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Oklahoma at The Voice of College Football episodes

September 29NIGHTMARE in Oklahoma | Can the offense be fixed? | Sooner Smiths Live #55
Sooner Smiths Live #55 — NIGHTMARE in Oklahoma | Can the offense be fixed?
Hosts: Chad Smith & Tierney Smith | OklahomaVOCFB | Monday live (bye week after Georgia)
Presented by FanDuel. Super chats = Drake’s College Fund.
Show open / framing (00:01–00:03)
Awkward camera/handoff start; welcome to Monday 7 p.m. CT show.

Super chats open the show (“win two of the next three”).

Goal of the bye: don’t get anyone hurt at practice. Second goal: find John Mateer’s confidence if they’re keeping him.

Locker-room vibe on offense is negative. Defense played well. Bye week is either a reset or confirmation that the offense is what it is.
Georgia recap & offense identity (00:03–00:11)
Tierney: less hopeless than after New Mexico. There were competent, confident stretches vs. Georgia — then a lot of ugly.

O-line “better than it has been” in pass protection per All-22 watchers; run game still poor. Questions about handoff timing, RB consistency, and Mateer.

Chad: the offense isn’t broken on every snap. They moved it on Georgia. Kirby Smart even noted stretches of competence. The problem is scoreboard-changing turnovers — not just turnovers.

Mateer analogy: nuclear reactor / Chernobyl. High upside, then one meltdown that ends the game.

“Take away the turnovers and the stats look fine” is not a defense. Those plays flip games (Georgia example: one scoop-and-score is a 14-point swing).
Run game collapse (data) (00:09–00:11)
First down every 3.8 rush attempts in 2022.

4.0 (2023), 4.3 (2023/24 context), 5.1 (2024), 6.4 in 2026 through four games.

Sacks per game nearly doubled while defense improved.

Four starters back from last year’s playoff / undefeated November group — same talent, worse results. Chad frames that as coaching, development, and continuity.
Scheme / personnel / “players not plays” (00:11–00:14)
Can’t abandon the run and expect to win. Texas (and everyone else) will stack the box and dare Mateer to beat them with his arm.

Get the best skill players on the field every snap: Manny Choice, Satania, Rocky Beers, Elijah Thomas. Stop taking them off on critical downs.

Saban high-school story + Alabama headset story: in big moments, get the ball to your best players. Don’t outsmart yourselves. Gabe/Teddy breakdown of the fourth-down play — two best players not involved.

Rocky Beers fumble: annoying, Georgia punched it out, three points the other way. Not the game-killer compared with Mateer’s disasters. Beers has also scored and made splash plays.
Self-inflicted losses & QB as force multiplier (00:14–00:18)
They didn’t expect to beat Georgia early in the year. Frustration is beating themselves and handing the opponent 17 points.

Kirby: Oklahoma beat Oklahoma. Some forced turnovers, some gifts.

Talent is there. QB should be a force multiplier. Right now Mateer is making the team worse than its baseline. Contrast with Mississippi State’s QB.

Signetti / Josh Hoover point (repeated): teach a QB how not to lose games before you teach him to win them. Mateer loses games.

Fourth-down decision: the one thing you cannot do is fumble it there with no one behind the play. Just throw it.
Situational / clock / kicking mess (00:19–00:22)
Plays per game down (76 in 2022 → ~61 through four 2026 games). Third-down rate trending down into the mid-30s. Fewer possessions make turnovers more damning.

Late FG try / two-point try / clock management: players needed a win they could feel jogging off the field. Missed two-point after a false start / offside, then a bad QB run, then a rushed long FG. Cascading bad offense.

“We’ve broken Tate.” Extra points as confidence builders.
Bench Mateer? Confidence vs. recognition (00:22–00:25)
Don’t want to throw the backup (Witt) out vs. Texas cold. Also think they should have given him the two-minute drill at the end of the first half vs. Georgia — little downside at that point.

Fear that if Witt looks okay, the can of worms opens.

Bye-week diagnostic: is it recognition or conviction? Stoops clip (Twitter): he’s seeing it, waiting until it’s “good and open,” then it’s late. Double-clutch, late ball, picks, slips.

When he stops worrying about the turnover and just plays, he can move the ball (Georgia red-zone drive before the fumble was one of the best of the year).

Question: can that get fixed in one week — or at all?
Defense vs. offense disconnect (00:25–00:27)
Defense adjusted, stopped over-respecting Georgia speed. Dogs fan in chat: Georgia was actually struggling to move it; scoreboard lied.

Theory: Georgia used a no-risk game to practice against a top defense. Kirby was visibly unhappy with the offensive struggles.

Defense gets turnovers and gets zero points. Kip Lewis still hyping them like it’s close. Defense doesn’t quit; offense isn’t helping.
OC / Venables / staff rumors (later segment ~00:44)
Speculation they’re not fully running Ben Arbuckle’s system; control issues.

Rumor: OC hire was told he couldn’t bring his own guys → continuity problem.

If they hire another OC, he should be allowed to bring his staff the way Venables did on defense. Business, not friendship.
How you actually install an offense (Rodney Anderson / Lincoln Riley story) (~00:46)
Anderson: first 2.5–3 weeks under Lincoln they almost only ran the ball. Receivers (Shepard, Westbrook, etc.) were mad. Lincoln: if we can’t run it, we can’t run an offense.

Baseline concepts practiced until they were automatic; extras added later. Timing became so good they joked while running it.

Current issue: unclear jobs (RPO vs. fire off), Mateer keeping RPOs, not throwing when the read is there. Simplify: if he won’t throw it, just hand it off.
Mateer production drop (stats) (~00:53)
Washington State: 29 TDs on 347 attempts (8.4% TD rate), 7 INTs (~2%).

Oklahoma 2025 + first four 2026 games: 22 TDs on 506 attempts (4.35% TD rate), 15 INTs (2.96%).

TD rate roughly cut in half; INT rate up ~47%. Gunslinger style only works if you’re also scoring like Favre.
Texas / rest of season outlook
Texas offense not lighting the world on fire either (frustrating for them too).

Likely script if nothing changes: field-position game, a busted coverage TD, lose 17–6 / 20–6 type game.

Defense should be fine vs. Texas; they won’t see Georgia-level D-line talent across the board. Heal up this week.

If they get blown out again and don’t score, heat on Venables goes up.
Tickets, donors, product (~00:57–01:02)
License-fee sticker shock stories (family going from ~$35k + tickets/donations toward $250k for fewer seats).

Product on offense makes it hard to ask people to re-up. Defense guys (David Stone playing hurt, etc.) don’t deserve the backlash.

Oklahoma will never be comfortable as an 8–4 program. Either fix the offense or the financial/fan side starts to feel it.

Playoff last year is real; expectation was to be better this year. That’s the shock.
Zeno Zone + close (01:03–end)
Dog picks: Alabama–Mississippi State, UCF–Houston, Ohio State–Iowa, Marshall–JMU, Notre Dame–North Carolina. Zeno 12–8 on the year after a 2–3 week.

Merch: vocfb.com/shop (Zeno schooner / Baker flag designs).

Next Monday: Red River preview.

Dylan Stewart (South Carolina) suspended indefinitely — talent-only-gets-you-so-far aside.

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1 hr 12 min
September 28Oklahoma Sooners LIVE 221
Oklahoma Sooners LIVE 221 — Rob Fontenot & Roger Schilling (OklahomaVOCFB)
Post-Georgia recap, Venables presser notes, Mateer/QB talk, remaining schedule, Touchdown/Turnover segment. Next week is a bye.
Open / vibe (0:00–1:15)
Welcome back. FanDuel. Rob + MCM (“the big guy posse”). Planting the flag shirt. Baker Mayfield injury mention. Next week is a bye — more time on last night.
Georgia game + first half (1:15–3:40)
First half was horrible. Defense “didn’t do too bad,” but offense put them in terrible spots (short fields: 11-yard, 20-yard, 3-yard situations).

First-half offense: two fumbles, one interception, two punts.

One fumble happened when a host briefly left the room; they didn’t see the exact play.
Venables press conference (3:40–14:00)
“Nothing impacts a game like turnovers.” Called one a 14-point swing (could have been 14-7 instead of 21-0).

