Oklahoma

Takeaways from Oklahoma Sooners depth chart for Armed Forces Bowl

Published

12 months ago

December 20, 2024

Takeaways from Oklahoma Sooners depth chart for Armed Forces Bowl

The 2024 Oklahoma Sooners still have one final game to play before we can all officially move on to the 2025 season. OU went 6-6 overall and 2-4 in Southeastern Conference play, earning a berth in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl against the Navy Midshipmen.

After a brutal SEC schedule, Brent Venables[/autotag] and his team didn’t get a great bowl draw, as Navy went 9-3 this year. They recently defeated Army on Saturday, who had just won the American Athletic Conference title.

The Sooners have released their official depth chart for the last game of the year, which reflects the 25 players that Oklahoma has currently lost to the transfer portal. The Sooners could still see more players enter the portal between now and Dec. 28, but this is where things stand as of right now.

Some positions have seen plenty of change. Of course, OU will lose plenty more players to graduation, lack of remaining collegiate eligibility or the NFL Draft, but they’ll suit up in the crimson and cream one more time.

Here are the four biggest takeaways from OU’s depth chart for the Armed Forces Bowl.

1. No Stutsman, No Bowman

Both Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman have played their final game in an Oklahoma jersey, and both had excellent careers in Norman.

As the duo prepares for their pro careers and the draft in April, let’s remember to salute what they did in their four years as Sooners.

Otherwise, Oklahoma’s defense will have plenty of familiar faces, and the coaching staff is hoping they will return in 2025. There are still plenty of decisions to be made there, but it looks like that unit will be mostly intact in Fort Worth.

2. Hawkins Takes Over Again

On the other hand, Oklahoma’s offensive depth chart is a work in progress, to say the least. Let’s start at quarterback. With Jackson Arnold’s transfer to Auburn, Michael Hawkins Jr. takes over at quarterback one more time in 2024.

Hawkins will make the fourth start of his true freshman season after he spelled Arnold midway through the year. Hawkins has a chance to show Sooner Nation his growth before he settles back into a reserve role behind newcomer John Mateer in 2025.

Hawkins’ decision to stick it out and stay at Oklahoma could prove fruitful for both parties, as he has a chance to be developed properly under new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.

3. Wide Receiver Woes

Oklahoma currently has six scholarship wide receivers on the roster. They could be down to four scholarship players for the Navy game if Deion Burks is unable to play, as Jayden Gibson is still out after his preseason injury.

True freshmen Zion Kearney, Zion Ragins, Ivan Carreon and K.J. Daniels all appear on the depth chart, along with walk-ons like Jacob Jordan.

It’s a position that the coaching staff is doing some work to rebuild this offseason, as they have to find guys who can be both healthy and productive.

4. Barnes Won’t Play

Oklahoma hasn’t seen any of the top four running backs on the roster (Jovantae Barnes, Xavier Robinson, Taylor Tatum, Gavin Sawchuk) enter the portal as of yet. That could change, but there’s a chance that the room will be pretty good in 2025. Those four players all bring different skill sets, but one guy emerging to be the feature back would be ideal.

For a brief minute this season, that was Barnes. He had become OU’s best offensive player, but he was injured against Maine and missed the rest of the year.

However, unlike Robinson, Tatum and Sawchuk, he doesn’t appear on the depth chart. That could be because he’s definitely out, still nursing his ankle injury.

Barnes returning in 2025 would give Venables and Arbuckle a veteran guy in the backfield who is capable of being a workhorse when called upon. That room looks a bit crowded right now, so don’t be shocked if one of the four decides to look for more carries elsewhere this winter or spring.

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.

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Oklahoma

Five Most Impactful Players During Oklahoma’s ‘Red November’

Published

10 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Five Most Impactful Players During Oklahoma’s ‘Red November’

NORMAN — Before the season, Oklahoma’s November schedule looked daunting.

And though a couple of the games had a bit less bite than they might’ve appeared early in the season, it was still as tough of a closing stretch as there was in college football.

The Sooners rose to the occasion, with road wins over Tennessee and Alabama and home victories over Missouri and LSU.

With the victories, OU is almost certainly heading to the College Football Playoff when the field is announced Sunday.

Here’s a look at the Sooners’ five most impactful players during their November run (in alphabetical order):

Eli Bowen, Cornerback

Bowen and his brother came up huge during the closing run.

The younger of the two had the flashiest play, an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown against Alabama that put the Sooners up 10-0 late in the first quarter.

Bowen also had an interception against Missouri, sealing the game with his pick in the final minute.

Peyton Bowen, Safety

Bowen had interceptions against Tennessee and LSU.

Against the Volunteers, he picked off Joey Aguilar late in the second quarter and returned it 37 yards to the OU 41, helping set up Tate Sandell’s 51-yard field goal that put the Sooners ahead 13-10.

His interception against LSU might’ve been even bigger.

Just after John Mateer was intercepted in the first quarter, then made a touchdown-saving tackle at the OU 4, Bowen picked off Michael Van Buren Jr. in the end zone.

The Sooners wound up having to punt the ball away on the drive but keeping the Tigers without a score there was huge.

Bowen also blocked a field goal in the second quarter against Missouri, with OU trailing 3-0.

Moments later, Isaiah Sategna’s 87-yard touchdown reception but the Sooners on top.

Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Peyton Bowen (22) closes in to make a hit on Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks (17) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Oklahoma defeated Alabama 23-21. | Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Gracen Halton, Defensive Tackle

There were plenty of candidates among the defensive line — R Mason Thomas had the incredible fumble return against Tennessee, but was hurt on the play and didn’t play again the rest of the regular season, and Taylor Wein was excellent during the month helping the Sooners not skip a beat without Thomas. But Halton’s disruption stood out among the group.

The stats don’t do justice to how good Halton was during the month, but his 82.8 PFF grade against LSU gives plenty of insight into his value during the month.

Tate Sandell, Kicker

Sandell might be the Sooners’ Most Valuable Player for the season, and certainly showed his worth during November.

He went 9 for 9 on field goals and 9 for 9 on extra points. Four of Sandell’s field goals during the month came from more than 50 yards.

Sandell was particular impactful against Tennessee, when he hit three second-quarter field goals — two longer than 50 yards — to send OU into the half with a 16-10 lead.

At this point, it would be a surprise if Sandell didn’t become the Sooners’ first Lou Groza Award winner after making 23 consecutive field-goal tries after his first try of the season missed and going 32 of 32 on extra points.

Isaiah Sategna, Wide Receiver

Sategna separated himself as the Sooners’ top receiver well before November, with big games against Auburn and Ole Miss in particular.

But Sategna took things to another level in the season’s final month, with a combined 22 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns during the month.

Sategna’s 87-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter against Missouri was huge, as was his 42-yard punt return against Alabama.

Other Candidates

Owen Heinecke, Grayson Miller, Febechi Nwaiwu, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Robert Spears-Jennings, Taylor Wein

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Oklahoma

Stitt outlines tax, education and power-appointment goals for final Oklahoma session

Published

22 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Stitt outlines tax, education and power-appointment goals for final Oklahoma session

OKLAHOMA CITY –

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said he plans to use his final legislative session to pursue major structural reforms, including giving future governors authority to appoint additional statewide positions and finishing major pieces of his tax and education agenda.

In an exclusive interview on the Hot Seat, Stitt also discussed his work as chair of the National Governors Association, ongoing disputes over tribal jurisdiction and the future of Oklahoma’s energy and agriculture sectors.

State finances and tax priorities

Stitt said Oklahoma has moved from billion-dollar budget deficits to record savings since he first ran for office.

“Remember the teacher walkouts? Billion dollar deficits. No money in savings,” Stitt said. “Really proud of where we’re at today. We have the largest savings account we’ve ever had. I’ve cut over $1 billion in taxes.”

Stitt said education remains his top priority as he prepares his final budget proposal

Stitt renews push to permit appointment of the State Superintendent

Stitt said he will again ask lawmakers to send voters a proposal that would allow future governors to appoint the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Stitt argued the position should function like a cabinet-level appointment instead of an elected office with its own political base.

“You elect a governor, you say, ‘Go improve education.’ Let the governor appoint the very best person to run that,” Stitt said. “Too often our politicians are worried about the next election instead of the next generation.”

Stitt said he would support the same structure for positions such as attorney general, insurance commissioner and labor commissioner.

Election reform: Stitt opposes open primaries

Stitt said he opposes opening Oklahoma’s primary elections to all voters, arguing that approach would have prevented his own election.

“I like the fact that Republicans are choosing who they want to put forward, and Democrats are choosing who they want to put their person forward,” Stitt said.

Energy policy: supporting AI growth and opposing federal mandates

Stitt highlighted Oklahoma’s low electricity costs and said the state must continue expanding power generation to support new data centers and AI-driven industries.

Stitt said he supports “behind-the-meter” energy options and opposes federal rules that impose uniform energy regulation across states.

“We don’t want the federal government to come in and tell states how to regulate,” Stitt said. “Oklahoma is different from Texas and different from New York.”

As chair of the National Governors Association, Stitt said he is working with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on bipartisan permitting reform to shorten timelines for major infrastructure projects.

Tribal jurisdiction: hunting lawsuit and enforcement disputes

Stitt criticized recent moves to dismiss hunting cases on state-owned land, saying Oklahoma must maintain a single legal standard for all residents regardless of tribal citizenship.

“We can’t have two sets of rules based on your race,” Stitt said. “This is state-owned land that is for the benefit of all Oklahomans.”

Stitt said a pending tribal lawsuit will help determine whether the state continues to own and regulate land in eastern Oklahoma, calling the ruling significant in creating a single legal standard between tribes and the state.

Agriculture: poultry lawsuit and rural impacts

Stitt also criticized the attorney general’s approach in a longstanding poultry pollution lawsuit involving eastern Oklahoma waterways, saying retroactive penalties could drive companies out of the region.

Stitt said Tyson Foods has warned farmers it may leave eastern Oklahoma if a proposed settlement is finalized.

“If the permit needs to change, no problem. Get to the legislature,” Stitt said. “But if somebody has a permit, don’t come back ten years later and say, ‘Yeah, I know you follow the permit, but we really don’t like it.’”

NGA chairmanship and the nation’s 250th anniversary

Stitt said his national intiative as NGA chair, called “Reigniting the American Dream,” will focus on expanding opportunity and mobility.

Stitt confirmed all 50 governors are expected to attend events in Oklahoma City next summer during the nation’s 250th anniversary observance.

“This is the greatest country in the world,” Stitt said. “We want that idea to permeate to the next generation.”

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Oklahoma

Five Season-Defining Plays from Oklahoma’s 2025 Regular Season

Published

1 day ago

December 5, 2025

Press Room

Five Season-Defining Plays from Oklahoma’s 2025 Regular Season

NORMAN — Exhale, Sooner fans — you’re in.

Oklahoma is headed to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019 after beating LSU 17-13 on Saturday. The Sooners are currently No. 8 in the CFP rankings, though their position can change, depending on what happens in the various conference championship games played on Friday and Saturday.

OU went 10-2 overall and 6-2 in SEC during the regular season.

Here are five moments that defined Oklahoma’s 2025 regular season:

R Mason Thomas’ game-sealing sack vs. Auburn

R Mason Thomas was forced to miss the first half of OU’s SEC opener against Auburn, due to a targeting call that he received in the Sooners’ previous game against Temple.

Thomas, though, didn’t waste any time when he was cleared to check into the game.

The senior edge rusher finished the game with four solo tackles and two sacks. His final sack came with less than two minutes remaining, as he took down Auburn quarterback and former Sooner Jackson Arnold in the end zone for a safety that iced the game.

Gracen Halton’s scoop-and-score TD vs. Kent State

You might ask, “How can a play in the third quarter of a game that OU won 44-0 be a ‘season-defining’ play?”

Fair enough.

But even though the Sooners’ defense allowed only 36 points in their first four games, they didn’t force a takeaway until Game 5 against Kent State.

In the third quarter — when OU already held a comfortable advantage — Thomas got a strip sack on Golden Flashes quarterback Devin Kargman. Defensive tackle Gracen Halton was right there to scoop up the football and run it into the end zone.

Halton’s recovery and touchdown seemingly ignited OU’s ability to turn its opponents over. Jaydan Hardy logged an interception later that game, and the Sooners finished the season with 13 takeaways.

John Mateer’s rushing TD vs. Tennessee

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer’s season has been riddled by ups and downs.

He was the odds-on Heisman Trophy favorite after four games before he underwent surgery on his right hand. Since returning from the injury, Mateer’s game has been inconsistent.

Mateer wasn’t perfect against Tennessee, but he made big plays when called upon.

Taylor Wein’s strip sack vs. Alabama

The 406 offensive yards that Oklahoma allowed against Alabama don’t tell the tale.

The Sooners consistently affected quarterback Ty Simpson and all of the Crimson Tide’s other weapons. OU forced three takeaways, one of which was a strip sack from defensive end Taylor Wein in the third quarter.

Oklahoma only got a field goal on its ensuing drive, but those three points went a long way in the Sooners’ 23-21 win.

Wein also blocked a field goal right before halftime, preventing Alabama from scoring three points in the second quarter.

Isaiah Sategna’s TD vs. LSU

The College Football Playoff wouldn’t be on the table if the Sooners didn’t take care of business against LSU in their regular-season finale.

Oklahoma’s offense struggled to find a rhythm aside from two big plays. Deion Burks caught a screen pass and ran it 45 yards for a touchdown to tie the game, but the Tigers retook the lead moments later.

Trailing 13-10, OU had to respond on its final drive to keep its playoff dreams alive. The Sooners did just that, as Isaiah Sategna found space in the middle of the field. Mateer hit Sategna in stride for a 58-yard touchdown.

The Sooners’ defense forced a turnover on downs on LSU’s ensuing possession to clinch their spot in the CFP.

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