Oklahoma can beat New Mexico and still carry some of the same questions into Georgia week.
That is the challenge facing the Sooners after Michigan. They need a win, but they also need an offensive performance built on things they can repeat when the competition gets tougher: accurate throws, a dependable running game and a plan that fits their personnel.
Those questions drove the latest OUInsider Pregame Podcast as we examined Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer’s response, Ben Arbuckle’s approach, the offensive line and a major recruiting weekend in Norman.
Saturday offers Oklahoma an opportunity to rebuild confidence. What the Sooners do with it matters beyond the final score.
Mateer needs to find his rhythm
Oklahoma has seen Mateer make difficult throws. The concern is whether he can consistently make the available ones while keeping the offense on schedule.
His performance against Michigan raised questions about accuracy, comfort and how the offense should be structured around him. The podcast also examined Oklahoma’s quarterback depth and whether a temporary change could help a struggling starter reset.
The more immediate answer, however, may involve getting Mateer back to the parts of the game that bring out his best.
His physical running ability was a major part of the discussion. Designed runs can give Oklahoma another way to move the chains, force defenders to account for the quarterback and help Mateer establish a rhythm. That does not remove his responsibility to deliver accurate passes. It gives Arbuckle another way to help him settle into a game.
The comparisons to quarterbacks such as Jalen Hurts and Tim Tebow centered on building an offense around a player’s strengths. Oklahoma needs to determine how much of that approach belongs in its plan moving forward.
Confidence has to show up in the execution
The conversation also addressed Mateer’s leadership and the frustration surrounding the offense.
There is a difference between what fans see during a difficult postgame interview and how a quarterback interacts with teammates throughout the week. Mateer has shown a vocal, competitive personality behind the scenes. Now Oklahoma needs that confidence to translate into more consistent play.
A productive night against New Mexico would help. It would not settle every question about Georgia.
There is a stark difference and that matters — the podcast discussion said as much. Still, Oklahoma showed an encouraging offensive approach against UTEP, but the Michigan game left questions about execution and whether the Sooners would consistently lean on what worked — or find the type of rhythm and gameplay that was conducive to how Mateer plays on the field.
Naturally, and with that type of thought in mind, Brandon Drumm, Travis Davidson and Jalen Posey stated the next step NEEDS to be establishing an approach the players execute well and the staff trusts enough to carry into SEC competition.
Can the running backs provide more explosiveness?
Oklahoma running backs Jonathan Hatton Jr. and Tory Blaylock were the biggest part of the pregame podcast conversation when it came to what could change in Oklahoma’s backfield.
The Sooners need to find out whether either can provide the combination of physicality and explosive production that gives the running game a more dependable identity — and most importantly a game-changer. The starter at RB during the first two game, Lloyd Avant, remains part of that discussion, with differing views on how well he has actually played and why his performance has been what it was.
The bigger and more pressing question is how Oklahoma creates enough productive rushing opportunities to take pressure off Mateer.
Two- and three-tight-end formations were another point of debate. Those packages can support the running game and create play-action opportunities, but they can also bring more defenders into a crowded box. Oklahoma still has to execute in run blocking and make opponents pay when passing opportunities appear.
For Arbuckle, the challenge for him is to bring everything together, offensively, and create a gameplay to sustain drives and generate bigger plays on the ground and in the air.
The offensive line remains a major variable
Oklahoma left tackle Michael Fasusi’s health and do-it-all offensive lineman Ryan Fodje’s position were part of the discussion about how Oklahoma can improve up front.
Among the possibilities examined were Fodje at right tackle and E’Marion Harris moving inside. Those were just a few potential solutions discussed on the podcast. For now, Fasusi is likely limited (at best) and most likely not playing this weekend to make sure he is ready for UGA.
Whatever combination Oklahoma uses, the trio says standard needs to improve. The Sooners must protect Mateer more consistently — though that hasn’t been Mateer’s problem, for the most part. To the OUInsier trio, the offensive line, and offense as a whole, should really create rushing opportunities that do not require the quarterback or running back to rescue the play.
Getting the right players in the right positions is part of that process. Executing consistently once they are there is just as necessary.
New Mexico presents its own defensive test
The Lobos’ use of formations and misdirection gives Oklahoma’s defense something specific to prepare for.
UNM likes to use two and three QBs, so Oklahoma’s defensive front has an opportunity to disrupt New Mexico’s timing. That timing will be critical with so many different cadences and the differing skillsets each QB brings.
The Sooners cannot afford to look ahead to UGA. New Mexico was 10-2 last year and their offense has been lethal in the first two weeks — though vs. lesser opponents. Still, looking ahead is how you end up in a spot you don’t want to be and OUInsider discusses that on their pregame pod extensively.
A loaded recruiting weekend adds to the stakes
Last, but definitely not least, Oklahoma also has an important opportunity with prospects visiting Norman.
The visitor discussion included Gabe Osborne, Kaeden Penny, Cooper Hackett and Cooper Witten, along
Oklahoma can beat New Mexico and still carry some of the same questions into Georgia week.
That is the challenge facing the Sooners after Michigan. They need a win, but they also need an offensive performance built on things they can repeat when the competition gets tougher: accurate throws, a dependable running game and a plan that fits their personnel.
Those questions drove the latest OUInsider Pregame Podcast as we examined John Mateer’s response, Ben Arbuckle’s approach, the offensive line and a major recruiting weekend in Norman.
Saturday offers Oklahoma an opportunity to rebuild confidence. What the Sooners do with it matters beyond the final score.
Mateer needs to find his rhythm
Oklahoma has seen Mateer make difficult throws. The concern is whether he can consistently make the available ones while keeping the offense on schedule.
His performance against Michigan raised questions about accuracy, comfort and how the offense should be structured around him. The podcast also examined Oklahoma’s quarterback depth and whether a temporary change could help a struggling starter reset.
The more immediate answer, however, may involve getting Mateer back to the parts of the game that bring out his best.
His physical running ability was a major part of the discussion. Designed runs can give Oklahoma another way to move the chains, force defenders to account for the quarterback and help Mateer establish a rhythm. That does not remove his responsibility to deliver accurate passes. It gives Arbuckle another way to help him settle into a game.
The comparisons to quarterbacks such as Jalen Hurts and Tim Tebow centered on building an offense around a player’s strengths. Oklahoma needs to determine how much of that approach belongs in its plan moving forward.
Confidence has to show up in the execution
The conversation also addressed Mateer’s leadership and the frustration surrounding the offense.
There is a difference between what fans see during a difficult postgame interview and how a quarterback interacts with teammates throughout the week. Mateer has shown a vocal, competitive personality behind the scenes. Now Oklahoma needs that confidence to translate into more consistent play.
A productive night against New Mexico would help. It would not settle every question about Georgia.
There is a stark difference and that matters — the podcast discussion said as much. Still, Oklahoma showed an encouraging offensive approach against UTEP, but the Michigan game left questions about execution and whether the Sooners would consistently lean on what worked — or find the type of rhythm and gameplay that was conducive to how Mateer plays on the field.
Naturally, and with that type of thought in mind, Brandon Drumm, Travis Davidson and Jalen Posey stated the next step NEEDS to be establishing an approach the players execute well and the staff trusts enough to carry into SEC competition.
Can the running backs provide more explosiveness?
Oklahoma running backs Jonathan Hatton Jr. and Tory Blaylock were the biggest part of the pregame podcast conversation when it came to what could change in Oklahoma’s backfield.
The Sooners need to find out whether either can provide the combination of physicality and explosive production that gives the running game a more dependable identity — and most importantly a game-changer. The starter at RB during the first two game, Lloyd Avant, remains part of that discussion, with differing views on how well he has actually played and why his performance has been what it was.
The bigger and more pressing question is how Oklahoma creates enough productive rushing opportunities to take pressure off Mateer.
Two- and three-tight-end formations were another point of debate. Those packages can support the running game and create play-action opportunities, but they can also bring more defenders into a crowded box. Oklahoma still has to execute in run blocking and make opponents pay when passing opportunities appear.
For Arbuckle, the challenge for him is to bring everything together, offensively, and create a gameplay to sustain drives and generate bigger plays on the ground and in the air.
The offensive line remains a major variable
Oklahoma left tackle Michael Fasusi’s health and do-it-all offensive lineman Ryan Fodje’s position were part of the discussion about how Oklahoma can improve up front.
Among the possibilities examined were Fodje at right tackle and E’Marion Harris moving inside. Those were just a few potential solutions discussed on the podcast. For now, Fasusi is likely limited (at best) and most likely not playing this weekend to make sure he is ready for UGA.
Whatever combination Oklahoma uses, the trio says standard needs to improve. The Sooners must protect Mateer more consistently — though that hasn’t been Mateer’s problem, for the most part. To the OUInsier trio, the offensive line, and offense as a whole, should really create rushing opportunities that do not require the quarterback or running back to rescue the play.
Getting the right players in the right positions is part of that process. Executing consistently once they are there is just as necessary.
New Mexico presents its own defensive test
The Lobos’ use of formations and misdirection gives Oklahoma’s defense something specific to prepare for.
UNM likes to use two and three QBs, so Oklahoma’s defensive front has an opportunity to disrupt New Mexico’s timing. That timing will be critical with so many different cadences and the differing skillsets each QB brings.
The Sooners cannot afford to look ahead to UGA. New Mexico was 10-2 last year and their offense has been lethal in the first two weeks — though vs. lesser opponents. Still, looking ahead is how you end up in a spot you don’t want to be and OUInsider discusses that on their pregame pod extensively.
A loaded recruiting weekend adds to the stakes
Last, but definitely not least, Oklahoma also has an important opportunity with prospects visiting Norman.
The visitor discussion included Gabe Osborne, Kaeden Penny, Cooper Hackett and Cooper Witten, along with names such as Jay Schell, Connor Arant and Trey Tagliaferri. The visitors are from 2027, 2028 and 2029 classes, bringing together over 15 commitments and targets the Sooners’ staffers are working to land.
With dozens of prospects expected (full list here on OUInsider.com) the weekend gives Oklahoma a chance to strengthen relationships, let commitments spend time with potential future teammates and make an impression some of the more important uncommitted targets.
The episode also covered names to watch for future movement and possible new offers.
All three cohosts picked Oklahoma to win, with final predictions of 33–10, 31–7 and 38–6. The larger question is what the performance will tell us about the Sooners before Georgia.
A win would be a start. Cleaner execution and an offense that knows what it does well would give Oklahoma something to build off of heading into the, arguably, the biggest two-game stretch in quite some time for OU football program.
Watch or listen to the full OUInsider Pregame Podcast for the complete New Mexico preview, recruiting discussion, national game picks and score predictions.
