Tag: 2023 Oklahoma Sooners Football

Report Card: Oklahoma Sooners up and down in Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona

It was an up and down performance in the Oklahoma Sooners 38-24 loss to Arizona and here’s our final report card for 2023.

All of the excitement that had been built up in anticipation of Jackson Arnold’s first start as the Sooners starting quarterback was dashed with a couple of first quarter interceptions.

It wasn’t how anyone hoped or expected it would start. Arnold rebounded to play well over the next two quarters as the Sooners built a 24-13 lead. However, turnovers at the end of the third quarter and in the fourth dashed Oklahoma’s hopes of ending the season on a high note.

Though there were six turnovers and the Sooners defense allowed some big plays, there were a lot of positives to take away from the game.

For the final time in 2023, here’s out postgame report card.

Social media reacts to the Oklahoma Sooners loss to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl

It was a tough way to end the 2023 season in the Sooners 38-24 loss to Arizona and here’s how social media reacted.

At one point in the third quarter, it looked as if the Oklahoma Sooners were going to run away from the Arizona Wildcats in their Alamo Bowl matchup. But the turnover bug that hurt the Sooners in the first quarter, reared its ugly head again toward the end of the third.

Instead of potentially going up 31-13 late in the third, the Sooners led by just three. And after the Wildcats defensive touchdown, it seemed as if the wheels fell off for the Sooners offense.

It was a tough way to end the season, but there were some promising moments that give us something to look forward to.

So how did social media react to the Sooners’ 38-24 loss? Always hard after a loss, but let’s take a look at some reactions to the overall performance, Jackson Arnold’s first start, and Nic Anderson and Drake Stoops’ big days.

Turnovers spoil third quarter lead, Sooners beat by Arizona 38-24 in Alamo Bowl

Oklahoma turned the ball over six times in their 38-24 loss, letting an 11-point third quarter lead slip away.

Turnovers were the name of the game in the Oklahoma Sooners loss to the Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl. Oklahoma turned the ball over six times, including four by true freshman Jackson Arnold, who was making the first start of his collegiate career.

Arizona jumped off to a quick start on the back of two Arnold interceptions in the first quarter and some big plays by Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. OU trailed 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.

But in the second, Jackson Arnold settled in and helped the Sooners end the half with a 14-0 run to take a one-point lead after the first 30 minutes.

Gavin Sawchuk kicked off the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown run to cut the Wildcats lead to six. The Sooners threatened to take the lead on their next possession after Kani Walker picked off Noah Fifita. But on the very next play, Jalil Farooq fumbled inside the red zone to give the ball back to the Wildcats.

The Sooners defense forced a Wildcats punt and Jackson Arnold continued his strong second quarter performance. He led the Sooners on a six-play, 92-yard drive, which culminated in a beautiful throw to Nic Anderson in the back corner of the end zone, who hauled it in on a beautiful diving sideline grab.

And it didn’t take long for the Oklahoma Sooners to add to their lead. Arnold hit Brenen Thompson down the field for a 63-yard touchdown that put Oklahoma up 21-13.

Two drives later, the Sooners extended their lead on a Zach Schmit field goal to go up 24-13.

It looked like the Sooners were in complete control of the game. Pac-12 freshman offensive player of the year Noah Fifita didn’t have an answer for the Sooners defense.

But the Sooners offense was unable to take advantage of the tremendous defensive effort through three quarters.

Arnold and the offense got the ball into scoring range again late in the third quarter. But after Arnold found Farooq on a slant, the Sooners’ veteran wide receiver coughed up the ball, which was recovered in the air and returned 87 yards for the touchdown.

The Wildcats took a 31-24 lead after Arnold’s third interception of the game and then salted it away after Arnold fumbled the ball away after being sacked.

And that was the story of the game. Turnovers and untimely penalties spoiled what looked like it might be a memorable first start for Arnold and a potential 11th win for the Sooners.

At times the Oklahoma offense found success both in the running game and through the air. Gavin Sawchuk had his fifth-straight 100-yard day, carrying the ball 15 times for 134 yards and a touchdown. He also added three receptions for 42 yards.

Arnold’s day ended 26 of 45 (58%) for 361 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions, and a fumble. Officially, he carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards.

