By: Dave Myrick & Rives Mitchell
The 16th ranked Oklahoma Sooners opened the 2024 season at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Friday night in front of 83,329 rabid Oklahoma fans, marking the program’s 153rd straight sell out, number two in the country behind Nebraska’s 396. Oklahoma blasted the hapless Temple Owls 51-3, as the first game of a scheduled home and home between the two schools. Temple, coming off back to back 3-9 seasons, are expecting a turnaround in year three of the Stan Drayton tenure and no doubt faced a daunting challenge taking on an Oklahoma squad that many nationally feel may have one of the best defenses in college football.
Oklahoma signal-caller Jackson Arnold made his second career start, and had a very efficient and smooth outing, going 17/25 for 141 yards and four touchdown passes. Arnold also added 34 yards on the ground as the teams third leading rusher Friday night. Arnold was sharp, decisive and for the most part flawless. A drop over the middle and what would have been a very tough catch on a perfectly thrown ball were part of his eight incompletions on the night. Arnold routinely faced pressure from an Owl front intent on loading the box and taking away the Oklahoma running game. On two occasions Arnold stared down the barrel of a rush, absorbed hits and delivered absolute dimes. One to Jalil Farooq on a perfectly thrown 47 yard pass, setting up Oklahoma’s first touchdown. Another on a touchdown pass to newcomer by way of the transfer portal and Purdue, Deion Burks.
Burks dazzled OU fans in the spring game back in April, and set high hopes for a breakout candidate at wide-receiver for Oklahoma this year. He did not disappoint. After hauling in seven touchdowns for the Boilermakers in the entire 23′ season, Burks caught nearly half that Friday night against Temple, collecting three touchdown passes from Jackson Arnold. The chemistry of the two, timing and rhythm was on full display.
Another transfer pass catcher for the Sooners wasted no time finding the box-score, as RS-Junior Bauer Sharp, another off-season popular name, caught the first touchdown of the year scored by the Sooners on a perfectly lofted pass from Jackson Arnold. Sharp, by way of Southeastern Louisiana was targeted early and often in this Oklahoma passing attack, a promising sign moving forward.
Friday night was not without its hiccups, however; as Oklahoma would struggle much of the evening to establish a consistent ground game.
As mentioned, Temple routinely played with a four and five-man front, and had seven to eight in the box. It was evident they were going to make Arnold prove he could beat them. Also, Oklahoma was down a few key guys on the offensive line, and lost starting center Branson Hickman midway through the first quarter, which did not help matters up front. Oklahoma started to get some traction on the ground with runs by Jovantae Barnes and true freshman Taylor Tatum. Barnes, who was banged up for much of the 23′ campaign, flashed. He looked healthy and fast. Welcome back Jovantae Barnes. Tatum, the much ballyhooed two-way star, certainly looked the part. Rushing for 69 yards and a touchdown, averaging 13.8 YPC. Tatum showed a silky-smooth glide and ability to break the first tackle. The true freshman will also play baseball for the Sooners this spring.
The Oklahoma defense certainly lived up to the billing of one of the SEC’s best, sacking Temple quarterback Forrest Brock, who had to feel like he was in a nightmare, six times. Also making 9 tackles for losses as a whole on Friday night. On top of those impressive stats, Oklahoma forced six Temple turnovers. They were suffocating at the line of scrimmage.
Freshman Jayden Jackson doesn’t show up in the box-score very much, but that is far from telling on the game Jackson played as he would routinely re-establish the line of scrimmage in the Temple backfield. Forcing backs to hesitate and allowing teammates time to clean up. He was not alone. Damonic Williams, Da’Jon Terry, and Gracen Halton were all terrors to a Temple offense that mustered a mere 197 yards of total offense on the evening. Halton, who I had the pleasure of interviewing in Norman this spring, smiled and said “to play more” when I asked what his 24′ goal was. I think he is on the right track. Collecting 3 tackles, 2 solo and 1.5 sacks.
The Oklahoma linebackers are as good as Norman has seen in quite some time. Danny Stutsman of course the headliner, but Kip Lewis, Kobie McKinzie, Sam Omosigho and Lewis Carter also looked outstanding. ” I loved how aggressive and confident our guys were moving around, flying to the balll and being aggressive and knocking the ball loose,” Venables would say after the game. He is on the money with this assessment. Oklahoma came with bad intentions and hit ball carriers with a presence. This is illustrated when Robert Spears-Jennings came flying downhill to shut down a screen over the middle in the first half, causing a fumble that Spears-Jennings would recover. That type of aggression was on display from every unit of Oklahoma’s defense.
The defensive ends were also a menace all night, as Ethan Downs and R Mason Thomas routinely set up camp in the Temple backfield causing throw aways and incompletions. Adepoju Adebawore, I thought also had a very solid game off the edge, using length and athleticism to affect the Temple offense.
The corners and safeties were not tested very much, but held up well on the outside when they were, and were very good in run support as well. Kani Walker had perhaps the highlight of the game when Kendal Dolby broke up a pass, tipped the ball into the air and Walker came down with the interception. Ball hawks, best description of the Oklahoma defense on Friday night.
Injuries happen in football, but the wide receiver room at Oklahoma has been hit hard the past month, losing assumed starter Jayden Gibson, Nic Anderson was also withheld Friday night, and starter Jalil Farooq suffered a broken foot against the Owls as well. Farooq is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. A very deep room coming into the season will be tested with its depth right off the bat. J.J. Hester, Andrel Anthony, and Brenan Thompson will have to step up over the coming weeks.
Special teams was not good in 23′, they looked night and day better Friday night. As transfer Tyler Keltner booted a 51 yard field goal and went 3-3 on the night, and was named the SEC Special Teams Player Of The Week. Peyton Bowen flashed, and showed why he is receiving punts on his lone try, hitting the edge fast for a 13 yard return. Luke Elzinga averaged 43.8 yards per punt as well.
All in all it was a very efficient, workmanlike performance from an Oklahoma team with superior talent. The offensive line will need to get some guys back and try to get into a rhythm up front. That will help the Oklahoma run game, and provide Arnold with better protection as he was routinely pressured Friday night.
Oklahoma returns to action at 6:45 CST September 7th hosting the Houston Cougars on the SEC Network