Mateer holding the ball too long vs. Georgia QB getting it out. Confidence / indecision. Double-pump / looking one way and the ball slipping.

“Knowing when to take a loss and not put the ball in jeopardy.” Take the sack/loss of yards. Protect it. A 20-yard loss is better than a turnover.

“We have to get out of our own way.” Beating themselves. Haters don’t like hearing it.

Would they have beaten No. 2 Georgia straight up without the turnovers? Probably not, but you can’t gift a top team extra scores (scoop-and-score / pick-six type plays).

Discussed changing QBs at some point; didn’t. Hosts wonder what Arbuckle/staff said to keep Mateer in while they were down big.

Team should be “PO’d.” Mateer should be upset. Last time he took it harder than anyone — what did he actually change? Needs to play with discipline and know when to go down.

Honest conversations among players without fracturing the locker room (D vs. O pointing fingers). They’re grown men getting paid.

Defense kept them in it as long as it could. O-line not good; Fasusi still out. Bill Bedenbaugh has had years to get the line right.
Blame, QB change talk, Neubauer (8:00–16:00, 28:00–33:00)
Mateer’s INT cost them vs. Michigan. Three turnovers vs. New Mexico almost cost a game they should have won. Turnovers vs. Georgia hurt chances badly even if they might have lost anyway.

Jackson Arnold was benched after three first-half INTs in 2024. Why not Mateer?

Most fans want a change. Bye week is the time to give Whit Neubauer first-team reps. “If he was missing throws instead of turning it over, we wouldn’t be saying this.”

If Mateer turns it over twice vs. Texas, he’s gone at half. Backup doesn’t have to be great — just don’t turn it over. Get it to TEs/WRs. Running game isn’t there.

Mateer “too careless” — Venables’ own language. Doesn’t seem to feel his job is in danger. Progressions / panic / no confidence. Fans yelling “he’s open.”

Defense is being wasted. Short fields after turnovers are a lot to ask. They got an INT and a fumble recovery; still not enough.
Running game + box score (16:00–21:00)
Running game “pathetic.” LeVon ~1.1 ypc; team ~1.9. Two-point try failed.

Rushes: Avant 10-23, Hatton 5-14, Blaylock 3-10, Mateer 15-7, Satania 1-6, Xavier 1-5. Negative rushing at half because of sacks.

Longest rushes were single-digit. Multiple backs, no explosion.

Receiving: Rocky Beers 8-84-1 TD; Satania 8-81 (long 37). Tight ends/WRs trying. Backs trying when they get it.

Georgia outgained OU by only ~10 total yards. Mateer had more passing yards than Stockton. Short TD drives (3 yards, 11 yards) inflate Georgia’s score vs. actual drive length.

Chat: “Mateer is a turnover machine” — hosts 100% agree.
Record / remaining schedule (21:00–28:00)
Preseason hopes (some thought undefeated or 10-2) vs. reality. Could easily be 2-10 if it stays like this.

Venables pattern cited: 6-7, 10-2, 6-7, 10-2… so this year “should” be 6-7. Where do the extra wins come from?

Texas: don’t lose four in a row. Venables has to walk out with a win or “you can lose to anybody but you don’t lose to Texas.”

Hosts’ rough ranking of remaining:
Don’t expect wins at LSU, Florida, Ole Miss.

Kentucky, South Carolina, Mississippi State, A&M look like the more realistic targets. Missouri possible if they stop turning it over.

Path sketched toward 6–7 wins if they protect the ball + defense stays elite.

A&M called “our Super Bowl.” Don’t like A&M or Texas.

Recruiting will suffer if they keep losing to “bottom-tier” teams they should beat.

Texas-Tennessee was close (20-17). Shows Texas is beatable if OU doesn’t gift short fields.
Touchdown / Turnover segment (1:09–1:28)
Format: hosts throw a statement; chat + co-host vote TD (agree) or Turnover (disagree).
Three first-half Mateer turnovers vs. Texas → QB change at half.
Hosts: Touchdown. Chat mixed (some “staff is stubborn,” Chloe Turnover).

Need a QB change now; give the backup reps this bye week.
Hosts initially Turnover (unsure backup is better; Neubauer looked scared vs. UTEP). Chat: flood of Touchdowns.

Biggest reason for turnovers is no running game.
One host Turnover (it’s Mateer fumbling and throwing picks). Other host + much of chat Touchdown — if they could run it, QB wouldn’t feel he has to do everything.

Texas vs. Tennessee shows Texas is beatable for OU if they don’t turn it over.
Touchdown.
OT / double OT / triple OT extras from chat
Bill Bedenbaugh needs to go / OL playing musical chairs — Touchdowns.

If Mateer has 240 passing yards + 2 TDs (no turnovers) vs. Texas, do they win? Split. Hosts lean they still need more (run game, FGs, field position). Defense can win a low-scoring game if the offense just doesn’t give the ball away at the 3 and 11.

Florida better than Texas right now? Discussion.

OU beats Florida or A&M? A&M more likely; Florida no.
Fun facts (1:28–1:32)
Georgia outgained OU by only 10 yards.

Combined first-half points vs. Michigan + New Mexico + Georgia: 7.

Attendance at Georgia: 93,033.

Last OU QB with three first-half turnovers: Jackson Arnold, 2024 — he was benched.
Close (1:32–end)
Recruits / decommits? Facilities and SEC money still sell, but if the offense doesn’t change (Arbuckle), it could matter.

Incoming QBs mentioned (tall backup Whit Neubauer; 2028 Italian-name recruit Tagliaferri).

Hosts are two old Oklahoma guys who love doing the show. Appreciate chat (Jesse, Donut Man, Chloe, Dilly, Specialty, Jimmy Satterfield, Tyler, etc.).

Next Sunday 6:30 — no postgame this week (bye). Bring Texas questions and Touchdown/Turnovers.
Core thesis of the episode: Defense is good enough to keep them in most games. Offense (especially Mateer turnovers + no run game + OL) is beating the team. Bye week is the window to give Neubauer real reps. Protect the ball vs. Texas or the season slides further.

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1 hr 37 min
September 27NIGHTMARE| Oklahoma- Georgia Postgame LIVE
NIGHTMARE | Oklahoma–Georgia Postgame LIVE
OklahomaVOCFB | Hosts: MCM Raj, Rob Fontenot, Chad Smith & Tierani Smith (Sooner Smiths)
Georgia 41, Oklahoma 13. Hosts called it a nightmare / American Horror Story / Jekyll-and-Hyde performance: defense competitive against a top team, offense self-destructed via turnovers, indecision, and a non-existent run game.
Intro & Score Context
0:00–2:00 — Raj opens solo while waiting on Rob and the Smiths. Recalls last week’s FanDuel line (Georgia -14.5); he told people not to take OU + points. Final: 41–13. Group text during the game was ugly. Early note from Raj: “We suck.”

2:00–4:00 — Red-zone offense listed 136th nationally. Drives repeatedly died on fumbles, missed FGs, or INTs.
Key Stats Discussed
4:00–9:00 / 9:30–11:00 — Total yards close: OU 296, UGA 307. Rushing disaster: OU 65 yards on 35 carries (1.9 YPC) vs. Georgia 130. Third downs: 2-of-14. First-down plays: 28. Time of possession 35:00–24:00 in OU’s favor with almost nothing to show for it.

Passing: John Mateer 25-of-34, 231 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT (passer rating ~144). Gunner Stockton 14-of-25, 171 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT (~118). Hosts note Mateer’s raw numbers look better but Georgia’s defense scored for Stockton.

Turnovers: Multiple fumbles + INT. Hosts repeatedly say if you strip the ~17–21 points off turnovers (especially the scoop-and-score), the game is 21–20 or 24–13 range and completely different.
First-Half Collapse & Signature Plays
10:00–13:00 / 25:00–26:30 — Rob watching at work: 7–0, then 14–0, then the fumble at the 2-yard line returned for a TD → 21–0. Should have been 14–7. “Untimely turnovers and the severity.” Same pattern vs. New Mexico earlier; you cannot do it against Georgia.