Nic Anderson had seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown and Drake Stoops closed out his Oklahoma career with another nice performance, catching six balls for 82 yards.

Ultimately, the Sooners will go into the offseason feeling like they let this one slip away because they did. Poor ball security took points off the board or put the defense on a short field. There’s no recipe for success when you turn the ball over like that.

However, there’s a lot to learn from this game. And as the Sooners get set to embark on their first season in the SEC, they better be quick learners.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona Wildcats: Sooners Wire staff predictions

The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl. Sooners Wire staff predicts the final game of 2023.

The [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] era has officially begun in Norman, Oklahoma. He’ll make the first start of Sooners’ career in the Alamo Bowl when the Sooners take on one of the hottest teams in the country, the Arizona Wildcats.

On paper, this looks like an even matchup between two teams that rank inside the top 50 on both sides of the ball.

Like Oklahoma, the Wildcats will start a freshman at quarterback, Noah Fifita. He’s played really well in 2023 and is a big reason Arizona is on the verge of a 10-win season.

To get you ready for the 2023 Valero [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag], here are our final Sooners Wire staff predictions for the 2023 season.

5 Keys to an Oklahoma Sooners win over the Arizona Wildcats

Oklahoma will take on Arizona in the Valero Alamo Bowl Thursday. We shared our five keys to a Sooners victory.

Oklahoma will lace up its cleats and strap on its pads one final time as Team 129 on Thursday evening in San Antonio, Texas.

Its opponent will be a highly motivated Arizona Wildcats team with a nice mix of talent and experience. They are looking to send their upperclassmen out in a big way as they wrap up their final season in the Pac-12.

The Sooners finished the season with a track meet of a game against TCU the day after Thanksgiving. Dillon Gabriel put on one final show in his last game as an Oklahoma player. He has since transferred to the University of Oregon, where he will play his final college football season.

Arizona blasted its in-state rivals, Arizona State, 59-23 in the Duel in the Desert, to retain the Territorial Cup for another year. Its explosive offense, spearheaded by Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year quarterback Noah Fifita, can flat-out move the ball.

As Oklahoma descends upon Texas for one final game, we examine the five keys to a Sooners victory in the season’s last game.

No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners vs No. 14 Arizona Wildcats: How to Watch and key players for game day

The Sooners play their final game of the season in the Alamo Bowl, here is how you can watch the game and some key players.

The Oklahoma Sooners are set to wrap up their 2023 season. The Sooners are 10-2, but will face an [autotag]Arizona Wildcats[/autotag] team that is 9-3 and ranked No. 14.

The Sooners’ two losses came by a combined eight points. The Wildcats also know about close losses. Their three losses came by a combined 16 points, and two came in overtime.

There is a strong argument there isn’t a hotter team in college football than Arizona. It has won six straight by an average margin of 20.2 points per game, including four against ranked teams.

The Wildcats bring in the nation’s 18th-ranked offense and the 36th-ranked defense. They rank in the top 26 in both scoring offense and scoring defense.

Outside the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag], Arizona might be the most complete team the Sooners have faced all season. So, let’s take a look at how you can watch the game, some key players and an update on who is playing.

Seth Littrell not looking to change things up ahead of Sooners Alamo Bowl contest

Though the offensive coordinator will be different, the Sooners offense will remain the same in their Alamo Bowl matchup with Arizona.

Anytime there’s a coordinator change, you can expect things to look different on that side of the ball. However, that won’t happen just yet with the Oklahoma Sooners as they get set to take on the Arizona Wildcats.

Gone is [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag]. Insert [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] as the new offensive coordinators. Littrell will call the plays. While the play-caller will be different, the offense will look a lot like the one Lebby produced with the Sooners.

Speaking with the media in the buildup to the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag], Littrell spoke about maintaining continuity for the Sooners in their bowl preparation.

“The offense that we’re running will stay consistent with what we’ve done throughout the year,” Littrell said. “Then we can look up after the season and figure out what we need to do moving forward as far as adjustments and kind of evolving and how we grow. But this isn’t the time for that. This is the time for these guys to go out there and play fast and have that camaraderie together.”

The tenets of the offense that have been so good this year will still be evident in Littrell’s execution. They’ll want to play fast, run the football, and try to hit big plays in the passing game. With [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] in at quarterback, the Sooners will have a bigger arm to help push the ball down the field.

