UTEP

 As the fall of 2026 is upon us, I am pleased to be starting our 17th season of "publishing" the Steamroller. Yes, it's bad, yes, it's hastily thrown together most weeks but it's a damned tradition. So here we go again. The Sooners probably exceeded expectations last season making the college football playoff for the first time under Brent Venables. It's taken him a few years, but he finally delivered on bringing that top defense to Norman that has been missing since probably 2003ish. Sadly, the offense was still a work in progress (the irony!) so what was probably a championship level defense wasn't enough. I'll take a good D, bad O combo any day over the opposite though, so it was a welcome change at least. The Sooners return a lot of really good player and have a healthy Mateer back at QB. Let's hope the two sides of the ball can get cooking at the same time and something exciting can happen this year. 

The injury problems this fall has been somewhat of a bummer. First the starting center went down early in camp with an MCL strain that is expected to keep him out until Michigan at the earliest, and possibly for 2 more weeks after that. Then, this week we learned that the backup has also injured his knee and will miss at least the UTEP game. So third string it is! It's a little alarming that the original "backup" C was actually a G/T that moved over and hadn't really played C much except for a few snaps in high school. This doesn't give me a ton of confidence in the lad, although hopefully he can hold his own against what should be an overmatched UTEP squad. Additionally Parker Livingston (that's right, only skill position players names are worth my time) is in the concussion protocol as of this week. He's not officially out, but definitely in doubt at this point. All this to say, let's get past UTEP without anyone else getting knocked out, and try to get healthy for that big road test in Michigan the following week.

Offense

While I love a healthy John Mateer and am very excited to see if he can put his late season decision making behind him, I'm going another direction for OPG. Mateer will obviously have to start making good decisions, hitting open guys, and throwing the ball away when nothing is there. Injured hand or not, those things should be (desperately need to be) improved upon. But against UTEP I hope he isn't playing after halftime. Not to overlook anyone, but if this team expects to be playing in the CFP again, this game should be a tune up. I'm expecting a ground and pound game and I'm going with Xavier Robinson as my OPG.

Defense

While no doubt this unit had some significant departures, they still return a great group of players. Taylor Wein really blew up last year and I'm expecting a huge season from him. Likewise David Stone is just an absolute monster up front. Our Cheetah returns and basically the entire secondary is back. There is a lot to like on this side of the ball. I do think UTEP will try to stay away from Wein and Stone on directional play calling and that's why I'm going with Jayden Jackson for my DPG. Dude is a beast and will get tested a lot this year as a result of the talent around him.

Score

Our Sooners are a relatively modest 41.5 favorites against a better-than-your-usual-cupcake UTEP team. I think the offense stays vanilla and I think the defense clamps down. Vegas knows, as usual, but I don't think the Sooners quite cover here but it's never in doubt really, Sooners roll 41-6. Let's fucking go.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Alabama CFP Edition

An exciting time is upon Sooner nation. Our beloved Crimson-clad football team finds itself in the college football playoff for the first time in its current iteration. I made a remark before the LSU game to Mitch that I simply wanted the Sooners in, everything else is gravy. Which are the words of a fan expecting little going into the season and at the time on the cusp of the postseason. But that was then, now I of course want more. 

After beating the aforementioned LSU tigers and all but sealing a trip to the postseason, in my head I mostly decided I just didn’t want to play anyone we’d played before, specifically Alabama. And in spite of my wish of them losing to Georgia coming true, they somehow got in with 3 losses. This is called Horseshit, if you’re groping for the technical term. 

In the first meeting, as sweet as it was, all but the most delusional Sooner fan I think would agree that OU got lucky. The D was excellent, the O was dreadful and the turnover battle was the difference. A pick six and 2 other turnovers were the difference. Assuming the offense and play-calling are still dreadful (no real reason to think otherwise given the total lack of adjustment during the season), it would almost require replicating that same performance. This seems, um, unlikely. 

Offense

What a disaster this part of the team has been. And what irony that when the Sooners finally put together a really good defense, they can’t score. Mateer has mostly been bad all year. I won’t dig into my opinions as to why, but it’s maddening at the end of the day. And yet, the scoring lives and dies with him. I’ve tried to pick RBs but none of them have done much in the sparing opportunities they’ve had. So I am going with Mateer. I think/hope the extra time has allowed him to reset, rest and get his head right. I think he plays well, limits turnovers and puts some points on the board. 

Defense

So many good players on this side of the ball. The front is going to have to really dominate this game for the Sooners to have a chance. Ty Simpson needs to get acquainted with the turf early and often. But I think that while the front is tying up the Alabama line, Owen Heinecke is flying around and making plays. I like him for a ton of tackles and one takeaway. 