29:00–30:30 — Best-looking drive of the season reaches the 2. Mateer loses the ball out of his hand on what should have been a score. Instant 14-point swing. Hosts describe the living-room reaction as disgust, anger, shock. After that play Mateer “looked like he’d lost all confidence / all testosterone.”

14:00–16:00 — Predicted the late, off-balance throw over the middle (same concept that worked vs. New Mexico’s poor safety). Against Georgia athletes it became the Jacob Jordan INT. “Never should make that throw.”
Quarterback Play — Central Theme
12:00–16:00 / 19:00–21:30 / 31:00–32:30 — Consensus: Mateer lost the game with turnovers and indecision. Double-pump on rhythm throws, cannot anticipate, sees receivers open then throws late. Flat concepts and fourth-down reads that “you learn in seventh grade” go unthrown. Wide-open guys (Elijah Thomas, tight end in the flat) unused.

Venables said they discussed a QB change at half and decided against it. Hosts wanted at least one series for Witt Neubauer at the end of the half as a “factory reset” / consequence. Fear of losing the locker room by pulling the starter permanently.

Broader point: last three games OU has 226 rushing yards on 96 attempts (2.3 YPC). Any QB would look similar behind this line, but Mateer’s specific mistakes (fumble out of hands, late throws) are on him.
Defense
13:00–14:00 / 22:00–24:00 / 46:00+ — Defense played at an elite, national-championship level given the positions the offense put them in. Held Georgia to 24 non-turnover points. First INT of the year + a fumble recovery. Physical until guys started pulling hamstrings from being on the field constantly. Kip Lewis still competing like it’s a title game. “If they weren’t a top-5 defense you give up 60.” One long TD run late; hosts say you’re lucky it was only one.
Coaching, Clock, and Situational Decisions
18:00–19:30 / 26:00–28:00 / 2:07–2:10 — Delay-of-game penalties and wasted timeouts (breaking huddle with 5 seconds, burning TO on 3rd-and-10 instead of just taking the 5 yards). Two-point conversion after first TD while down 21: ran it up the middle (the one place they cannot run vs. Georgia). Analytics vs. “vibe of the game.” Later extra-point attempt partly to let Tate Sandell see the ball go through the uprights after missed FGs. “We broke Tate.”

O-line: Better than recent weeks (Mateer sacked once) but still not good. Missing Michael Fasusi; players out of position. Bill Bedenbaugh likely gone after the year.
Run Game, Scheme, and Comparisons
16:30–18:00 / 2:12–2:16 — Committee approach at RB has produced nothing. Rodney Anderson (via One Oklahoma podcast) and Lincoln Riley-era standard: establish the run first, 2-to-1 carry ratio so line and backs get a feel. Riley practiced almost exclusively run early; current staff missing assignments on screens and jet sweeps that should be explosive. Florida averaged 12.5 YPC vs. Ole Miss the same day; Texas ran on Tennessee. “Arch Manning would look like Mateer in this offense.”

Four different OL combinations already; Fasusi’s return (hopefully for Texas) would let Foj at RT and stabilize the group.
Looking Ahead — Texas / Red River
23:30–25:00 / 2:17–2:21 — Defense will again play well and give up one offensive TD; offense cannot do “crap.” Texas is physical but not Georgia-level. Hosts expect Mateer to start; only a disaster would force a change. Season can still be good if they beat Texas and a couple more, but someone on offense needs a “come-to-Jesus” moment. Basic things still don’t work.
Closing Tone
2:21–2:23 — Two-and-a-half hours of venting. Defense = lot of good, little bad. Offense = opposite. Thanks for comments and trolls (engagement). “Boomer.” Be safe, Uber cheaper than a DUI.
Clip-friendly timestamps
10:00–11:30 — Fumble at the 2 / 21–0 swing

14:30–16:00 — Predicted INT throw vs. better athletes

19:00–21:00 — Indecision, double-pumps, open receivers

29:00–30:30 — Best drive of the year then ball slips out

13:00–14:00 / 22:00 — Defense praise vs. offense self-inflicted wounds
Core thesis from the room: Oklahoma’s defense is good enough to beat anyone, including Georgia and Texas, if the offense simply stops scoring for the other team. Right now it cannot.

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2 hr 24 min
September 22It's BAD for Oklahoma's Offense | Georgia Game Preview | Sooner Smiths Live #54
Sooner Smiths Live #54
It’s BAD for Oklahoma’s Offense | Georgia Game Preview
Hosts: Chad Smith & Tierani Smith
OklahomaVOCFB | Monday, ~7 p.m. CT
Intro & Housekeeping (0:01–4:00)
Chad and Tierani (“the Center Smiths”) welcome regulars (Sigo, Stacy, Mr. Dilligap, Drew, Trojan Fight, Brandon, Caden) and newcomers.

Show airs every Monday on the Voice of College Football Oklahoma channel. Presented by Vandal.

Plug: like, subscribe, jump to YouTube chat, members ($2.99), Drake’s college fund via Super Chats.

Light banter on spelling “Tierney,” late start, and merging OU/USC offenses and defenses.
Record & Immediate Context (4:00–6:30)
Oklahoma is 2-1 after beating New Mexico. “Nothing really to worry about… except you got arguably the best defense in the country.”

Next up: Georgia (Kirby Smart, two of last five natties, offense 2nd nationally in yards/points/yards per play). Georgia was Chad’s preseason natty pick.

The surprise is not Georgia being good — it’s Oklahoma’s offense looking this bad.
Core Problem: The Offense Cannot Run (6:30–10:00)
“We can’t run a foot. We can’t run the football.”

John Mateer is being asked to hide everything (“quarterbacks are deodorant”). Ole Miss’s run game is also mediocre; Trinidad Chambliss just elevates it.

Stats pulled from StatBroadcast after New Mexico:
Average third-down-to-gain: 3rd-and-7.

Third down every 3.9 plays (almost never converting early downs).

Longest run of the game: 9 yards. Zero runs of 10+.

66 rushing yards by RBs (61 of them behind the line of scrimmage).

Offense looks “discombobulated,” like spring ball with freshmen or a brand-new system every week. Cohesion and confidence seen vs. UTEP vanished after Michigan.
Staff Alignment & Play-Calling (10:00–15:30)
Multiple voices on offense: Ben Arbuckle (OC), Kevin Wilson, Daylon McColl, etc. “It looks like three different things going on at once.”

Chad’s suggested come-to-Jesus: Arbuckle should tell the room he will call his offense (the one that worked at Washington State) or get fired doing someone else’s. “It’s like having Mike Leach call the Wing-T.”

Two schematic options floated:
Slow it to a crawl — hold the ball, drain 5–6 minutes per drive, limit Georgia possessions (Army 2020-style clock control).

Go five-wide / spread / one-yard splits and live with the Air Raid. Risk: Mateer is currently struggling with anticipation, accuracy, and processing — the exact traits the Air Raid demands — against elite pass rushes (Colin Simmons next).

Tempo experiment vs. New Mexico (snaps every ~30 seconds) produced an INT and a punt.
New Mexico Game Film & Field Position (19:30–24:00)
OU outgained New Mexico 299–185 but New Mexico ran 28 plays in OU territory vs. OU’s 12 (2.3x more).

Offense and special teams repeatedly put the defense in short fields. That problem explodes against better athletes and coaching.

Kirby Smart on OU defense: elite talent + near-perfect technique + “want-to” + speed + intelligence. Same traits Georgia has on both sides.
O-Line & Personnel (25:00–32:00)
Line play is “bad.” Mateer was getting hit as he released a quick throw to Cetania.

Bill Bedenbaugh’s group has not produced at the expected level the last five years (post-Creed Humphrey era). Constant injuries, position shuffling, freshmen playing.

Hope: Fasusi returning to his natural right-side spot so other linemen can slide back to comfortable positions. “Brushing your teeth with your left hand” analogy.

Only four real practice days before Georgia.
Defense, Emotion, and Fan Reaction (32:00–43:00)
Defense is the only unit they trust. David Stone had a career-high 8 tackles after addressing personal issues and apologizing to the team.

Venables’ postgame “No. You watch the game” answer was praised — emotion from the top is needed.

Booing the offense is fine; indifference would be worse. Playing not-to-lose at the end of the half (then missing the FG) showed lack of trust.

Georgia will not drop the easy ones or lose fourth-and-1.
David Stone Injury Update (43:00–48:00 & 1:02)
Mid-show rumor: dislocated knee / possible ACL.

Later source update: initial fear was dislocation + possible ACL, but no structural damage. Could play Saturday; more likely rested until Red River.

Massive loss if he’s out — first-round/top-15 talent, arguably co-best DT in the country with Ole Miss’s Echols when healthy.
Staff Continuity & Identity (45:00–50:00)
Defensive staff is ~80% Clemson/OU holdovers from Venables. Offensive staff has almost none.

Continuity matters for teaching the tiny technique details that create edges.

“Find an identity and find it fast. You don’t have time. You’re playing No. 2 and No. 1.”
QB Context — Don’t Isolate Mateer (50:00–56:00)
Every great OU QB (Baker, Kyler, Jalen, Caleb, etc.) had NFL talent around him and a functional run game.

Washington State and Miami Cam Ward years featured multiple 4.5–7.4 YPC backs. OU is at 2.1 YPC as a team.

Lincoln Riley still the best QB developer; Maiava leading the nation in passing yards/efficiency at USC.

Michael Hawkins revisionism is unfair — he had his own accuracy issues at OU.

Putting Bo Bentley behind this line vs. Georgia/Texas would be “seeing ghosts.”
Running Back Rotation (56:30–1:00)
Rodney Anderson (One Oklahoma podcast) ripped the four-back committee. Lincoln’s rule was two series for the starter, one for the backup — timing and vision with the O-line require consistent reps.

Chad/Tierney: pick two bell-cows and live with it. If a guy isn’t healthy enough for more than a few snaps, he’s not healthy enough to play.
Closing Hope & XenoZone (1:00–end)
Fasusi + Fogey back in natural spots + simplified scheme = possible small confidence spark.

Defense needs a score or short fields for field goals.

XenoZone (dog) went 4-1 last week. This week’s slate: OU-Georgia, USC-Oregon, Texas-Tennessee, Penn State-Wisconsin, Missouri-Mississippi State. Zeno picks Georgia, Tennessee, etc. Chad would rather lose to Georgia than Texas.

Outro: like, comment, share, join Saturday postgame. Boomer.

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1 hr 9 min
September 21Oklahoma Sooners LIVE 220
Oklahoma Sooners LIVE #220 — Rob Fontenot & Roger Schilling
OklahomaVOCFB | Day after the 14-6 win over New Mexico | Previewing @ No. 2 Georgia (Sat, Sept. 26, Sanford Stadium, ~2:30/3:30 p.m. ET)
Brought to you by FanDuel. Available on YouTube + Apple/Spotify/Amazon.
Opening & vibe (0:00–4:30)
Welcome back. Episode 220. Hawaiian-shirt banter; Rob plans to wear the “wife won’t let me wear it to church” flamingo shirt after the next OU win.

AP poll: Sooners out of the Top 25 (26th). Coaches poll: still 24th. Both hosts: rankings don’t matter if they lose to Georgia.

Mood after New Mexico: “An ugly win is still a win.” Venables called it ugly. Feels like a loss. Fireworks malfunctioned and shot toward the field/cheerleaders/band — real, not AI. Crowd was in it but booing (“boo birds”).
Silver linings vs. New Mexico (4:30–7:00)
Defense came through in the clutch — the only reason they didn’t lose. Run game and passing weren’t working.

They found a way to win ugly. Better effort vs. Michigan than vs. New Mexico in Rob’s view. Maybe just a bad game / setting (fireworks, crowd).
Chat: “Should our defense take us to a win against Georgia?”
What must be fixed before Georgia (7:00–19:00)
1. Offensive line protection
New Mexico looked like one of the best defenses in football. Mateer has no time. Same personnel but combinations keep changing (Beanball/Bedenbaugh shuffling). “You could put any other quarterback back there and they’re still going to struggle.” Wall of defenders on every handoff. Chat (Mark Wagner): coaches have lost the room; “cancer keeps going.” Need to find someone who can block.
2. Don’t lose the turnover battle
Three turnovers vs. New Mexico (two INTs + muffed/fumbled punt return). Georgia will score off them. Defense is the only hope if they don’t gift points.
3. Get in rhythm / help the defense
No more three-and-outs. Sustain drives even if they end in a punt or FG. Big D-linemen need rest. Georgia averages ~59.3 PPG and ~539 yards (hosts note the sample includes weaker teams). Time of possession and physical wear will kill OU if the offense stays on the sideline.
4. Convert third downs and make field goals
Get in FG range. Tate Sandell missed a 41-yarder at the half (uncharacteristic). Grayson Miller also shanked one but got the “Oklahoma roll.”
Other notes:
Better gains when they went under center — then they abandoned it. That’s coaching.

Venables: “Two things can be true” — thankful for the win, have to get better. Hosts interpret it as a message to Arbuckle and the offensive staff.

Some fans want a QB change (Hawkins Jr. mentioned in chat). Hosts: they’re paid millions; if you’re not performing, sit down.
Georgia preview & numbers (19:00–42:00)
Georgia D allowing ~211 yards/game. OU didn’t even have 300 vs. New Mexico.

Georgia vs. Arkansas: 45-17, 254 rushing yards, 7.4 yards per play, 7-of-11 on third down, 35:24 TOP. Nate Frazier left that game; Chauncey Bowens still there.

Sanford Stadium ranked as one of the hardest places to play (hosts list it No. 4 behind Tiger Stadium, Ohio State, Beaver Stadium).

OU already survived 100k+ at Michigan — that’s the one silver lining for the road environment.

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. (hosts like it; postgame show won’t be at 10 p.m.).

Mateer vs. New Mexico (hosts’ numbers): 16-of-21, 238 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT. Rushing: Avant 8-27, Mateer 10-17, Hatton 6-8, Blaylock 4-2. Sategna 6-101, Hansen 3-49. Several receivers (Robinson, Livingston, Beers, Hansen) caught every target.

Concern: which Mateer shows up? The one who can keep it close or the erratic one who stares down Sategna and leads with his eyes. Thumb injury lingering?
FanDuel / betting (42:00–46:00)
Georgia -13.5

OU moneyline +470

Total 43.5
Hosts lean under and wouldn’t bet OU either way. More likely 31-3 or 28-12 than covering. If they win, they see something like 21-19. Georgia scoring 59 PPG; OU has scored 10 (Michigan) and 14 (New Mexico).
Game-plan ideas & motivation (46:00–52:00)
Rob’s notes: Tempo. Max protection. Aggressive blitz packages. Embrace “nobody believes in us.” Chip on the shoulder after falling out of the AP poll.
Defense is 10th; offense 105th (was 81st last year). Early-season numbers vs. teams they should beat.

Chat heat: “doughboys” OL, “sold a pedigree and got a mutt,” “if we lose to Georgia and Texas there’s no point in playing Mateer.”

Hosts push PMA (positive mental attitude). Still 2-1. Don’t give up after one more loss. Playoff path still exists with the right losses + a win over Texas.
Touchdown or Turnover (55:00–1:00:00)
OU shocks the world in Athens → Turnover (but they’re willing it to be a TD)

Venables’ defense built for SEC physicality week-in, week-out → Touchdown

Winner of Red River gets a guaranteed playoff ticket → Turnover

Even after Michigan adjustments, offense lacks explosive playmakers to outscore SEC heavyweights → Turnover (prove it first)

Three-loss SEC team can still make the playoffs → Touchdown (who you lose to matters)
Close (1:00:00–end)
Shoutouts: Revolutional, Tyler, Chloe Schilling, Jay Jones, Clayton, Jimmy Satterfield, Tommy Johnson, Mark Wagner, Jonathan, etc.

“We’re just two old geezers” giving you all the OU content you can handle. Like, comment, subscribe. They reply to comments later.

