Mike: Resignation in Sooner Nation

A winnable game lost 21-13 to Kentucky due to a trio of Oklahoma shortcomings

John Mateer’s tipped pass fluttered endlessly in the air and the inevitability of an interception became a microcosm of the deflating Sooners season.

It was but one of the Oklahoma quarterback’s three interceptions in a 21-13 loss to Kentucky, which, ironically, was his best performance this season.

The statistics will show this as a game Mateer threw away. The reality is, his sharp passing and glimpses of a good rush offense (at least in the first half), kept the Sooners in the game, leading 10-7 at halftime and 13-7 after three quarters.

In fact, Oklahoma outgained Kentucky 346 to 230 in total yards and 270 to 158 in passing yards.

But in the second half things were different. An injury to Ryan Fodje caused another game of musical chairs among position shifting offensive linemen. Pass protection broke down. The run game was not as effective. And more importantly, the Sooners were not able to turn yardage into points. The turnovers let the No. 15 Wildcats to score 14 points in the fourth quarter.

The Sooners still had a chance in the waning minutes of the game, down only 14-10. But another one of Mateer’s interceptions with 1:24 left — returned for a touchdown by Kentucky DB Jordan Castell — and Oklahoma’s hopes of building on a surprising win over Texas the week before and moving to the top of SEC standings died.

For Sooners fans, that interception was met with resignation. The fans are beyond shock. Beyond disgust. They are resigned now to the fact this season of Sooners is mediocre at best. It has talent in some positions. But no stars. A stellar defense. But no consistent offensive identity.

Oklahoma is now 3-3 for the season and 1-2 in the SEC. The rest of the season is going to be played by these players for pride alone.

The Sooners started the game well. They scored on two of its first three possessions of the game to take a 10-7 lead. They drove 49 yards in 7:03 and Tate Sandell nailed a 44-yarder to make the score 7-3. It was Tate’s 19th field goal of 40 or more yards in his career, putting him at number 2 in school history behind Gabe Brkic, who made 21 from 2019-21.

On their third series, the Sooners made an impressive 90-yard drive in 12 plays, capped by a 20-yard Mateer touchdown toss to Rocky Beers, giving OU the 10-7 lead. Sandell added a 26-yard field goal with 6:32 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 13-7.

Defense was their usual great. The Sooners held Kentucky to 230 total yards, 158 passing yards and 72 total yards, their second-lowest offensive output this season. For the fifth time in six games the defense allowed now third-quarter points.

Mateer was 24 of 40 passes for 270 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Manny Choice had his first start and stepped up, making a career high five receptions for 98 yards. Isaiah Sategna III had eight receptions for 83 yards and Beers had four for 45 yards.

Freshmen defensive lineman Jake Kreul made 2.5 sacks, the most in school history by a true freshman and most by any Sooners freshman since 1984’s Brian Bosworth. His six tackles were also a career high. Linebackers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke tied with a team-high eight tackles.

Those stats suggest the Sooners should have won the game.

One key was a decision in the first quarter by the Sooners coaches to attempt a fake field goal. It didn’t work. Those three points would have given the Sooners the lead in the game in the last two minutes, meaning Oklahoma would be running out the clock instead of pressing for a score (which resulted in an interception).

Knowing the Sooners were going to be in a “wild cat fight”, it doesn’t make sense to me why the Sooners coaches would forego three easy points for an attempt by the field goal holder to pass for a touchdown. Hind sight is 20-20, but I thought at the time, this was a mistake, believing then those three points could end up being the difference in the game.

Did the coach’s decision lose the game? In part, yes. Did Mateer’s interceptions cost them? In part, yes. Did a banged up offensive line result in a loss? In part, yes.

And that sums up the Sooners season. A trifecta of shortcomings.