren’t prepared, obviously. I really felt like it just barely missed us.”
Severe weather passed through central Oklahoma early Thursday morning, bringing reports of damage from a possible tornado in Purcell. The National Weather Service in Norman reported on social media that survey teams have found at least EF1 tornado damage in the Purcell area.
The Purcell Fire Department reported a tornado touched down in the city, causing roof damage to nine homes, a semi truck rollover accident on Interstate 35 with one injury and widespread power outages, downed trees and powerlines.
On Norte Street in Purcell, the suspected tornado wiped out the roof of a newly-built home, throwing debris onto the road, including a Christmas tree and blue ornaments. The houses across the street and next door were untouched.
Community members and local high school students gathered pieces of trash, plywood, insulation and other debris and hauled them off.
Next door to Fox, a man and a woman removed debris from their yard that appeared to have blown over from Fox’s house. Like a puppy, a tall brown horse followed the man as he picked up each piece of trash. Across the street, cattle laid in the middle of a field and watched as one person after another drove into the neighborhood to lend a hand.
About five miles northeast of Fox’s house, the suspected tornado knocked over a few powerlines near Purcell’s football stadium. A tree fell onto a small white house and took the tin roof off a large warehouse.
Ron Musgrave, the warehouse’s owner, lives six miles north of Purcell. He said he learned his property was damaged through a local news broadcast.
“They had the people out front and they had the helicopters, so I could see it,” Musgrave said. “They were flying over here. There’s a football field, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. If that’s the football field, that’s my warehouse.”
The retired home builder and property owner said he keeps building supplies in his warehouse and a black and white cat who’s in charge of exterminating any trespassing mice.
The cat was happy to see Musgrave as he surveyed the water damage inside of the warehouse. Though there was some wet spots, the roof took most of the impact.
“It’s a project,” Musgrave said with a smile. “I am down for it.”
Severe weather damage reported in Shawnee, Norman
Tree damage was reported in Cleveland County at 156th Street and East Tecumseh Avenue, according to Alyse Moore, Cleveland County communications director, along with damage to a car port and barn at 800 Moffatt Road north of Lexington.
Storm damage was also reported in Shawnee. Social media posts show damage to the Holiday Inn Express and Walmart Supercenter off of Interstate 40.
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