As Tennessee approaches, Ben Arbuckle continues to work to get his offense and John Mateer on track. The offensive line also got a big boost when true freshman Ryan Fodje played well as a member of the starting offensive line last week against Ole Miss. But if the Sooners don't clean up major mistakes in special teams and penalties, this season will enter a desperate mode heading down the home stretch. None of this is easy, but the Sooners have to find a way to stop making it harder than it needs to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last three weeks have not been the greatest for John Mateer since his return from hand surgery. Whether it's identifying receivers, struggling with accuracy or making plays with his legs, Mateer hasn't looked the same as he did early in the season. As the Sooners get set for another major SEC battle with Tennessee this weekend, Mateer, Arbuckle and head coach Brent Venables talked about the issues facing this OU offense. This program is looking for a turnaround with a brutal four-game slate to finish the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer talked openly about his recovery from hand surgery this week, including how he manages his rehab and his ability to throw the football as he continues to get more and more healthy. As Mateer continues to get better, he's also starting to rebuild his relationship on the field with Javonnie Gibson, who was a bigger part of the gameplan Saturday against South Carolina. And it appears Xavier Robinson is finally starting to separate from the pack behind Tory Blaylock as the Sooners continue their efforts to build a running game on offense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first practice report of a huge week starts on defense as Brent Venables and Reggie Powers talk about the Cheetah position and why it is playing so well. And what does the future hold for Kendal Dolby? Is he looking to redshirt? Or even transfer? The OU run game has John Mateer smiling after they racked up over 170 yards against South Carolina. It's also been a great season for Tate Sandell as OU's placekicker up to this point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Sooners get ready to take on South Carolina following an emotional loss to rival Texas, Brent Venables has a message for his team: There's still a lot left to play for. At 5-1, the Sooners have the toughest stretch in front of them on the 2025 schedule. First off, the Sooners need to get healthy on the offensive line and there were positive updates in that area early in the week. The defensive is looking for a bounce back performance after giving up more rushing yards than normal against the Longhorns. And the future of Jayden Gibson at Oklahoma has finally been determined. It's the Oklahoma Sooners Practice Report. It's time to move on to South Carolina. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Oklahoma gets set to take on South Carolina, Brent Venables finds himself in a social media war with the Big 12 Conference. But around here, more people are concerned with the lack of run game being displayed by the OU offense. And as this team heads on the road in the SEC, these games are often one score games. Is the running game going to continue holding OU back from being on top of those one score games? Or will they start to figure this thing out. Oh, and the health of the offensive line is also something we'll be paying close attention to this week. And how is John Mateer bouncing back this week after a tough performance against the Longhorns? Is he healthy yet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While we've already talked a lot about John Mateer's availability for Saturday's Red River Rivalry, there are a lot of other matchups that will go a long way in deciding this year's edition. OU's defensive line would appear to have a huge advantage over a Longhorn offensive line that has been struggling all season. And what about Brent Venables vs. Steve Sarkisian? Can the Sooners find some continuity at the running back position? And it also appears the Sooners can lay claim to the edge on special teams as well. We hear from coaches and players on the matchup in today's Practice Report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brent Venables held his weekly press conference on Tuesday and was peppered with questions about the status of quarterback John Mateer, who is attempting to return from a hand injury for the Red River Rivalry. Ben Arbuckle also held his weekly press conference and was asked all the same questions. What do Eddie and George take out of the answers given about the possibilities of Mateer returning? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes. Michael Hawkins Jr. is starting Saturday against Kent State. And the support he's received through the bye week and during game week prep will determine how he plays in his first start as a sophomore. Ben Arbuckle talked this week about preparing Hawkins and how senior offensive analyst John Kuceyeski plays a big part in getting his quarterbacks prepared to play well on gamedays. Arbuckle also had a message about Jaydn Ott and his readiness to play along with his name being associated with head coaching jobs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a long year since Michael Hawkins Jr., was thrust into the spotlight against Auburn. Hawkins was elevated to a starting role, then benched, then put back in the spotlight during last season's bowl game. This time around Hawkins has the support of a capable offensive coordinator, a capable quarterbacks coach and a better offensive line. At least from a protection point of view. No one knows exactly what we'll see from Hawkins this weekend against Kent State. But the belief is strong in Hawkins as the Sooners trying and bide their time before John Mateer returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the bye week, we did get a chance to catch up with a lot of Oklahoma football players. John Mateer playing through a thumb injury for three quarters really made a huge impression on the team once they found out he was injured at all. Deion Burks and Peyton Bowen are both looking forward to the college football world getting first looks of Javonnie Gibson and Eli Bowen for the first time this season when the Sooners take the field against Kent State. Grayson Miller talks about his journey to Oklahoma and everyone is excited for Michael Hawkins Jr., to get behind center and show the world he's improved since last season. #ad For a limited time, our listerns can get Harry's trial set for only $8 + a Free Gift at Harrys.com/SOONERSCOOP. Just head over to https://www.harrys.com/soonerscoop to receive our exclusive discount. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was the final practice of the bye week this afternoon as John Mateer returned home from his surgery in Los Angeles in the hopes of returning to the field as soon as possible. But in the meantime, the Sooners are getting ready to move forward with Michael Hawkins Jr., behind center. The return of Eli Bowen is imminent as well as the debut of wide receiver Javonnie Gibson. Brent Venables talked about preparing to move forward without Mateer for the time being and the confidence and mindset of this team without him after practice on Thursday. #ad For a limited time, our listerns can get Harry's trial set for only $8 + a Free Gift at Harrys.com/SOONERSCOOP. Just head over to https://www.harrys.com/soonerscoop to receiver our exclusive discount. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SoonerScoop was first to report that John Mateer, Oklahoma quarterback, and a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, could possibly miss three weeks after suffering a hand injury against Auburn. The OU QB will have surgery this week and give way to sophomore QB Michael Hawkins, Jr. Eddie and George break it all down and tell you where they think things go from here in Norman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oklahoma offense has had its fair share of standouts over the first three weeks. Jaren Kanak, Deion Burks, Keontez Lewis and more. And that's the thing. We keep seeing more. Isaiah Sategna broke out against Temple. We've seen flashes from others. And Javonnie Gibson isn't even back from injury yet. A big part of that has to do with the trust that Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer are showing in a lot of different players on the roster. Even second-year talent Zion Kearney is starting to show signs of breaking out. We also have more on the offensive line as well as the arrival of Tory Blaylock as the Sooners newest explosive weapon out of the backfield. And Jovantae Barnes still has a role to play in the offense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So many storylines, and not all good ones, continue to develop this week during practice. OU has lost a team captain and season opening starter for the season along the offensive line. And now others are banged up heading into a huge game. What does it look like on the OL headed toward kickoff? R Mason Thomas needs someone to step in and fill his shoes for the first half. Could it be Adepoju Adebawore? In good news, David Stone is starting to step up on the defensive line and that 5-star talent is starting to show. And oh yeah, Jackson Arnold returns to Norman for one of the biggest showdowns of the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oklahoma football's offensive coordinator has been down this road before with a player as unique as Jaren Kanak. He explains his connection to Kanak and his position switch from linebacker to tight end and why it's been so successful. We also explored OU's run game with Arbuckle on Tuesday, whether that be John Mateer or Tory Blaylock and others. The Sooners also look to be putting the pieces together on the offensive line as they hit the road for the first time this season to take on Temple.#AD Over 2 Million Butts Love TUSHY. Get 10% off TUSHY with the code SOONERSCOOP at https://hellotushy.com/SOONERSCOOP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sooners won one of the biggest matchups of the early college football season against Michigan. But now that everyone is singing the Sooners' praises, how will they deal with success? Will the hunger still be there? And can John Mateer survive a season running the ball as much as he did against Michigan. We've also seen how much OU practices special teams in practice. So how are they struggling in that area? We head to Philadelphia this week. Will the Sooners come back looking like a focused contender? Or a team that bought into all the hype and didn't stay focused on the football? #AD SoonerScoop's exclusive licensed apparel partner is Homefield. Get your incredibly comfortable, officially licensed apparel with vintage college designs at https://www.homefieldapparel.com #AD Over 2 Million Butts Love TUSHY. Get 10% off TUSHY with the code SOONERSCOOP at https://hellotushy.com/SOONERSCOOP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Arbuckle finally has his first game under his belt as the offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma. But now he faces a defense that is expected to be a challenge to even the top offenses in the country with Michigan coming to town. Arbuckle talked about the challenge of Michigan, the wide receiver rotation, the run game, the surprisingly productive tight end group and what he takes from longtime offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson on the sidelines during games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brent Venables held his pre-Michigan press conference today and addressed some of the biggest issues from fans coming out of the season opener. What is going on with Jaydn Ott? Venables will be facing a former player during his time at OU as a co-defensive coordinator in Sherrone Moore, Michigan's head coach. Does the SEC need a big win over a Big Ten team? Are the Sooners playing for conference pride this week? We also find out why Owen Heinecke has become such a big part of the linebacker rotation. Gentry Williams' return to the field also seems to make everyone in the OU program feel the feels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a bit of a twist this year, Ben Arbuckle, Oklahoma's newest offensive coordinator, will be holding a weekly press conference on Tuesdays. It's a great chance for fans and media to learn more about Arbuckle and he started off the opening week taking questions about the depth chart and particularly running back rotations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices