The Oklahoma Sooners received a rude awakening in their first SEC matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers. The margin of victory is so narrow in the SEC that three first-half turnovers and the failure to capitalize on first-and-goal from the 5-yard line are all it takes for the game to run away from you.
It was a disappointing loss for a Sooners squad that has higher expectations for itself.
After the loss to Tennessee, the Oklahoma Sooners dropped to No. 18 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 21 in the AP Top 25. In ESPN’s updated power rankings, the Sooners held on by a thread, coming in at No. 24.
The Sooners’ offensive frustrations boiled over against Tennessee, with Brent Venables benching Jackson Arnold for freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., but neither quarterback had much time to throw, with the Tennessee pass rush pressuring the Sooners on 49% of dropbacks, according to ESPN Research.
And there was no running game to take any pressure off, with 16 of the Sooners’ 34 rushing attempts gaining zero or negative yards and OU gaining just 222 total yards. The Sooners’ defense held up against the Vols’ acrobatic offense, but it will need help through the Sooners’ first SEC season. – Dave Wilson, ESPN
The quarterback situation became the tip of the iceberg for the Oklahoma Sooners offense that can’t find a running game and a wide receiver room dropping like flies.
Arnold hasn’t been the only issue, but he hasn’t helped the offense with his decision making. He has to be better. Oklahoma hasn’t determined who will be the starter this week, but it’s safe to say there will be a legitimate quarterback competition this week. Hawkins proved capable of making the right reads in the game and taking care of the football. And as long as Oklahoma doesn’t turn the ball over, it has a defense capable of keeping it in games all season.
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