Next: Saturday postgame after Georgia. Peace out.
Clip-worthy timestamps
Ugly-win mantra / fireworks / boos: ~1:55–6:30

OL “doughboys” + lost the room: ~8:00–12:00 and 28:00

Fixes list (protection, turnovers, rhythm, 3rd downs): 7:50–19:00

FanDuel numbers + 31-3 lean: 42:00

Game-plan / chip on shoulder: 46:50

Touchdown or Turnover: 55:30
Defense is keeping them alive. Offense (OL + Mateer consistency + play-calling) has to take a real step or Georgia will punish them in Athens. An ugly win is still a win — now they need something that doesn’t feel like one.

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1 hr 5 min
September 20Boo Birds Out In Norman ! OKLAHOMA-New Mexico Postgame LIVE
OklahomaVOCFB Postgame LIVE: Boo Birds Out in Norman — Oklahoma vs. New Mexico
Hosts: Rob Fontenot & Roger Schilling
Sponsored by FanDuel
Ugly 2-1 win. Defense kept them alive. Offense and special teams did not. Crowd booed early and often.
00:00–05:30 — Immediate reaction: “Dude.”
Open: Welcome to Oklahoma Sooners live postgame vs. New Mexico. Boo Birds were out in Norman; Sooner Smiths said it was even louder in the stadium.

First series: two runs and a pick. Rob and Roger watching like “this is awful.”

Can’t force the ball to Isaiah Sategna. Second INT: announcers said Livingston was supposed to occupy the defender; Mateer still should have seen the white jersey.

Defense stopped New Mexico after the pick. “If we didn’t have a good defense we would have got destroyed.”

OU three turnovers (two INTs + return fumble) and still winning. Either the defense is that good or New Mexico is that limited.

Running game: less than 2 yards per carry. “Pathetic. Super pathetic.”

Xavier Hatton: supposed to be the physical “go after you” back. Looked timid, going backwards. Not the guy they described.
05:30–12:00 — Acceptance, OL, and early Boo Birds
Rob: moved from anger to acceptance. “We suck so bad that I’m not even mad.”

Kentucky beating Texas A&M noted as relevant later.

Tried to run it; can’t. Offensive line. Bill Bedenbaugh has had years.

First boos came after Hatton went backwards and Mateer got caught in the backfield. Grayson Miller shanked a kickoff (Oklahoma roll saved it).

Sategna fumbled a punt. Peyton Bowen nearly two interceptions + late sack. “Bowe and boys were on fire.”

Sooner Smiths: doesn’t matter who is at QB if the line isn’t blocking.

John Mateer last year was a run threat before the thumb. Tonight he couldn’t get away from anyone. New Mexico is not an elite defense.
12:00–20:00 — Stats, Hansen, tight ends, Arbuckle
First-half stats: 7-6 at half. Mateer 12-of-17, 124 yards, TD, 2 INTs. Avant 5-15, Sategna 3-33 + fumble. ~2.2 yards per rush. OU 4.5 yards per play, New Mexico 3.3.

Hayden Hansen drive: carried guys into the end zone. Announcers hyped. Tight ends are the offense right now. Hosts standing on the hill that Jaren Kanak / Witten group keeps rising if Ben Arbuckle doesn’t straighten up.

Rob texted during the game: Arbuckle needs to play some Tecmo Bowl and get new plays.

Dave Chappelle bit analogy: offense so bad it’s not even worth getting mad.

New Mexico inside the 10 a couple times; OU held them to two field goals.

Sategna 131 all-purpose but punt return -2; looked rattled after the fumble.
20:00–28:00 — Play-calling, field position, Georgia looming
Third-and-2 near midfield: just run it. Tate Sandell missed a field goal (uncharacteristic).

Good field position wasted. Penalties and stalled drives.

Hosts ask chat: how are you feeling after this?

FanDuel: 7.5 felt too low pregame; now they wouldn’t trust OU to cover either side vs. Georgia.

Tyler: last year they turned it on after Mateer was hurt. Hosts not feeling that optimism tonight.

Ronald Boyd in chat: this was the last win of the season; next two won’t be close. Hosts mostly agree on current form.

This win damaged confidence more than last week’s loss. Rob had joked he’d quit if they lost; he almost had to.
28:00–40:00 — SEC move, other scores, QB/OL talk
Chat question: was joining the SEC a mistake?
Rob: watching Big 12 games today he wished they’d stayed. Have to be really good in the SEC.

Roger: football-wise it makes the playoff path harder; big-picture (money, other sports, recruiting) it was not a mistake. Softball example of rising competition helping.

Ole Miss beating LSU and Kentucky beating A&M both noted. Makes the mid-October stretch (Georgia, Texas, then Kentucky) look worse.

Realistic remaining “gettable” games discussed: Florida, A&M, Missouri. Ole Miss feels out of reach right now.

Mateer not looking through progressions; first-read throws. Last year a weapon; this year not.

Under-center talk: they tried a little, still no run game. “Witty time” comments from chat.
40:00–1:00:00 — Defense standouts, chat dump, buyout talk
David Stone showed up (6-7 tackles). Big dude from Dell City.

Kip Lewis out again.

Defense “meh” in Rob’s group-text during the game; later they give it more credit because New Mexico kept hurting itself with penalties.

Chat running hot: “password is buyout,” fire Arbuckle, bench Mateer, recruit OL, play the other QB.

Hosts: they’re not benching Mateer vs. Georgia or Texas. Sometimes a benching wakes a starter up, but not this week.

Venables postgame: couldn’t name one good thing. Offense stinks. Special teams not helping.

Boo Birds: second series. Smiths said live crowd was louder than TV. Hosts think fans are booing play-calling and execution, not the whole roster. Tight ends they “love.”
1:00:00–1:20:00 — Georgia preview temperature, more comments
Expectation vs. New Mexico: Mateer should have 300 yards and 2-3 TDs against this level of opponent (like UTEP). Didn’t happen.

Hawkins last year came in and produced; some still think he should have started vs. Texas when Mateer couldn’t throw straight.

Play-calling consensus from hosts and chat: that’s been the problem all year.

Bedenbaugh “on the way out” if the line doesn’t improve.

Mateer underthrew the TD to Sategna; receiver had to wait.

Ugly win, 2-1, “be positive.” Feels like a loss.

Georgia spread talk: 14 already, could move to 21. Hosts don’t think OU covers either way. “Oklahoma can’t score 14.” Possible goose egg or 21-6 / 24-6 type game unless the defense scores.

Three games that would make people feel better (outside Texas): Florida, A&M, Missouri most attainable. Ole Miss would be the “feel-good” but they don’t see it.
1:20:00–end — Closing, tomorrow’s show, leftover steam
Defense might get exposed vs. Georgia if they haven’t played anyone good enough yet. Hosts still think the defense is better than last year, especially if Kip Lewis returns.

“Our team is cheeks.” Still only three games; not quitting. Positive: defense. Hope Venables tells Arbuckle to do his job.

Grandmaster in chat from the game: defense good, offense salty/mid, special teams no. Most boos were students; also said entire crowd. Grandmaster himself did not boo.

Blake Bell / Justin Fuente era jokes: even that offense was better.

High expectations make this worse than a “we knew they’d be 6-6” year.

Feinbaum “mostly correct” comment lands.

Bob Stoops visibly upset on the broadcast. When does GM Joe Castiglione / “Nagy” step in? Venables makes the hires.

Win total: started 7.5, went to 8 after they started the show, now 6.5. Over 6.5 -130.

Recruit the best OL they can find. Lost some good recruiter-coaches.

Sign-off: Big Guy Posse, Oklahoma Sooners live. Tomorrow 6:30 p.m. — Georgia series dive after a night to mull this one. Rob wearing the “good shirt.”
Core takeaways from the hosts
Defense and New Mexico penalties won the game.

Offense (line, run game, play-calling, Mateer’s decision-making) is not SEC-ready and not even Group-of-5 dominant.

Crowd turned on the product fast.

Georgia next week is treated as a likely blowout unless something changes immediately.

2-1 has never felt this negative.