Score

If you can’t tell, I’m nervous. Alabama has the advantage of a chip on their shoulder and the confidence knowing they should’ve won the first time. Yet the Sooners faithful will be out in force and making it a tough road environment. Additionally, the fact that they beat the Tide on the road and are still home dogs has to be lighting a fire. This all put together with a little vintage Sooner Magic has the good guys winning. Sooners escape, 24-23. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin’ Sooner 

Louisiana State Tigers vs. Oklahoma Sooners

 Greetings, Sooner fans and welcome to the final Saturday of the regular season. The Sooners find themselves in the proverbial drivers seat with regards to a playoff spot. Yessir, it's win and quite likely in. Standing in the Sooners way in Norman, however, is a dangerous LSU Tiger squad. A disappointing bunch, at best, with nothing to lose and an opportunity to play spoiler. Much like last week against Mizzou, the Sooners are fortunate to be at home with a friendly crowd.

Speaking of last week, the Sooners shut down the Mizzou running attack and won the turnover battle. That proved to be a winning formula, go figure. The Sooners will need to replicate that plan again today because, let's be real, the Ben Arbuckle led Sooners offense is suspect at best. 

OFFENSE

Speaking of suspect offenses, we've watched this season as the offensive line has struggled both on and off the field before settling into a solid rotation the last month or so. We've seen John Mateer come out like gangbusters before breaking his hand and then watched as he's thrown all balls with the same trajectory and velocity. He has, however, reduced his turnovers. That leaves Ben Arbuckle who seems hell bent on calling the game he dreams of in his mind versus what he has available from a personnel standpoint and by what the defense gives him.

Today, and for the rest of the season, the Sooners need to play ball control football. Get first downs, hang onto the ball. Own field possession. Use Tate Sandell as needed and score a couple touchdowns. You do that by running the ball. They need a running back in the backfield to at least make the defense think someone besides Mateer might run in it in obivious Mateer running situations.

So again, I'm picking Xavier Robinson for OPOG. Not because I think he'll have a big day so much as I am trying to will into existence the commitment to a running attack.

DEFENSE

What's left to say? These boys have carried the load. I think today, where the wind is whipping and the game could get ugly, these guys are going to be hungry. There is no way they are letting LSU control the action with it all on the line. 

Today I'm going Kendal Daniels for my DPOG. He's been getting some pub this week. He's a Senior, it's Senior Day. He's ready to let it rip.

SCORE

I can't believe the Sooners are 10+ point favorites, but I haven't watched a lot of LSU football and they do have some guys dinged up. The season has been a disaster, obviously, for them.

I feel like it's our new stock in trade to score about 24 points and give up potentially about 17. 

24-17 Sooners 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

LSU

 Here we are my friends, the last game of the season and it’s a big one. After a bleak middle of the season sitting at 2 losses and facing a run of 3 very good, ranked conference teams, including on the road at (then) #4 Alabama, our beloved Sooners have done what they haven’t in so long, TCB. Yet with 1 regular season game remaining, a loss in said game would dash all hopes of a meaningful postseason and a win, well, dare I say?

The obnoxious LSU tigers come to Norman this week for their first ever appearance there. No fan base has done more with less as it pertains to arrogance relative to actual success (except maybe Ole Miss). Make no mistake, they are a very good team and this will be a very tough test to close the season out. But after living in New Orleans for a few years, one gets rather tired of hearing about LSU football. There is plenty on the line here for the Sooners, but that added layer especially has me anxious for this one. Nothing would make me happier than an OU postseason game(s), but if it comes at the expense of an LSU team, all the better. 

Offense

Let’s start with this, Ben Arbuckle is an atrocious play caller. He seems to have no awareness of game situations for down and distance or series to series, let alone in the broad perspective of the entire game. The OU offense isn’t good, but he definitely doesn’t do them any favors. My prediction of them running the ball last week couldn’t have been farther off. So what am I doing? Doubling down of course. I think that Xavier does it this week and maintains the type of ball country so sorely needed with a good defense. 

Defense

Speaking of this Unit (that is with a capital U); where do I start. Missouri is definitely one dimensional, and that QB was horrendous, but man they really shut them down. Zero second half rushing yards allowed against what is easily the best run game in the country. For this week, I’m going to say David Stone. Dude is an absolute beast, I think he makes his presence “felt”.

Score

The line as of me writing this is OU -10.5. That feels absurdly high. LSU has a good defense and see above regarding our offense. The only way I could even remotely see us covering is 12-0 with four FGs. So no. I think that LSU comes out with something to prove and nothing to lose, this is a dangerous combo for a team with their talent. But I think the OU D does enough. Sooners hang on 17-14. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

Missouri

 What a week last week was. Beating the might Crimson Tide on the road in a primetime matchup. It felt like 2001 again (wow I am old). I savored that for a few days this week, no question. But, back to the present and a sneaky good Missouri team coming to town. This has all the makings of a letdown week. Mizzou is tough, they have a  great run game (you may have heard) and they have nothing to lose. I'm sure nothing would please them more than to come in to our house and ruin our playoff hopes, and ergo, season by my calculations. I think this will be hard fought, and if OU can escape with win I will consider ourselves lucky.

