Oklahoma at The Voice of College Football

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Oklahoma at The Voice of College Football episodes

October 19Oklahoma Sooners LIVE 224
Oklahoma Sooners LIVE Episode 224
Hosts: Rob Fontenot & Roger Schilling
Aired on: OklahomaVOCFB
Focus: Kentucky loss recap, Mississippi State preview, keys to victory, Touchdown or Turnover, and team outlook
Intro & Opening Banter (00:00:11–~00:02:00)
Episode 224. Roger is on the road (unusual travel for him these two weekends).

Pre-show chat comment: “Wasted defense, poor play calling, and poor quarterback.” Both hosts agree.

Arch Manning and John Mateer described as having turned out overrated.

Light banter about the show schedule feeling quick and the full crew expected for the upcoming away game.
Kentucky Loss Recap (21-13) (~00:02:08–~00:08:00)
OU lost 21-13. Mateer threw 3 interceptions; OU had 4 turnovers total vs. Kentucky’s 0.

Hosts criticize the trick plays (including a flea-flicker-style and a fake field goal/jump pass by the holder). None worked. Rob notes OU outgained Kentucky and questions why they were so desperate to run them.

Kentucky did little after their first drive until Mateer’s interceptions flipped the game. Hosts say “we beat ourselves.”

Field-position and decision points discussed (e.g., Kentucky going for it on 4th-and-goal instead of taking a field goal; OU’s own missed field-goal opportunities).

Opportunistic plays noted from other games (interceptions, blocked punt) as a contrast to the offensive struggles.

Red-zone offense called “awful”; Mississippi State’s red-zone numbers viewed as better.
Mississippi State Preview (~00:02:52–~00:07:00 and ongoing)
Next up: Mississippi State on SEC Network at 2:30. Postgame show expected around 7.

Records: Oklahoma 3-3 (favored by 2.5), Mississippi State 4-2.

Statistical comparison:
OU scoring offense: 113th; MSU: 48th.

OU scoring defense: 30th; MSU: 111th.

OU total offense: ~311 yards/game; MSU: ~454 yards/game (22nd nationally).

Mateer: 9 turnovers in 6 games — must be fixed.

MSU quarterback (referred to as Jeff Levy / Mario Taylor in discussion; injury status uncertain). MSU scored big in earlier wins (e.g., 62, 38, 41) and beat Missouri 31-24, but lost 31-0 to LSU without the QB. Hosts see a potential advantage for OU if the QB is out.

Hosts note MSU hasn’t faced a defense like Oklahoma’s and that turnovers must be eliminated for any chance.
Keys to Victory & Offensive Issues (~00:08:00–~00:16:00 and ~00:11:23–~00:15:00)
Hosts’ stated keys:
No turnovers.

No trick plays — just run the ball.

Take the points (don’t get cute in scoring position; fake FG criticized).

Run the ball and use the tight ends.

Defense must create turnovers and possibly a score (as in the Texas game), because the offense has been unreliable.
Additional discussion:
Offense has “no identity.” Defense has done its job repeatedly only for the offense to stall or turn it over, which is described as disheartening.

Mateer viewed as no longer a dual-threat; he “doesn’t think fast enough” and is “easily rattled.” Hosts and chat discuss whether he should be sat down.

Punting/field position: OU often starts with long fields; need better pinning.

Portal concerns raised — hard to recruit to this offensive situation.

Comparison of Lincoln Riley years (offense) vs. Brent Venables years (defense). Hosts prefer having a functional offense.

Venables and the team described as looking subdued/not hungry after the Texas win. Fans have lost trust; “no one will drink his Kool-Aid again.”
Touchdown or Turnover Segment (~00:29:00–~00:38:00)
Viewer-driven segment (with hosts and chat picks). Examples discussed:
OU can bounce back and win vs. Mississippi State (especially if MSU QB is out) — mixed.

Mateer throws 3 more picks and is done — strong lean toward eventual benching.

Offense can handle cowbells on the road — mixed (some say no, given home struggles).

Hosts/viewers won’t get mad if OU loses — mostly “turnover” (they will still be mad).

Force 3+ turnovers and run for 100+ yards — mixed faith.

Mateer gets benched sometime this season — near-unanimous “touchdown” (it will happen).
Consensus themes: season is effectively over for the playoff; bowl games matter less; still want wins for momentum and to avoid total collapse.
Fun Facts on Mississippi State (~00:38:40–~00:43:00)
Davis Wade Stadium (built 1914) is the second-oldest FBS stadium (clue given: SEC team; answer Georgia’s Sanford Stadium).

First live mascot (Bully One) is buried under the 50-yard line.

Cowbell tradition traced to a Jersey cow wandering onto the field during a 1930s win over Ole Miss.

First meeting as SEC opponents.

MSU historical win percentage: .488.

Dak Prescott and related MSU offensive history briefly noted.
Closing Thoughts (~00:43:00–end)
Season viewed as over for playoff purposes. Realistic goal is simply winning enough to reach 6 wins.

Hosts still get angry at losses but are adjusting expectations.

Roger traveling/working; hopes to be home for the Saturday postgame. Sooner Smiths expected on the postgame show.

Light banter about a backup QB sparking the offense and fans saying “we told you so.”

Outro and thanks to viewers. Sponsored by FanDuel (odds discussion earlier: OU -2.5).
Overall Tone: Frustrated but still engaged. Heavy focus on self-inflicted losses, Mateer’s turnovers, lack of offensive identity, and the need for basic execution (protect the ball, run the ball, take points, stop trick plays) against Mississippi State. Playoff hopes are gone; the conversation has shifted to salvaging the rest of the season and longer-term program questions under Venables.

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47 min
October 19Oklahoma - Kentucky Postgame LIVE
OklahomaVOCFB Sooners LIVE Postgame Notes: Oklahoma 13, No. 15 Kentucky 21
Hosts: Rob Fontenot & Roger Schilling
Aired: Saturday night postgame (~10:30 p.m. CT), ~44 minutes
Context: Sooners fall to 3-3 (1-2 SEC) at home after leading most of the game. Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC) moves into a tie for the SEC lead. John Mateer: 24/40, 270 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs (plus a fake-field-goal INT by the holder). OU outgained Kentucky ~346-230 but had four turnovers to zero and scored zero points in the fourth quarter.
Episode Overview
Frustrated but analytical postgame after a game the hosts felt Oklahoma dominated for long stretches (especially on defense after Kentucky’s opening drive) only to collapse late due to turnovers, poor play-calling, an inconsistent offense, and offensive-line depth issues. Strong defense is praised; offense, Mateer, Arbuckle (OC), and Venables’ ability to fix the offense are heavily criticized. Other results (Texas loss, Georgia loss to Auburn, Alabama loss to Tennessee, BYU over Notre Dame, etc.) are noted. Outlook is bleak: possible 6-6 or worse.
Timestamped Key Segments & Discussion Points
00:00–02:00 | Opening reaction & “we should have won”
Hosts express the dominant feeling: OU controlled the game for long stretches, then the offense “disappeared/melted” from late third quarter through the fourth. Announcers’ OL excuses sound familiar after three years of the same issues. Lack of depth forces constant shuffling when injuries hit.
02:00–04:00 | Play-calling & abandoning what worked
Criticism of razzle-dazzle (flea flicker, unnecessary tricks) and the failed fake field goal (should have taken the points). Run game looked decent early and then was abandoned. When they ran it, it worked; they went away from it.
04:00–07:00 | Game flow & early dominance that faded
Kentucky’s easy opening 67-yard TD drive created early worry. OU answered with a FG (7-3). Defense then largely shut Kentucky down; hosts felt there was “no way” they would lose. At halftime they felt good despite the close score (roughly 10-7 or 13-7 entering the late stages). Offense had some good drives. Turning point: interception near the end of the third, Kentucky TD to take the lead, more punts, Kentucky failed on 4th-and-goal inside the 10, then the pick-six sealed it.
07:00–09:30 | Turnovers, fourth-quarter collapse & stats
Four turnovers for OU (zero for Kentucky) are the killer. Pick-six is the backbreaker. Fourth quarter: essentially four total yards for the offense. Stats discussed: OU ~346 total yards (strong passing volume), Kentucky ~230 total / ~70 rushing. “You can’t throw three picks.” Hosts note they dominated the eye test and time of possession feeling but not the scoreboard.
09:30–12:00 | Mateer, QB situation & confidence issues
Mateer looked better when winning/confident; when trailing he “lost it” and couldn’t throw accurately. Discussion of putting in Whit Neubauer — “no reason not to.” Comparison to last year’s running threat that kept defenses honest. Now he appears more hesitant (injury/fumble fear, less explosive). O-line problems compound everything. Package deal with Arbuckle noted.
12:00–16:00 | Other results, rankings & missed opportunity
BYU over Notre Dame (hosts happy), Houston over Oklahoma State, Texas loss, Ohio State beat Indiana, Georgia lost to Auburn, Alabama lost to Tennessee, Miami survived Florida State in OT. Broncos win with former Sooners (Mims, Benito, Powers). Frustration that other big teams lost and OU couldn’t capitalize to climb back into the rankings. Chance to get back toward the top 20 is gone.
16:00–20:00 | Venables, Arbuckle, coaching & hot seat
Venables credited fully for the defense (looked really good after the first series; pressures/sacks). But he is viewed as a defensive coordinator more than a head coach who can fix the offense. Needs an elite OC. Arbuckle (brought in as package with Mateer) is on the hot seat — “no way he should still have his job.” Play-calling called dumb. Hosts note if the fake FG had worked, feelings would be different, but it was still a bad call. Comments about not hearing Venables’ postgame yet.
20:00–25:00 | Remaining schedule & season outlook
Ole Miss next (forced rivalry). Winnable games: Mississippi State, South Carolina, possibly Texas A&M. Harder: Florida, Ole Miss, Missouri. Hosts project maybe three more wins at most, or 6-6 if lucky; some say they wouldn’t be shocked by a continued slide. “Who are they going to beat with this offense?” Defense gives them upset potential, but the offense is “pathetic.”
25:00–30:00 | Broader frustration, anger & lower expectations
Hosts were mad (one took a shower to cool off). Lowered the bar after earlier games (Georgia loss, ugly New Mexico win that knocked them out of the top 25). “We suck” is said bluntly. Comparison to past Big 12 dominance and high expectations vs. current reality. Harder to get as angry when the offense has been this bad for a while.
30:00–36:00 | Talent on offense, specific criticisms & solutions
Skill-position talent exists (RBs, WRs, especially TEs — “don’t fire Witten”). OL can’t block, so nothing works. Abandoning the run on first downs creates 2nd-and-10. Suggestions: change QB, fire Arbuckle, consider Chip Kelly if available. “What do you have to lose?” Play-calling and OL are both problems.
36:00–43:55 | Wrap, more hot-seat talk & close
More on 3-3, needing changes, AD/GM pressure. Facebook page growth noted in passing. Hosts sign off tired and disappointed; Rob dealing with being sick. “We suck” as the bottom line. Peace out; back tomorrow.
Clip-Worthy Moments (Short-Form Friendly)
~00:00–00:45: “We were dominating… then the OU offense just disappeared/melted… you’re not going to win any games with an offense like this.”

~02:30–03:15: Fake FG / razzle-dazzle criticism — “They should have just kicked it.”

~06:40–07:15: The sequence that turned the game (INT end of third → Kentucky TD → pick-six).

~09:20–09:45: “You can’t throw three picks… and one of them’s a pick-six. That was the backbreaker.”

~10:15–10:45: QB change discussion — “What do they have a reason to not put Whit Neubauer in there?”

~13:00–13:45: Abandoning the run when it was working (4-5 yards) for first-down passes.

~17:30–18:15: Venables as DC vs. head coach; needs an awesome OC. Arbuckle/Mateer package deal.

~21:20–21:50: “They’re going to be lucky to win six or seven games… this offense is so pathetic.”

~29:00–29:40: “They scored thirteen points on a team that was allowing 34-35 every game.”

~36:00–36:40: “No way Arbuckle should still have his job. And no way Mateer should still be starting.”

~38:40–39:10: “OU’s a football school that is good at everything but football.”
Key Quotes
“It feels like we were dominating the whole time and then… the OU offense just disappeared, melted, lost the game for us.”

“You’re not going to win any games with an offense like this.”

“You can’t throw three picks. And one of them’s a pick-six. That was the backbreaker.”

“We do have the defense to upset somebody… but they didn’t do anything tonight” in terms of the offense supporting them.

“No way Arbuckle should still have his job. And no way Mateer should still be starting.”

“OU’s a football school that is good at everything but football.”
Bottom-Line Takeaways
Defense was the bright spot and kept it close after Kentucky’s first drive. The offense (play-calling, OL depth/injuries, Mateer’s late turnovers and confidence issues) collapsed when it mattered. Hosts see this as a continuation of multi-year problems and expect pressure for changes (OC and/or QB). Season is trending toward mediocrity or worse unless the offense improves dramatically.

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44 min
October 13Oklahoma BEATS Texas | All CASH, No Hat | Sooner Smiths Live #57
Sooner Smiths Live #57 Episode Notes
Oklahoma BEATS Texas | All CASH, No Hat
Hosts: Chad & Tierani Smith (OklahomaVOCFB)
Presented by Fanduel
Air date context: Post-Red River Showdown (Oklahoma unranked over No. 1 Texas). Golden Hat returns to Norman. Chad watched from the hospital with his dad (who is doing well; shout-out Pops). Tierani joined afterward. Technical audio issues early; show is the delayed postgame.
Episode Overview
High-energy celebration of Oklahoma’s signature win over Texas. Hosts break down the emotional swings, defensive dominance (especially third-and-short and the blocked punt + pick-six), second-half offensive improvement (run game and Lloyd Avant), John Mateer’s late throws, and how the result salvages the season and positions OU for a playoff push. Strong rivalry banter, historical stats, and forward look at Kentucky and the schedule. Ends with picks, community thanks, and Boomer.
Timestamped Sections & Key Points
00:01–00:04 | Intro, Technical Issues, Context
Boomer Sooner open. Hosts introduce Sooner Smiths Live (Mondays 7 p.m. CT on OklahomaVOCFB, presented by Fandle).

Chad was in the hospital with his dad; Tierani met him after the game. Dad is doing great.

Win makes the personal moment even better. They called the upset potential the week before via game keys.

Early audio/visibility problems fixed.
~00:04–00:07 | Emotional Recap of the Game
Tierani: Not the most optimistic entering (felt they needed a near-perfect game). Hype built, then first-half lows, momentum shift later. Watched with Mexican side of family—pins and needles.

Final minutes “insane”; missed Texas FG gave hope, then interception sealed it. Classic Red River chaos.

Hospital crowd was loud and celebrating too.

Golden Hat back in Norman. Beat the No. 1 team while unranked. Must-win that salvages the season and opens a real playoff path (national TV opportunities ahead).
~00:07–00:12 | Keys to the Win: Third-and-Short, Defensive Line, Special Teams
Third-and-short: Texas 1-for-4 (25%). Had been 17-of-18 prior (only miss was a spike). OU forced them off their preferred run-heavy approach (previously 15 runs / 2 passes on conversions).

Defensive line dominance up the middle; Sark noted postgame struggles.

Two defining plays: blocked punt TD (revenge for 2023) and Peyton Bowen pick-six.

Bowen: SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Sendell: Special Teams Player of the Week.

BV on coach’s show: “Golden Hat” blocked-punt play practiced seven times (five successful blocks by Parker Livingston—by design). Former punter YouTube breakdown praised the scheme.
~00:12–00:18 | Turning Points, Physicality, Momentum Shifts
Tierani: Blocked punt was the biggest moment for her (confidence, monkey off the back, luck finally going OU’s way).

Chad: Punt block reset the game after a slow start. Texas trying to shove Satania into the ball woke the sideline—no more intimidation.

OU was the more physical team. Second-half run game (especially Yvonne/Lloyd Avant) built OL confidence.

Fasusi injury update: Not leaving; chose not to have season-ending surgery to help the team. Still invested (pregame hype, sideline presence). Young OL getting valuable reps (Noah Best, Fogey at LT, etc.).
~00:18–00:25 | Defense Depth, Tristan Haynes, Tackling, Atmosphere
Tristan Haynes: Found out Thursday he was starting; played every snap (~66), 7 tackles, 2 pass breakups. Tight coverage on first play vs. Cam Coleman. Venables praised the coverage.

Physicality everywhere (Owen Heineke, safeties, edges). Danny McCoy (Oklahoma kid) on the block and smart non-engagement on the return.

Defense continues to deliver in big spots (playoff-caliber unit).

Historical notes: First unranked OU win over No. 1 Texas; unranked teams have owned ranked opponents in Red River since 2013 (5-3); other streak and turnover stats.

Crowd energy was excellent (loud from the start; juiced after the scuffle/punt).
~00:25–00:40 | Run Game, John Mateer, Offensive Line Confidence
Second half: OU ran effectively (Lloyd Avant 10 carries, 72 yards, 7.2 avg in second half). Pre-game message was “just get 5 yards.”

OL created gaps against a good Texas front after struggling earlier (including vs. New Mexico). Confidence boost—“we did it against Texas.”

Mateer: Mixed day but two of his best throws of the season on the final drive. Need more aggression (avoid taking sacks on free plays/offsides; throw it away).

Depth and experience for young OL. Fogey not getting benched; likely moves when Fasusi returns. Noah Best played well at left guard.

Refs let the game be physical (appreciated).
~00:40–00:55 | Looking Ahead: Kentucky and Season Path
Excited to build off the win. Kentucky is ranked and scrappy (two straight OT wins). OU favored but must not overlook them.

Opportunity for quality ranked wins (Kentucky, then Mississippi State, South Carolina) to climb CFP rankings.

Still unranked—BV can use that as motivation.

Historical precedent: Red River wins have previously launched strong finishes (e.g., 2016, 2020).

Mateer showed more fire/leadership on the field than in prior games.
~00:55–01:05 | Rivalry Banter, Fan Reactions, Injury Context
Colin Simmons “Texas beat Texas” comments dismissed—Oklahoma beat them (blocked punt, turnovers, discipline).

Texas fans moving goalposts and trash-talking; OU fans should enjoy the win.

Healthy QB note and injury context (OU missing key pieces yet still won).

Haynes’ debut a major confidence boost for the secondary depth.

Guillory praised (PFF coverage numbers strong).
~01:05–01:14 | Wrap-Up, Picks, Community
Kentucky preview: Good team under Will Stein; scrappy and won’t quit.

Show plugs: Like/share on YouTube and X; comments help growth. Strong viewership this season.

XenoZone (Chad’s son) picks: OU over Kentucky, plus other games (Ohio State, Indiana, Notre Dame, BYU, Houston, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Missouri).

Dad update: Doing well, follow-up in a couple weeks.

Freddie (German World Cup personality) attended and called it one of the loudest events he’s been to.

Final: Boomer. Hope for a strong offensive showing vs. Kentucky.
Key Takeaways
Win was a season-saver: Golden Hat back, No. 1 team beaten while unranked, playoff path reopened.

Defense (third-and-short, physicality, special teams) was the foundation; blocked punt and Bowen pick-six were the signature plays.

Second-half run game and OL execution provide a real building block.

Depth (Haynes, young OL) and culture showed up in the biggest game.

Must carry the physicality and confidence forward—Kentucky is a trap if overlooked.

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1 hr 14 min
October 12We Beat Those Horns!!!! Oklahoma Sooners Live Episode 223
Oklahoma Sooners Live Episode 223: “We Beat Those Horns!!!!”
Hosts: Rob Fontenot & Roger Schilling (Roger on the road; Stace driving)
Platform: OklahomaVOCFB
Context: Postgame reaction to Oklahoma’s Red River victory over Texas, plus rankings fallout and a Kentucky preview.
Intro & Immediate Reaction (0:00–~2:00)
Episode 223 opens with two headlines: Oklahoma wins Red River, and it’s victory-shirt day. Rob is wearing the shirt he’s been waiting to break out.

Roger joins from the car. Early listener comments celebrate “J-Five cooked horns down” and the pure joy of the win even on a rough workday.

Core takeaway from the top: The Sooners did exactly what was required—avoid turnovers and get contributions from defense and special teams.
First-Half Breakdown & Special Teams Spark (2:00–~10:00)
Texas’s first five drives: all punts for just 15 total yards. Rob notes he “would rather them just punt every time” and that the plan worked because OU stayed clean with the ball.

Blocked punt (credited in comments to Livingston more than Danio) leads to a touchdown. Officials were right on top of the play and ruled it correctly. Game tied 7-7.

Tate Sandell misses a field goal. Texas responds with a TD and FG to go up 17-7. Rob admits the “here we go again” feeling but liked how OU was competing otherwise.

Halftime vibe: Still hopeful despite the deficit. Rob steps outside briefly and jokes about waiting for Texas trolls (“Where are you at, Bevo?”).
Second Half, Pick-Six & Closing Drive (10:00–~20:00)
Third quarter is relatively quiet (punts and a field goal). Fourth quarter is “action-packed.”

Lloyd Avant touchdown ties it 17-17. Bowen pick-six puts OU ahead. Texas answers with a 75-yard TD drive. Another OU interception seals the win.

Final drive (roughly 19 seconds after the pick-six): John Mateer “had to be perfect.” He managed the clock and situation without a turnover.

Sandell nails the game-winning field goal after earlier misses. Rob was more confident than nervous; it wasn’t an extreme distance.

Stats recap: Mateer 18/26 for 155 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs (one fumble that wasn’t lost). Avant 10 carries for 72 yards (42 on one run). Satanga and Beers also contribute. Defense + special teams account for 14 of OU’s points (2 INTs + blocked-punt TD).

Comparison to 2014: Zach Sanchez pick-six + special-teams TD with the offense doing “just enough.”
Mateer Evaluation & “Do Not Turn It Over” Philosophy (20:00–~30:00)
Consensus: Mateer did exactly what the coaches and the situation required—protect the ball. Announcers noted he was “trying not to lose the game.”

Not a “step-up” performance in the explosive sense, but the right one. Last drive showed flashes of the player they need.

Running game: Avant looked better than the other backs, but the line is still the bigger story. Feeding him remains a priority.

Keys that delivered the win: No turnovers, field goals when needed, and non-offensive touchdowns.
Rankings Reaction & Resume Debate (30:00–~40:00)
OU remains unranked after beating the No. 1 team. Hosts expected somewhere in the 18–21 range (or at least top 25). Texas drops to No. 7.

Resume criticism is acknowledged: losses/poor showings vs. Michigan and Georgia plus the New Mexico game. Still, beating the top team should move the needle more.

CBS Sports has them around 44; other mentions of ~30. Hosts note the irony of Kentucky (5-1, recent wins over LSU and South Carolina via 2-point conversions) being ranked and favored by 6.5.

Future résumé builders exist: Kentucky, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU, Missouri, etc. “If we win the rest, we’re 10-2 and they can try to keep us out.”

Notre Dame independence rant appears; hosts want them in a conference.
Kentucky Preview & Keys (40:00–~50:00)
Kentucky is 5-1 (3-1 SEC), 2-0 on the road. Game is Saturday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m. in Norman.

Defense ranks well for OU (around top 15 overall); offense is still near the bottom nationally. Kentucky’s defense is roughly 100th.

Potential hangover vs. confidence boost: Hosts lean toward confidence. Home crowd is told not to boo—stand and clap.

Keys: Continue ball security with Mateer, get the run game (especially Avant) going, and stop Kentucky’s 2-point conversion tendencies.

Over/under and spread discussion. Hosts like OU to cover and win in a game that may feature field goals (score predictions in the 23–27 range for OU).
Touchdown or Turnover Segments
Multiple rounds on Kentucky-related questions (stop the 2-point conversion, Mateer TD total rest of season, 100-yard rusher, Avant as feature back, etc.). Majority “touchdown” answers.

Overtime segments continue the Mateer “just don’t turn it over” theme and running-game optimism after the Texas performance.
Closing Notes
Victory-shirt tradition confirmed for future wins.

Shout-outs to regulars (Special T, Grandmaster, Swalling, Jimmy Satterfield, etc.).

Overall tone: Relieved and happy. The win matched the pregame formula almost perfectly (no turnovers + defense/special teams). Confidence is higher heading into Kentucky, even while acknowledging the offense still has a long way to go.
Clip-friendly moments:
Blocked-punt TD call and “officials were right there” (early second quarter).

Bowen pick-six reaction.

Rankings frustration after beating No. 1.

“He just can’t turn the ball over—that’s all we needed” Mateer summary.

Victory-shirt reveal and “Where are you at, Bevo?” troll bait.

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1 hr 3 min
October 11Goodbye Sooner Slump Hello Sooner Magic: Join us for postgame talk, live at 7:00. Boomer Sooner
OklahomaVOCFB Postgame Notes: “Goodbye Sooner Slump, Hello Sooner Magic”
Host: MCM Raj (solo; Rob Bass at work) | Live at 7:00 | FanDuel sponsor
Game: Oklahoma 27, No. 1 Texas 24 (Oct. 10, 2026, Cotton Bowl) — walk-off 47-yard Tate Sandell FG. First win over a No. 1 team since 2007 vs. Missouri. Sooners now 3-2 (1-1 SEC). Outgained 382–238 but zero turnovers.
Chapter 1: Game Recap and Initial Takes (0:14–3:20)
Host jumped around the yard like Baker Mayfield after the win.

First half felt like a different team: offense “awful,” defense “incredible.” Still in the game despite struggles.

Early texting with Rob: Mateer throwing behind/over guys, special teams issues (couldn’t punt or kick FGs cleanly). Past a Hatton noted as a bright spot early.

Rivalry context: always want to win from the first series, but Texas can always win these too.
Chapter 2: Tactics and Key Matchups (3:20–6:15)
“Touchdowns and Turnovers” segment reference: either side can always walk away with a win.

Historical note: last time OU beat a ranked Texas (when unranked) was ~2022; last No. 1 win was 2007 Big 12 title vs. Missouri.

Arch Manning 19/31, 260 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs. John Mateer 18/26, 155 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs.
Chapter 3: Performance Highlights (6:15–9:28)
Zero turnovers the key — “as long as Mateer holds the ball, we have a chance because the defense is outstanding.” Previous games had stacked turnovers (1-2-3-4, 10 total before this).

Isaiah Sategna stepped up (64 yards, long of 20). Took a big hit that led to a roughing-the-passer call (overturned potential INT).

Tate Sandell overcame a recent slump (missed three in a row) with 2–3 FGs, including the game-winner.

Second half “may have been the best I’ve seen from this team in a while.”
Chapter 4: Game Turning Points (9:28–12:59)
Night-and-day from first half to second. Lloyd Avant’s big ~46-yard run and later TD broke the offensive touchdown drought vs. Texas.

Roughing-the-passer hit on Sategna + pass interference got the team motivated.

Sideline skirmish fired everyone up.

Offense still has work to do, but this was a major stepping stone. Coaches (Arbuckle, Venables) knew they were on the hot seat and got the guys ready. Announcers were Texas-homers.

Record now 3-2 after last year’s 10-2 playoff team — “we’re fine.”
Chapter 5: SEC Outlook and Fan Reactions (12:59–16:18)
SEC is a “crazy mess” of good teams that can beat each other any week. Rivalry still relatively new to the rest of the conference.

Win puts the SEC on notice that OU is for real. Texas is good but won’t stay No. 1.

Host’s superstition: worked outside (honey-do projects, past duck-blind builds) during OU-Texas and attributed the win to staying busy.

Mentions Alabama-Georgia later that night and weather questions.
Chapter 6: Upcoming Schedule (16:18–20:00)
Next: Kentucky and Mississippi State (both winnable); South Carolina a coin toss.

Shoutouts to fan comments (Specialty, Clayton, etc.). Positive mental attitude on the O-line getting better.

Brief Nebraska note (they came back vs. Indiana) and nostalgia for old OU-Nebraska games.
Chapter 7: Defining the Win (20:00–25:53)
Host’s turning point: the roughing-the-passer call on Sategna that “knocked him into next week” but he got back up.

Other keys: Avant’s run getting everyone hyped, sideline skirmish, Texas penalties, defense stepping up after late Texas scores.

Fan comment highlight: Lloyd Avant 39-yard run + strong second-half D-line start.

Defense pressure (Stone on Arch Manning — got hurt then returned) was huge. Owen Heinecke 9 tackles (2.5 TFL), Kip Lewis 4 tackles, ~2 sacks.
Chapter 8: Statistical Analysis (25:53–30:54)
Biggest stat: 0 turnovers. After 10 in prior games, holding the ball (Mateer settling into muscle memory) was everything. Early fumble recovered, which avoided disaster.

Secondary was a concern (Bowen out earlier), but pressure on Manning limited damage despite Cam Coleman TD.

Time of possession favored OU early; defense looked tired but came out of the locker room and dominated the second half.

Yards per play: Texas 6.1, OU 4.2 (in line with season averages; slight improvement). Net total yards 382–238. Arch 3 passing TDs, Mateer 0.
Chapter 9: Closing Thoughts (30:54–end)
Credit to Venables, Arbuckle, O-line (improved), D-line, Mateer (ball security), defense, and special teams (blocked punt TD by Dakoda Fields, Bowen pick-six, Sandell).

“Sooners are back, baby.”

Reminder: Sunday night show with Rob Bass returns at 6:30. Like, subscribe, share. Check prior Sooner Smiths content and past shows.

Host signing off to watch more football. Boomer Sooner.
Key Takeaway: Defense + special teams + zero turnovers + timely second-half offense (Avant run/TD, Sategna catches, Sandell FGs) produced classic Sooner Magic and a signature win that resets the season narrative after a rocky start.

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34 min
October 09How Oklahoma CAN win | Red River Shoutout | Sooner Smiths Live #56
Sooner Smiths Live #56 is a Red River preview. Chad Smith and Tierani Smith walk through the injury report, Texas’s third-down cliffs, OU’s scoring drought in the series, and the narrow path to an upset. Both lean Texas, but neither treats a close loss or a fluky OU win as impossible.
Show: How Oklahoma CAN win | Red River Shoutout | Sooner Smiths Live #56
Hosts: Tierani Smith and Chad Smith (OklahomaVOCFB)
Context: Makeup live (Chad had a motion to dismiss Monday). Presented by FanDuel. Six-month-old in the room. Xeno Zone picks at the end.
Injury report (just dropped, ~7:10 p.m.)
Out: Jacoby Johnson (big loss), Xavier Robinson, Trell Harris, Taylor Heim. Harris has an internal injury and could miss into November, possibly a medical redshirt. Heim is out for the year. Robinson is a tough out even if production hasn’t matched last year.

Doubtful: Trené Washington, Michael Fasusi. Fasusi not returning is the bigger hit. Hosts wanted the line to slide back to natural spots. Washington played vs. Georgia; unclear what happened in practice.

Questionable: Eddie Pierre-Louis (practice injury).

Probable: Jermichael Carter, Cole Sullivan, Michael Bogunowski, Owen Heinecke, Jack Van Dorselaer. Starting safety back, plus linebacker depth. Van Dorselaer has to play big with Washington out.
Fasusi being doubtful is why both hosts say this is the least excited they’ve been for Red River in a while (Chad’s low was the year Dylan couldn’t play).
Texas third-down and down-and-distance notes
Texas has not shown a broad defensive weakness. They get less dominant in specific spots.
Third-and-1 to 3 and third-and-4 to 6: 7-of-12 in both buckets (~58%).

Third-and-7+: 5-of-31 (16%).

Texas’s own offense: 16-of-17 on third-and-1 to 3 (94–96%), 7-of-16 on third-and-4 to 6, 6-of-25 on third-and-7+ (~24%).

On 57 snaps of second-and-7 or longer, Texas averaged about 7.5 yards per play; when they passed those snaps, about 9.6. Roughly 63% of those snaps still gained at least 5 yards. A short first-down run does not end the series.
OU’s defense held Georgia to about 3-of-15 on third down and Michigan to two conversions. Hosts still note one busted drive can decide it, and OU has already given the ball away too often.
Tennessee is the blueprint: 12 meaningful possessions, seven gained 5 yards or fewer, Texas punted seven times, 3-of-12 on third down, 262 yards, six sacks. Texas’s line is not world-beating either. Ted took heat for calling them a very beatable No. 1. Hosts agree the Ohio State win is the best in the country, but the offense has to pick up to win a title.
How Texas scores, and why that hurts OU
Vs. UTSA: 83 plays, ~400 yards, nearly 30 points, longest rush 20, longest completion 24.

