Oklahoma is set to have a reprieve from the grueling SEC schedule it’s been immersed in for the last month as the Maine Black Bears make the trip down to Norman, Oklahoma, on Saturday. Maine is far from an FCS football power, and Oklahoma will certainly have the more talented roster when the teams take the field.
Maine, led by head coach Jordan Stevens, comes into the game sitting at 4-4 (2-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association) after a 24-14 loss on the road against the University of Rhode Island last week. Oklahoma aims to end a three-game losing streak and put themselves one win closer to bowl contention.
Losing Saturday would likely put bowl contention in grave danger as the Sooners probably wouldn’t be favored to win in any of their remaining three games following Saturday’s clash with Maine.
Maine will come motivated to play such an iconic program as one would imagine, and if the Sooners aren’t on their game, they could find themselves in a dogfight that they probably have no business being in.
Maine is far from a complete team, and there are areas and things the Sooners can do to significantly increase their chances of winning. We decided to look at three key Maine players to know as we get closer and closer to game time.
Carter Peevy, QB
Signal caller Carter Peevy, a graduate transfer from Mercer, leads Maine’s offense. At Mercer last year, Peevy helped lead his squad to the FCS Playoffs while going 202 of 304 for 2,284 yards with 11 touchdowns.
He’s already matched that total in passing touchdowns this year, as he is 147 of 210 throwing for 1,591 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s completing 70 percent of his throws as well. He has carried the ball 67 times for 254 yards.
Peevy is an experienced player who Maine trusts to make the right decisions. He’s thrown just four interceptions in eight games this season. Oklahoma will want to play tight man coverage, force Peevy to make throws into tight windows, and see if they can grab an interception. If they pressure him early and often, it could pay dividends.
Montigo Moss, WR
The playmaker to watch for the Black Bears is senior wide receiver Montigo Moss. He stands six feet tall and weighs in at 220 pounds. He leads Maine with 421 receiving yards and has three touchdowns on the season. In the last three games, he’s had five receptions each.
He’s not a burner, but he understands how to separate at the top of routes. He a trusted option for Peevy in the passing game. Maine has him lined up primarily outside the numbers but is unafraid to move him around to give defenses new looks and find favorable matchups.
Xavier Holmes, DL
Maine is led on the defensive side of the ball by junior Xavier Holmes. Holmes is their most dominant force on that side.
He leads them in sacks (5.5), tackles for loss (9.5), and is second on the team in total tackles at 47. He has forced and recovered two fumbles while leading the team in quarterback pressures.
Oklahoma’s offensive line has been much maligned. While Holmes isn’t the first-round talent this offensive line has seen over the last three weeks, he’s a competitor and, if given the opportunity, can and will make plays for his team.
With the possibility of the Sooners playing some younger players like offensive tackle Isaiah Autry-Dent, it’ll be interesting to see how they fare against an experienced pass rusher.