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1 hr 40 min
September 15MAJOR PROBLEMS for Oklahoma | MICHIGAN LOSS | Sooner Smiths Live #53
SoonerSmiths Live #53 — Michigan Loss Recap
Hosts: Chad Smith & Tierani Smith | OklahomaVOCFB
Tone: Frustrated, even-keel, not “sunshine puppies.” They repeatedly say they are not bashing John Mateer as the sole problem and that the defense is not the issue. Core thesis: Oklahoma abandoned a working offensive identity from UTEP, overcomplicated things for Mateer, and did not play to personnel strengths against a legit Michigan defense.
Final: Michigan 17, Oklahoma 10.
Opening / Frame (~2:00–5:00)
Show delayed because Grammy had the living-room volume maxed while watching the baby.

Not a happy-go-lucky show. “What we saw Saturday is a potential 6-6, 5-7 team.”

Most worrying: “a little bit of front-running” on offense. Creative and heavy personnel vs teams they can line up and beat; reverts to “John Mateer do everything” vs real competition.

Michigan defense graded as upper-third SEC-level, not average.
The identity they built vs UTEP — then abandoned (~5:00–18:00, 46:00–1:02)
What worked Week 1: Heavy/full personnel, under-center play-action, tight ends creating strain, easy defined reads for Mateer, moving the ball side-to-side.
What happened vs Michigan:
Lloyd Avant 8 yards on the first play. Instead of another run (Urban Meyer standard: two first downs to start a big game), they throw a go-route RPO to Sategna.

Next series: another 6–7 yard run, then they leave the run.

12 personnel used some (~40%), but not in a way that created momentum or helped the tackles who were getting whipped.

No 4-tight / wing / short-yardage packages they showed vs UTEP.

“You work so hard to build an identity… and you kind of show the framework of it in game one, and you don’t build off that at all.”

Tornado-shelter analogy: they built the shelter all offseason, then sat on the porch when the first real storm hit.
Chad: Ben Arbuckle is the No. 1 fault. Scheme put players in bad spots. “How does a guy like Elijah Thomas… not get one target?” Spring/fall camp hype as “made in the lab,” Jeremiah Smith-type athlete — unused even from the 1-yard line.
Over-forcing Isaiah Sategna on 1-on-1 go/back-shoulder situations that are not his strength. One of Mateer’s few good throws hits Sategna in the chest/belly before he turns.
Rocky Beers called a legitimate weapon — best TE look since Mark Andrews through two games — not utilized enough.
Hashtag that stuck: HTBO / HCBO — “Hand the B off.” Gabe quote featured in chat.
John Mateer — limitations + scheme mismatch (~12:00–20:00, 1:05+)
Tierney (works with kids): KISS method. “Keep it simple, stupid.” Arbuckle appears to be running “keep it complicated.”

When given options, Mateer “almost always chooses the wrong option.” Give him defined reads (rollouts, play-action off the run, hurry-up so he doesn’t have to process as much).

Strength is mobility, not standing in and solving six problems on one snap. “You can’t make somebody something they’re not.”

Under pressure he reverts to bad habits.

He did not play well. Missed layup throws elite D1 QBs typically hit. One INT, several more turnover-worthy plays (they cite ~6 TWPs this game after 5 vs UTEP).

Vision example: failed to follow Pierre-Louis outside on what should have been a TD; instead ran into a safety.

Not the processor Baker/Kyler were, and he doesn’t have that supporting NFL talent around him.

They are not calling for a benching. Leash is long. Would take blowout losses to Georgia + Texas + Kentucky before Neubauer or anyone else sees meaningful snaps.
Randy in chat: don’t turn it into Mateer-bashing; watch the O-line one play at a time. Hosts agree the line is a real problem and they hadn’t even gotten to Mateer’s individual issues yet.
Offensive line & chemistry (~15:00–17:00, 22:00)
Tackles getting whipped. Best fix when tackles struggle: extra tight ends to help block. They didn’t commit.

Four different starting groups by Game 4. Last year they used nine combinations through 10 games. O-line is the most chemistry-dependent position group.

Fosuji return should help (can slide to guard; he played RT in high school, LT is a different animal).

Michigan’s two NFL-caliber ends (John Henry Daly and No. 8) made it worse.

“Wiping with the other hand” / “brushing teeth with the opposite hand” — flipping sides is awkward.
Need a “come to Jesus” meeting with Jason Witten, Coach McCullough, Kevin Wilson, Emmitt Jones, etc. Witten didn’t come to Norman so TEs would be underused; McCullough didn’t come so RBs averaging 6.5 YPC in the first half get five touches.
Defense — they push back on the criticism (~16:00, 55:00+)
Missed tackles exist and need fixing, but “utterly ridiculous” as the main talking point after this game.

Defense has been very hard to drive the field on. Give them short fields or a late pick and 30 yards is different.

Last year: pooch punts that pinned teams inside the 15 — those drives produced zero points in key games.

If offense doesn’t turn it over and can pin people, this defense can keep almost anyone in the 20s.

They walk through last year’s scores: 28 points from this offense would have won nearly every game on the 2025 schedule except Ole Miss (turnovers) and the playoff (pick-six inflated the opponent total).
Looking ahead (~27:00, 55:00–1:11)
New Mexico is not a bye. They scored 70 earlier (starting QB now injured). Oklahoma needs to send a message — 50+ is the bar they floated, how they score it matters more than the number.

Then No. 1 and No. 2 (Texas, Georgia). Same formula: don’t turn it over, run it, shorten the game, let the defense work.

“We are just as capable of beating Texas and Georgia as Oklahoma State was of beating Oregon.” Things change week to week.

Sweet-spot they want: 25–30 designed runs, Mateer 17–24 pass attempts. Limits TWPs, shortens games, plays to the kicker.

Talent is there. Most complete roster since 2008 if coaches figure it out. High-school offensive recruiting/development has been the weak side under Venables; defense starters are almost all BV recruits.
Venables “clean it up” comments: every team says that. Harder to diagnose when the offensive operation itself changes week to week (60%+ 12-personnel vs UTEP → ~40% vs Michigan). You can’t fix what you don’t consistently run.
Kevin Wilson rumors: they don’t think he’ll call plays, but expect more scheme/structure input after the raise to senior offensive analyst.
Fan / chat highlights they addressed
Michigan fan: don’t panic after one bad night; Oklahoma will surprise people and can beat Texas.

“We don’t need Mateer to be a hero, just a game manager.” Hosts 100% agree.

Recruiting/development critique on offense under BV — they concede the portal/transfer carousel has been heavier on that side.

Super chats and likes push throughout; merch plug (vocfb.com/shop), Baker planting the flag in the SEC logo shirt.
Zeno the pocket beagle picks (~1:08, 1:17)
Week 2: 2-3 (only Iowa and Missouri hit). Season 6-4.

They run the treat-bowl picks live. Chad did them late the night before and doesn’t remember the slate. Dog “has something against LSU.”
Close
Won’t do Saturday postgame (night home game + baby). Back next Monday 7 p.m. CT.

“Boomer.” Hope they’re happier after New Mexico. Talent is not the issue. Scheme, commitment to the run, and playing to strengths are.

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1 hr 22 min
September 14Oklahoma Sooners Live 219
Oklahoma Sooners Live #219 — Rob Fontenot & Roger Schilling
OklahomaVOCFB | Day after Michigan loss | FanDuel presented
Tone: Frustrated but not quitting. Heavy recap of Michigan, then New Mexico keys and Touchdown or Turnover.
Open / vibe (0:00–4:00)
“This is the day after OU gets beat by Michigan.” Hits kept coming: OSU beat Oregon; Texas came back on Ohio State (Rob fell asleep at 23-3).

Rob: “reporting from my padded cell.” Mourning look — black yesterday, gray today. Double loss (OU + Tampa Bay). “Everybody we wanted to win lost.”

Crowd talk: 111k at the Big House. Hawaiian shirts as uniform. Chat: Craig in Atlanta bought Georgia tickets ($950).
Michigan recap — why it felt winnable (4:00–14:00)
Core question from chat (Corey): Can OU fix the offense and still beat Georgia and Texas?

Run game with Avant was working early; they abandoned it. “Keep going until they stop it.”

