The Oklahoma Sooners kicked off 2024 well, with a resound 51-3 victory over the Temple Owls. The Sooners got off to a hot start and rode a tremendous defensive effort to start the season 1-0.
Who played the best and who struggled?
STUD: The entire defense
There's not much negative to say about Oklahoma's defensive effort tonight. They absolutely clobbered Temple, holding them to three points. The Owls didn't have 100 yards of offense until midway through the third quarter and their lone score (a field goal in the third quarter) was aided by a personal foul penalty.
Oklahoma forced six turnovers, the most they have amassed in one game since their 65-13 stomping of Texas all the way back in 2003.
They constantly harassed Temple all night long with multiple sacks and tackles for loss. Their defensive HAVOC rate was a full 99th percentile. The game fittingly ended with back-to-back sacks.
Oklahoma allowed just 197 total yards of offense on the night, easily their lowest tally in years. It was an encouraging performance to start the season off right, though obviously, the competition will be better from here on out.
DUD: Spencer Brown
Fans are particularly upset about the offensive line's performance tonight. The Sooners came in with multiple starters already battling injuries, and starting center Branson Hickman played just a couple snaps before leaving with an injury.
A mish-mashed offensive line room still paved the way for 220 yards on the ground and a 93rd-percentile EPA/rush.
The glaring issue was out at right tackle with Spencer Brown. Brown was picked on routinely by Temple, allowing multiple pressures and at least one sack on the night.
It seems pretty likely Brown won't play with the starters moving forward. On a night of an offensive line that was already suffering setbacks, Brown's play was significantly worse than the rest of the unit.
STUD: Jackson Arnold+Deion Burks connection
Yeah I'm cheating here some, sue me. The Jackson Arnold and Deion Burks connection was the talk of the spring, and it showed up immediately in this game. The two connected for three touchdowns in just the first half.
Arnold had an impressive debut night. His stats would have been better if not for numerous drops, including one on a gorgeous deep ball that the receiver let slip right through his hands. He suffered a few hiccups in the pocket, bailing into pressure at times, but there were a few strong plays of standing tall in the face of the rush and connecting with his receivers. It was an encouraging debut for Arnold as the full-time starter.
Burks was used all over and was constantly in motion throughout the game. He touched the ball nine times tonight as a runner and receiver, amassing 50 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.
Their yardage total wasn't the best, but they also had numerous short fields thanks to the six turnovers the defense forced.
DUD: Wide receiver depth
It's a weird feeling to have to vocalize criticizing the WRs 5-10 on the team, but Oklahoma was already missing Jayden Gibson and Nic Anderson going into this one and Jalil Farooq was hurt on the first drive of the game.
The backups suffered multiple drops on critical situations and made frequent mental mistakes on the route concepts and awareness of the sticks. These drops and some difficulties getting open made the night tougher through the air than it needed to.
Fortunately, Anderson and Farooq will likely return to the lineup soon, and Andrel Anthony should be back to full game speed quickly, leaving Oklahoma with their top four receivers back in the lineup.
Stud: Taylor Tatum
I could say the whole freshman class in this spot, as the Sooners had multiple freshmen make plays on both sides of the ball tonight. Taylor Tatum deserved a special shoutout on the night.
Tatum took five carries and converted them into 69 yards on the ground, capping it off with the game's final score on a 10-yard touchdown run. He flashed the playmaking ability that made him the nation's #1 RB recruit in the 2024 class and had a debut to remember. He led the team in rushing tonight.
Stud: Tyler Keltner
Sooners fans have to feel leagues better about their kicking situation after tonight. Transfer kicker Tyler Keltner attempted three field goals tonight and absolutely drilled all three. He easily made a kick from 50 yards out and made all six of his extra points.
After the Sooners' recent kicking debacles, seeing Keltner go out there and nail multiple kicks from long distance has to make both Sooners' coaches and fans relieved.
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