The question is, will the true freshman have time? Oklahoma will be missing their left guard and center from the final three games of the season after [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag] transferred and [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] opted out of the bowl to prepare for the NFL draft.

The Alamo Bowl may provide our first look at the offensive philosophy of Seth Littrell. Though the scheme and the plays will remain the same, how they’re called, the flow of the game and Littrell’s offensive demeanor may look different.

Oklahoma Sooners depth chart for Alamo Bowl matchup vs. Arizona Wildcats

A look at the Oklahoma Sooners depth chart heading into the Alamo Bowl.

The Oklahoma Sooners released the depth chart for the 2023 Valero Alamo Bowl matchup with the Arizona Wildcats.

The depth chart is one of the more intriguing storylines, considering the opt outs and the transfer departures. That is particularly true on the offensive side of the ball. Oklahoma will break in a new starting quarterback and multiple offensive linemen when it takes on an Arizona defense that ranked No. 27 in the nation in points per game allowed.

The biggest storyline for the Sooners comes at quarterback. Jackson Arnold is set to make his first career start for OU. That alone makes the game incredibly intriguing for the Sooners, who hope Arnold can take their offense to another level as they prepare for their first season in the SEC.

The Oklahoma Sooners depth chart heading into the Alamo Bowl:

Oklahoma Sooners to face one of their tougher tests of the season

Arizona didn’t suffer many losses in preparation for the Alamo Bowl, which will provide the Oklahoma Sooners with a tough test.

The Oklahoma Sooners are 10 days away from taking on the [autotag]Arizona Wildcats[/autotag] in the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag].

The Wildcats are 9-3 and their three losses were by a combined 16 points, including two that ended in overtime. The other loss was by seven points to a 13-0 [autotag]Washington Huskies[/autotag] team that’s playing in the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag].

So far, it looks like only one starter for the Wildcats plans to opt out of the bowl game. The Sooners, on the other hand, have several starters missing as they bid for an 11-win season.

Arizona will be one of the more complete teams the Sooners have faced this season. The Wildcats have a top-20 offense and a top-40 defense. The one area they struggle in is they don’t force many turnovers (12), leading to a plus-two turnover margin.

Brent Venables spoke with reporters about Arizona and the youth the Sooners will face next Thursday.

“I think they have eight players that have ever been to a bowl game. Arizona hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2017 but only eight players on their roster. So, they have 110 and they’ve got 102 guys that have never been to a bowl game. So, they’ll be excited to be there. I think they have one gentleman who opted out. Their left tackle. Otherwise, to this point, everybody on their depth chart will be in San Antonio.”

People look at the Arizona brand and immediately think this should be an easy win, but there’s no doubt that if Oklahoma doesn’t play well, they can be beaten. This is a very good Arizona team that can give Oklahoma all kinds of fits.

Having nearly their entire roster available will benefit the Wildcats and create some obstacles for a Sooners squad that is dealing with transfer and NFL departures in the run-up to the Alamo Bowl.

It will be a tough test for the Sooners, but it will provide some valuable information about this team heading into the offseason.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

‘Their focus is a little different’: Brent Venables on the importance of returning seniors

The Sooners have received a lot of good news on the defensive side of the ball with four key players returning for their senior seasons.

No matter where he’s been, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has been able to get players to return for their senior seasons. He did that once again this offseason as four key players on the defensive side of the ball announced they would be returning for one last ride.

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] and [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag] all played key parts in the improvement of the defense and will all play a huge role in how the first year in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] goes.

Venables spoke about how important it is for players to return for their senior years.

“My experience has been, the older you are, the more you’ve played, the better you play,” Venables said. “Guys that are playing that fourth or that fifth or that sixth year, they just play more consistently. Their focus is a little different. They don’t get as distracted. These are guys that are coming back. They are focused on a mission, the mission of this program, certainly on the team and then themselves. So, it’s a very committed group of guys.”

It’s also important to have those guys there to be able to help the young guys continue to progress. It’s now year three in this system for them, so it helps the coaches out when the players can help teach the scheme. Which in turn should lead to fewer mental mistakes.

The Sooners will rely on underclassmen to step into big roles on both sides of the football. Having that experience on the defensive side will make the transition even smoother.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.