Offense

The OU offense has been mostly abysmal. They were no better last week, let's be honest. The defense and special teams are the only reason we stole a W in tuscaloosa. Matteer has been, um, not good. Let's leave it at that. He, and by extension the offense, simply has to be much better if we want to continue this run. As has been oft mentioned, Missouri comes in with one of the best running games in the country. I think we counter today with our own running game and the X man. Xavier Robinson has a big day after Arbuckle takes two hits of LSD this morning and hallucinates his way to actually handing the ball off regularly.

Defense

It all starts on this side of the ball. Unlike last week, the key will be stopping the run game. It's an interesting flip of the script in terms of defensive focus. I think the guys adjust and I think Owen Heinecke is in the thick of it all day long. I like him for approximately one shitload of tackles today and a no doubt DPG.

Score

This is going to be a grind. I think Mizzou hangs around the whole way making for a very uncomfortable day. In the end I think OU does enough to survive this wake-up call. Sooners eke it out 22-21. Let's keep it going.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Missouri Tigers vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. The Sooners, fresh off a massive win in Tuscaloosa, host the Missouri Tigers and find themselves in the thick of the college football playoff hunt. The Sooners need only to win out to get in. That's easier said than done, however, as the Tigers are a pretty dangerous football team and the Sooners, if they aren't careful, could be ripe for a letdown and upset. If you've read the blog for any appreciable amount of time, you'll know there's no room for such gloom and doom around here though. We see the world through crimson colored glasses so on we go.

OFFENSE

John Mateer continues to do enough to win and last week, crucially, he didn't turn the ball over. Alabama did and that was the difference in the game. Pretty simple. Taking care of the ball, along with some cohesion along the offensive line, is the best thing that can be happening to this offense right now. The freshman trio of Michael Fasusi, Ryan Fodje and Eddie Pierre-Louis are going to be anchors for the next couple of years.

The Sooners need to take a long view, without overlooking anybody, and approach this game as the next step in the evolution and establishment of what this offense really is and needs to be for a playoff run which means taking care of the football, staying ahead of the chains and having 3rd and shorts. 

Today I think the Sooners will try to pound the ball against Missouri and they'll definitely take some shots to Isaiah Sategna. In fact, I think I'll pick Sategna as my OPOG. He about gives me a heart attack with his ball control, but he's a star in the making.

DEFENSE

Missouri's running game is elite. Ahmed Hardy is the nations leading rusher. Fortunately, the Sooner defense matches up well to this style of play. While you can say every game it all starts with stopping the run, today you can definitely say it starts with stopping the run. 

The Sooners depth up front and physicality should be enough to keep the Tigers in check. However, if the Tigers meet with some success, it could result in some time consuming drives that turn this game into an ugly slog.

I don't know that Mizzou has a good answer if the Sooners turn them into one dimensional passers. I'm certainly not scared of their personnel.

Today I'll take Owen Heinecke for my DPOG. He's been a maniac lately and should rack up double digit tackles today.

THE SCORE

I'm glad the Sooners are back home and can have the crowd help prevent a let down after a big win last week. The work is still ahead of them, but the Sooners are in prime position to make the playoff.

If they take care of business today, I can see them handling the Tigers by a couple of scores.

Sooners 27, Tigers 17

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Alabama

 Our beloved Sooners find themselves traveling to the hostile environs of Tuscaloosa today with everything they wanted still on the line. OU is currently 11th but squeezed out of the playoffs if they were to start today due to other conference bids superseding their ranking. Alabama, after a season opening loss, hasn't bothered to lose again and are all the way up to 4th in the country. A win on the road would certainly move the Sooners up a few spots in the rankings, and deservedly so. A loss, well, that would have us curious which mid-december fast food/lawn care/autoparts bowl we'd be heading to. In short, everything is on the line here.

After a surprising and ultimately meaningless (to the Sooners) win at home against Alabama last season, the Crimson Tide are no doubt anxious to avenge us. They sport a gaudy record in spite of having a mediocre offense and by extension offense. Their D however is excellent. This sounds a lot like a texas team we lost to earlier. I'm nervous.

Offense

I just did a quick google search and it turns out that you can't win games if you don't score. So, this side of the ball is important. Mateer started off the year looking like a heisman winner. After breaking his hand in the Auburn game, he's looked like a participation ribbon winner. This can't stand if we are to make the playoff. As much as Xavier Robinson and the run game are critical to the success of the offense today (and every day), I'm saying Mateer has a great game today. I think he makes some mistakes but comes up in the clutch. I like him for OPG. 

Defense

R. Mason Thomas is doubtful to play today. Normally this fact would have escaped me and I would have picked him right off. Maybe it's a bad sign that I'm not. The defensive line will be the crux of things on this side of the ball, if they don't step up, this is over before kickoff. I think they do and as a result, I think they force Ty Simpson to make some bad plays. I like Courtland Guillory to be the benefactor of this. I think the true freshman gets a pick today, and does a great job against a very tough alabama WR room.

Score

Whew brother, this is going to be a ball buster. I almost hate that we beat them last year even though it was fun. We have everything to play for and so do they. This game is huge on both sides with the added revenge factor and home field for Bama. But, we have the nobody-thinks-we-can-do-this factor and I'm a homer. I think the Sooners pull the big upset, 24-17. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner