Oklahoma
The heat is on Oklahoma coach Brent Venables as No. 20 Sooners try to recover from 6-7 season
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma’s rabid fanbase was overjoyed when Brent Venables was named head coach.
Sooners fans had kept track of the former Oklahoma defensive coordinator for years after he took that same position at Clemson and helped the Tigers win two national titles. So when Lincoln Riley abruptly left for Southern California following the 2021 regular season, Venables was the popular pick to step in.
The honeymoon ended as the Sooners struggled to a 6-7 finish last year, including a 35-32 loss to Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl.
Expectations are down a bit for Oklahoma in its final season in the Big 12 before heading to the Southeastern Conference. The 20th-ranked Sooners were voted third in the 14-team conference’s preseason poll – just the fourth time in the past 13 years they weren’t picked to win the league.
Venables said the Sooners fell well below expectations last season — they had four three-point losses and lost to Kansas State by eight points — but grew as a team. He believes his first season was about laying groundwork, and he expects much better results this time around.
“We’re still under construction,” he said. “I’ll be honest, for as long as I’m the coach at Oklahoma, we’ll always be under construction and it ain’t ever good enough. And there’s always ways to improve and get better.”
Venables has a strong building block in quarterback Dillon Gabriel. He was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year last season after passing for 3.168 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has more than 11,000 yards passing in his career.
“This is a guy that if he can stay healthy, I’d like to think he’s going to finish as a top 10 passer in the history of college football,” offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby said. “That’s something that matters. He’s going to have a ton of production.”
Gabriel has some solid targets.
Jalil Farooq is expected to take on a larger role now that Marvin Mims has moved on to the NFL. Farooq is the team’s returning leader with 466 yards and five touchdowns receiving last season.
Drake Stoops is back for his sixth year. The son of former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has 914 career yards receiving. Gavin Freeman, a sophomore walk-on, was electrifying when he got the chance.
Austin Stogner, a senior tight end who left and played last season at South Carolina, returns. He had 106 receptions at Oklahoma, then hauled in 20 passes for the Gamecocks.
The defense needs to improve significantly. Coordinator Ted Roof said another year in the system and improved depth should help a team that ranked 99th out of 131 schools in scoring defense and 122nd overall.
“I’m kind of hard on the defense, and they deserve that,” Venables said. “We haven’t been very good in a while. But guys are making improvements there. It’s incredibly important.”
FABULOUS FRESHMAN
Five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold is already turning heads.
“Jackson is anxious and eager,” Venables said. “He’s willing to be led as well, willing to learn and grow. He didn’t come in as a guy that has all the answers. I love that. Humility but ambition too. He’s very ambitious. He’s trying to create an opportunity for himself and a role for himself and be the guy. I love that.”
SWITCHING SIDES
Defensive end Trace Ford has transferred from rival Oklahoma State. He missed the entire 2021 season and the final four games of 2022 with injuries, but he was dynamic when he played. He has 10.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in 32 career games.
He’s happy with his move, despite criticism on social media.
“I like red,” Ford said. “I like the color. I like being here. Love it.”
NEW RECEIVER
D.J. Graham, who made a dynamic one-handed interception two years ago against Nebraska as a cornerback, has switched to receiver. He has played in 28 career games with 12 starts as a defensive back.
TOTING THE ROCK
There will be carries available now that Eric Gray is in the NFL. Jovantae Barnes ran for 519 yards as a true freshman last year. Marcus Major ran for 227 yards last season. Gavin Sawchuk ran for 100 yards in the Cheez-It Bowl.
SCHEDULE
Oklahoma opens at home against Arkansas State on Sept. 2. The annual rivalry game against Texas at the Cotton Bowl will be Oct. 7. The final matchup against Oklahoma State before switching conferences will be a road game on Nov. 4. Oklahoma does not play defending league champion Kansas State this year.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Oklahoma
What time, TV channel is the Oklahoma Sooners vs Auburn football on today? Free live stream, spread, game odds
The No. 21 ranked Oklahoma Sooners face the Auburn Tigers with a true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. being named the starter after an impressive second half in a loss to Tennessee last week. This game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 28 with a live broadcast on ABC, and streaming live on ESPN Plus.
• WATCH: Auburn vs. Oklahoma football live for FREE with Fubo (free trial), or stream this game and more on the cheap with one month of ESPN+ (costs $10.99/month, cancel anytime).
The betting odds for this game have moved all over the place, originally opening with the Sooners as the favorites. However, most sportsbooks now have Auburn as slight favorites over Oklahoma in this matchup.
What TV channel is the Oklahoma vs. Auburn game on?
When: Kickoff takes place at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) on Saturday, September 28.
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, AL
TV Channel: ABC, and streaming on ESPN Plus
How to watch live stream online: If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial). If you are out of free trials, the cheapest and best way to watch this game and more football this month is by signing up for one month of ESPN+ (costs $10.99/month, cancel anytime).
If you already have a cable or satellite subscription already, you can watch the game on Watch ESPN or the ESPN app by signing in with your provider information.
You can find out more about which channel ABC is on in your area by using the channel finders here: Comcast Xfinity, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice.
Oklahoma vs. Auburn spread, betting odds
Point Spread: OU: +1 | AUB: -1
Moneyline: OU: -105 | AUB: -115
Over/Under: 44.5
The list of unavailable players for the Sooners just keeps growing.
Oklahoma linebacker Dasan McCullough will not be available for OU’s game against Auburn at 2:30 pm. Saturday, according to the most recent SEC availability report that was released Friday night. McCullough also missed last week’s game against Tennessee after being listed as doubtful most of last week. He was listed as questionable this week until Friday.
McCullough joined a list of 10 other Sooners that will be unavailable for Week 5. The only other OU player included on the availability report was offensive lineman Jake Taylor, who was listed as probable. Unless he’s considered a game-time decision, Taylor’s status will be known when the final availability report is released 90 minutes before OU and Auburn kicks off.
The bright side of this week’s report is that it looks like Geirean Hatchett, who is out for the season, will be the only offensive lineman the Sooners will not have available.
Those unavailable include five of OU’s top receivers in Jayden Gibson, Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony and Deion Burks. Gibson has already been ruled out for the season, while Farooq is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after breaking his foot in the Sooners’ season opener against Temple. Anderson made his first appearance of the season last week but was injured during the opening drive.
Burks was the newest receiver added to OU’s injured reserve on Thursday after also suffering an injury against Tennessee. Burks is the Sooners’ leading receiver with 26 receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns. The next leading pass catcher is tight end Bauer Sharp with 14 catches and 116 yards.
So many injuries to OU receivers even influenced Brent Venables to switch cornerback Jacobe Johnson to wide receiver. And the Sooners are enduring all these injuries at receiver as freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. is set to make his first career start Saturday.
Freshman running back Taylor Tatum and defensive back Kendel Dolby were also injured last week. Tatum was ruled out on Thursday, while Dolby, who plays the cheetah position, will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on Wednesday. Fellow defensive back Gentry Williams was also ruled unavailable for Saturday.
The biggest shock of this week was kicker Tyler Keltner, who will be unavailable after an emergency appendectomy. Zach Schmit will presumably take over all kicking duties after participating in only kickoffs so far this season.
As for Auburn, the Tigers’ list is much shorter. Auburn will be without defensive backs Tyler Scott and Champ Anthony, as well as tight end Brandon Frazier. Defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes, kicker Alex McPherson and offensive lineman Izavion Miller are listed as probable.
WR Jayden Gibson, Out
LB Dasan McCullough, Out
WR Jalil Farooq, Out
WR Nic Anderson, Out
WR Andrel Anthony, Out
WR Deion Burks, Out
RB Taylor Tatum, Out
DB Gentry Williams, Out
DB Kendel Dolby, Out
OL Geirean Hatchett, Out
K Tyler Keltner, Out
OL Jake Taylor, Probable
DB Tyler Scott, Out
DB Champ Anthony, Out
TE Brandon Frazier, Out
DL Isaiah Raikes, Probable
K Alex McPherson, Probable
OL Izavion Miller, Probable
Veteran quarterback Payton Thorne will start for Auburn when No. 21 Oklahoma visits Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday afternoon, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel Friday.
Thorne, the former Michigan State transfer, started 13 games for the Tigers last fall. He returned as the program’s starter in 2024 before he was replaced by redshirt freshman Hank Brown in Week 3. In Thorne, Auburn will have an experienced starter under center in Week 5 against a Sooners defense that leads the nation in turnovers (12) and ranks 28th in total defense this fall.
Auburn initially turned to Brown after Thorne threw a career-high four interceptions in a 21-14 home defeat to Cal on Sept. 7. Brown led the Tigers past New Mexico in his first career start in Week 3, but struggled against Arkansas last Saturday, completing 7-of-13 passes for 72 yards with three interceptions. After Auburn went scoreless before halftime, Thorne took over at quarterback in the second half of the 24-14 home loss, finishing 13-for-23 for 213 yards with two touchdowns and interception.
Both quarterbacks turned in strong weeks of practice ahead of this weekend’s visit from Oklahoma, but Auburn will go with Thorne Saturday, banking on his experience and the momentum he built in his relief work against Arkansas as the Tigers chase their first SEC win of 2024.
Auburn hosts the Sooners at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC in Oklahoma’s first SEC road game.
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