Stats trap: 3 YPC because they barely ran. First-half series:
5 plays, 13 yards

9 plays, 28 yards (extended by kicker penalty)

6 plays, 48 yards then Livingston fumble

3 plays, 3 yards

8 plays, 28 yards

Second half: two good drives (8 plays/90 yards FG; 83 yards) then collapse after INT. Last three series: 13 plays, 25 yards.

Mateer “helicopter” play + first-down point then laughing at the flag — no fire. Missing a “Baker-type” hype guy.

Forcing the ball to Satanga/Isaiah instead of RBs and TEs. Rocky Beers: 94 yards, 43-yard long — “BAMF.”

Michigan punted 7 times; OU did nothing with field position. Punters (Grayson 62-yard pin) decided the game more than they wanted.

“We should have scored at least 17… beat them 13-10 at minimum.” More first downs, fewer punts; turnovers (INT + fumble) flipped it. Michigan defense is legit, but execution and play-calling were the problem.
Coaching / identity (14:00–26:00)
No word on Stone (pass rush) — “not a touch on the quarterback.”

Play-calling odd: jet sweeps, handing to receivers when RBs exist.

Chat: Jason Witten as OC by Texas game if it doesn’t get fixed. Tight ends already look different.

Mateer under pressure: feet not set, short throws (Beers underthrown in double coverage; Thomas wide open across middle).

“I trust Brent.” Venables will get in the OC’s ear. Not “Big Game Brent” yet.

Long season. Last year they made the playoff after similar midseason doubt. “You never know.”

Kip Lewis injury status unknown for next week.
New Mexico preview (26:00–44:00)
Opponent: beat Mercyhurst and Central Michigan 38-7. 246 rushing YPG vs nobodies. Experts ~89.7% OU win; FanDuel -21.5, ML -2800.

Game: Saturday Sept. 6:30 p.m. ESPN2. Late postgame.

Keys they listed:
Establish the run. Hand it off. Third-and-3 is fine. Four plays to get 10.

Don’t force it to Isaiah/Satanga. Use TEs and other WRs.

Rocky Beers mismatch — “standout of the season.”

Get turnovers. Mateer: no INTs. Livingston: don’t fumble the one touch you get.

O-line consistency. Two different starting groups in two games; Noah Best center then RG. “Pick a group and leave it two games.” OG back at LT; Fasusi expected back.

Defense should force New Mexico into the run. Simulation had New Mexico scoring 0.

Rob: “If we lose to New Mexico I’ll quit the show.” (Roger refuses the resignation.)

Want starters to stay in longer than they did vs UTEP so they can work on things.
Touchdown or Turnover (44:00–1:00)
Presented by Pit Boss (Labor Day sale already over).
OU will be 2-3 after Week 5 (must beat Texas or Georgia) — Rob: Turnover (hasn’t seen them play well enough yet). Chat mixed.

This is the last week to fix the offense before Texas/Georgia — Turnover from Rob (“long season”); they still need it fixed before those games. Analogy: Astros fixed Kikuchi’s pitch mix midseason — coaches can adjust off Michigan film.

OU covers -21.5 vs New Mexico — Touchdown. Expect a UTEP-style blowout but with more run game and starters staying in.

If you could reverse one result, you’d flip Texas-Ohio State instead of OSU-Oregon — They would rather see Texas lose. Rooting for Tech felt dirty.

When they hit loss #4, do backups (Neubauer/Bentley) get a look? — Turnover. Would take a late-season collapse / 5-6 type year. Mateer is a package deal with the OC. Bowl eligibility still the floor.
Season math if 2-3 after the gauntlet: Kentucky, Miss State, South Carolina, Florida, Ole Miss, A&M, Missouri. 8-4 “pretty plausible” and they’d take it. 9 wins would be the happy number. 1-3 (i.e., lose to New Mexico) is the nightmare.
Closing / Venables talk / personal (1:00–end)
Pushback on “average / he ruined us.” First year was portal exodus (QB, RB, five WRs left with Lincoln Riley). Playoff last year. Two 6-7 seasons and no bowl wins are the knock; Navy/Kansas losses predate some of the current roster.

Indiana/Cignetti comparison — turning a basketball school into a football school + NIL management.

Rob: Sooners for life, “from a baby until 55.” Will be here unless they lose to New Mexico.

Cowboys-Giants tonight; Broncos tomorrow (watch former Sooners). Bet OU -21.5.

Sign-off: “For Roger, I’m Rob. Rob Bass, MCM, making cash money. Peace out.”
Clip-friendly timestamps
0:11 open + padded-cell bit

4:47 “Do I see a world where OU fixes the offense and beats Georgia and Texas?”

5:51 Mateer has to run / stop forcing Satanga

6:35–13:50 drive-by-drive + “we should have won”

11:24 Rocky Beers 94 yards

15:29 Witten-as-OC chatter

24:24 trust Brent / get the OC together

29:57–36:30 New Mexico keys (run, don’t force Isaiah, Beers, turnovers)

39:38 favorite plays (helicopter; Best’s knockout hit)

43:46 Touchdown or Turnover start

49:45 cover -21.5

1:03:50 “Sooners for life” close

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1 hr 6 min
September 13OKLAHOMA - Michigan Postgame LIVE
OklahomaVOCFB Postgame LIVE — Oklahoma vs. Michigan
Hosts: Rob Fontenot, Roger Schilling, Chad Smith, Tierani Smith
Tone: Angry, frustrated, first-loss energy. Defense largely spared. Offense and play-calling take the bulk of the fire.
Opening / Thesis (0:00–8:00)
Show opens as a rant. Consensus: this is one of the worst losses of the Brent Venables era.

Core complaint: Avant was gashing Michigan (called 6.5 YPC, “Kennedy Brooks,” “prime Adrian Peterson”) and they abandoned the run after it worked.

“Run the ball until they stop it” is repeated by multiple hosts (Chad, Tierani, Rob).

Play-calling example that lands hardest: first-drive sequence of successful runs, then a 40-yard fade to Satania on a manageable down.

Defense is explicitly not blamed. “Anyone who says it’s the defense either doesn’t know football or is too dumb to have an opinion.” Time of possession (roughly 19–18 first half in Michigan’s favor) left the defense on the field too long — “2024 all over again.”

Venables’ OC hiring record framed as 0-4. Arbuckle questioned for failing to “see what’s working.”
Clip-worthy lines
“There is no worse loss in BV’s history.”

“I question whether Arbuckle will be back delivering food to someone’s front door in a couple years.”

“Run the ball until they can stop it.”
John Mateer (recurring, peaks ~13:00–25:00 and 21:00–24:00)
Looks the part; does not play the part. Pocket presence, back-foot throws, locking onto Satania, and late/out-breaking throws in the red zone or on their own side of the field.

Interception (or near pick-six) on a late throw over the middle called unforgivable in a close game.

Comparison: Mestemaker (Oregon) is the better pocket passer right now. Mateer described as a “practice-squad QB,” “Johnny Manziel without the production,” not an NFL arm.

Processing issue: pre-snap lock-on. Example — Elijah Thomas “wider than the Red Sea” ignored while throwing to a covered Satania (high and out of bounds).

Target distribution: Satania force-fed (one host notes 11 targets, 2 catches, 9 yards at one point).

“Before you can win games at QB you have to learn how not to lose them” (Cignetti/Hoover quote applied to Mateer).

Hosts still say they’ll eat crow if he beats Georgia/Texas and they make a run. No shame in being wrong if the team wins.
Clip-worthy
“Glad you have an eight-pack, John. Learn to throw it eight yards or further.”

“He’s Russell Westbrook without the hype and the dunks.”

“I’d take Mestemaker over John right now.”
Running game & play-calling (0:02–0:07, 0:25–0:27, later recap)
Avant proving he can get 6–9 yards; given the ball roughly once a series early.

“You’re allowed to run the ball two times in a row.” Chuck Long-era joke (run-run-pass or get 2nd-and-1 then throw a fade).

Suggestion: use Mateer as a designed runner to force the defense to account for something besides the one-run-then-pass script.

Rocky Beers called a difference-maker; without him Mateer’s numbers look even worse.

Parker Livingston fumble in scoring range. Livingston (ex-Texas deep threat) “non-existent.”

Elijah Thomas underused after a strong back-shoulder the prior week.
Defense, turnovers, special teams (0:09–0:13, 0:20)
Not mad at the unit overall. Mad they had three chances at a turnover on one drive and came up empty (Peyton Bowen drop/INT opportunity, Owen Heineke failing to fall on a loose ball that Bryce Underwood recovered, third miss).

“An elite defense doesn’t give those up.”

Michigan’s punter kept pinning Oklahoma deep; Grayson Miller called first-half MVP — “pretty sad when your punter is the MVP.”

Officiating: 20 penalties mentioned; white-hat official mocked for TV time. Both sides flagged a lot.
Bigger picture / Venables / roster (0:16–0:18, 0:32–0:35)
Offensive line chemistry still missing. Fasusi (first-round talent LT) out with AC joint for the biggest game. “Another starting five every week.”

Kevin Wilson now senior offensive analyst for the run game — question of whether anyone talked to Arbuckle at halftime.

Injuries framed as either historic bad luck or a program-level issue.

Expectations cratered for some hosts (“pretty high to pretty low”). Others still say talent is there if the brains catch up.

National-title-or-bust preseason belief now looks foolish after one game.
Scheduling, Texas, Notre Dame, rest of CFB (1:29–1:45)
Strong take: never again schedule a good OOC opponent. Stack FCS/weaker games. SEC schedule is already brutal. Indiana/Ohio State/Big Ten not doing Michigan-level OOC.

Clemson future game mentioned; skepticism it happens or that Clemson is currently dangerous.

Texas: unanimous “I want them to lose every game.” No “I hope they’re good so the OU-Texas win means more.” Want them out of the playoff. Historical program comparison (championships/Heismans) used to dunk on Texas fans in chat.

Arch Manning called average; Quinn Ewers called average. Same energy applied inward to Mateer.

Notre Dame: schedule-picking, “Play Like a Champion” sign theft joke, should be out of playoff conversation if they lose to Miami.

Other scores name-dropped (Arizona/BYU, Notre Dame-Rice, Indiana-Howard, etc.).
Closing mood (1:46–end)
First loss always hurts most when you didn’t expect it. Texas loss still ranks as worse for some.

Defense still viewed as title-caliber. Offense has to “rinse and repeat what works.”

Hosts expect they’ll talk themselves back into optimism by next week.

High comment/viewership noted — “people come out after a loss.”

Sign-off: Boomer Sooner, Go Buckeyes (split allegiances on the panel), hope the next show is a win rant.
Best short-form clip windows
0:20–3:30 — opening Arbuckle/Avant rant

5:30–8:00 — “Ray Charles after the first series” + Mateer anxiety

13:00–15:30 — “one thing you cannot do” INT / high-and-right miss

21:00–22:30 — lock-on / Elijah Thomas wide open

25:00–26:30 — five things that lost the game (INT, fumble, not running Avant, penalties, forcing Satania)

1:39–1:42 — “never want Texas to win a game”
Recurring phrases for headlines / thumbs
Run it until they stop it

2024 all over again

Not on the defense

Lock-on quarterback

First-loss hangover

OC 0-for-4
Notes stay faithful to the tape: raw, repetitive, and focused on process (run game + decision-making) more than any single player being “done.” Hosts leave the door open to look foolish if the offense fixes it against better SEC defenses.

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1 hr 59 min
September 09Oklahoma WINS | Michigan Preview | Sooner Smiths Live #51
Sooner Smiths Live #51 — Oklahoma 51-0 vs UTEP | Michigan Preview
Hosts: Chad & Tierani Smith | Guest: TJ Ronin (MichiganVOCFB)
Crossover setup so they could also appear on the Michigan VOCFB show with TJ.
0:00–3:00 | Open
Moved the usual Monday 7 p.m. CT slot earlier to do both shows. Baby is down; Grammy heading to Michigan. Sponsored by Fanduel. Pit Boss Labor Day grill promo mentioned (link in description).
3:00–16:00 | UTEP recap (51-0)
Tierani sandwich (pos/neg/pos)
Pos: Special teams continued last year’s form; younger kickers got reps. Coach Deacon on the postgame mic is a good sign.

Neg: UTEP moved the ball more than she liked even though the kicker missed three FGs. Venables clip of him going off on the defense — “it ain’t good enough” — is exactly the standard she wants.

Pos: 51 points and a real run game. John Mateer looked solid (not great, not bad) in his first game back.
Chad on offense
Ben Arbuckle lived in 12/13 personnel (52 of 57 snaps); first TD was 14 personnel (four TEs + FB). Exactly what fans were promised after camp.

Rocky Beers TD was the highlight; High Noon celebration spilled on the people in front of them.

Trené Washington at FB (also a TE). Isaiah Satania punt-return TD. John Mateer: calm feet, pre-snap recognition (back-shoulder to Elijah Thomas vs single-high). Still has “hero play” moments (2nd-and-long instead of checkdown).

Lloyd Avant topping the RB depth chart was expected from camp reports (consistent ~95 grade from McCullough).

Fasusi: 17 snaps, conflicting reports (Venables said fine; other talk of a few weeks for shoulder). Best OL if he’s out: Fojay LT, EPL LG, Mykula C, Noah Best RG, Marion Harris RT. Better to miss early non-con than Texas/Georgia.
Golf sidebar: Chad made an albatross (2 on a par-5) on the cliff hole at Dornick Hills. Typically scratch / +1.
21:00–52:00 | TJ Ronan joins — Michigan vs Western Michigan + OU preview
Clock / Hail Mary
Chad: Probably wasn’t a second left, but once the call is made you live with it. WMU still had to stop the Hail Mary. Biggest actual problem is TV clock not synced with official clock.
TJ: Evidence shows TV clock was ahead; Michigan likely got the correct call even if it looked bad. WMU coach was classy immediately after; later they flipped. Underwood launched it ~65 yards while getting hit; JJ Buchanan is a freak.
Michigan state of the program (TJ)
Extremely underwhelming Week 1. Looked worse under Whittingham than under Sherrone Moore so far — but it’s Week 1.

Fanbase already treating the season as over and calling for Underwood to be benched. TJ: premature. Circle the Iowa game at the end of September as the evaluation window. Don’t burn the bridge early (Dante Moore / Jayden Daniels examples).

Youngest starting unit in the Big Ten. OL not creating holes; Western Michigan (MAC champs, G5 CFP contender) out-physicaled them. Strength & conditioning under previous staff was poor; new staff (LSI) just getting started. Still identifying two guard spots. Harding (Utah) is one of the best OL coaches in the country.

Playbook was intentionally limited vs WMU so they wouldn’t show OU everything (some RPOs not live). Second half opened up more.

Positives: WR room deepest/talented since 2004-05 (two 5-star freshmen, Travis Johnson, JG Buchanan NFL-bound, Andrew Marsh). Defense: John Henry Daly (11.5 sacks last year), Dominic Nichols (2 sacks), Trey Pierce interior pressure. Corners physical but played off early.

Time of possession 41-19; defense kept them in it despite the offense.
TJ’s pick: Oklahoma. “I hate it… I’m not going to BS anybody.” Fanbase is “looking down from 40 feet.”
Hosts agree Michigan is too talented to completely write off, but one week isn’t enough for a huge jump with a young OL and new staff still evaluating.
52:00–end | Score picks, POTG, close
Score predictions
Both hosts: Oklahoma 27–13 (or 27–9). Expect a run-heavy, quicker game.

TJ already on OU.
Player of the game ideas
John Mateer, Isaiah Satania (punt returns — remember the Alabama 40-yarder last year), Hayden Hanson.
Zeno Zone: 4-1 last week (lost only Clemson). Games listed: Oregon-Oklahoma State, Texas-Ohio State, OU-Michigan, Iowa State-Iowa, Missouri-Kansas.
Rob & Roger taking lead on most postgames; Chad & Tierani will join when it’s not a home night game. Merch plug (Baker flag-in-the-SEC shirt, Zeno Zone gear). See you Saturday postgame (away game) or next Monday 7 p.m. CT. Boomer.

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1 hr 1 min

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