Combined with Ohio State: 54 points across those two games with no offensive gain longer than 24 yards.

Texas wins a possession game, 4–8 yards at a time. OU is not good at that.

Texas State still rushed for 161 and converted 8-of-14 third downs in a blowout loss. Three drives totaled 215 yards and reached the Texas 17 or deeper; they produced 7 points and missed two field goals.
OU’s Red River offensive drought (SoonerStats credit)
1,095 days since an OU touchdown vs. Texas.

136 scrimmage plays without a touchdown (Texas’s longest drought is 104).

115 plays / 20 drives without a snap inside the Texas 20 (Texas’s longest was 85 plays / 16 drives).

101 dropbacks without a 30+ completion. Longest completion is 28 yards, Q2 of 2023.

72 rush attempts without a 15+ run. Longest OU run since is 11 yards, Q4 of 2023 (Gabriel).
2024 context: receivers were out. Hosts still call the product boring. They almost left the New Mexico game early. Defense is the only exciting unit. Fans are cheering the offense not to mess up, not to score. That mindset leaks onto the field.
Run game and the line
Texas has allowed about 397 rushing yards on 140 carries (2.84 YPC) against teams that can run, including Ohio State and a Tennessee line that was supposed to be elite. OU is at 2.9 YPC. Vs. New Mexico: 20 carries, 46 yards (2.3), and 60% of runs gained 3 or fewer.
Hosts push back on “just establish the run.” They want an average offense, not a great one. Rodney Anderson and Caleb Kelly blame injuries and bad luck and oppose firing Bill Bedenbaugh. Hosts ask why starter-level OL injuries hit OU every year, and cite Gabe on bad technique that never improves. Chat theories: too many blocking schemes, losing the strength battle even to New Mexico. Standards are low enough that a functional line might have kept Michigan and Georgia competitive.
Turnover and scoring math
Brent Venables is 19-20 when the defense doesn’t score, and about 24-2 when OU wins the turnover battle.

OU third downs: 13-of-26 (50%) in the two wins, 5-of-27 in the losses (Michigan and Georgia).

Texas opponents convert ~58% on third-and-6 or shorter and ~16% on third-and-7+.

Vs. New Mexico, OU was 7-of-15 on third down, but the average distance was about 7.3–7.5 yards, and they converted only 2 of the attempts that needed 7+.

About 87% of Texas offensive touchdowns have come from outside the red zone. Only about 40% of OU’s have come in the red zone.

OU has at least one 75-yard TD drive in all four games, then looks like it has never played football.

Last eight Red Rivers: winners 56-of-122 on third down (45.9%), losers 37-of-112 (33%). Winner was better on third down in 6 of 8.

OU pass defense: no opponent has reached 180 passing yards, one passing TD in four games, opponents completing 51.9%.
Historical reminder: 2002 OU was 2-2, beat Texas 45-40, then won out to finish 11-2. Another 1-2 OU team beat Texas 53-45 in 4OT and finished 9-2, winning seven straight after. A win here can flip a season. Spread is Texas -7.5. Hosts think that is low for No. 1 vs. an unranked team, and that Vegas is giving the OU defense real credit.
Arch Manning and Mateer
Arch is better than last year but not a No. 1 overall pick in a weak QB class. He still has throws that are hard to explain, but he does not have Mateer’s catastrophic turnovers. Passing and interception numbers are otherwise similar. Texas fans and one host’s Texas-fan boss call the offense the biggest disappointment in the sport. One good quarter vs. good teams (Ohio State) has been enough to win.
Texas has been beaten on the back end by a true WR1: Jeremiah Smith 8-164-1 (60% of Ohio State’s passing yards); Tennessee’s Mike Matthews 4-72-1 (~50% of Tennessee’s passing production). Isaiah Sategna (and Rocky Beers) have to test the weak link. Mateer has to stop playing scared. Hosts expect a turnover and say he should play free anyway. Venables called him “our starting quarterback,” which Tierani reads as starter, not necessarily finisher. If he puts them in a hole in the first half, he should sit. Colin Simmons is the problem on the edge. Texas plays a lot of bear with linebackers on the line. Someone has to hit them early. Hosts also want a tone-setting personal foul.
Injury-report skepticism
Some absences (Harris, Heim) are real game injuries. Others (Cole Sullivan in practice, Bogunowski in a game, Kip Lewis on punt/kickoff) feed the “who cursed us” feeling. No injury report after Georgia because of the bye, so some of this may have been sitting. Hosts wonder if OU over-reports compared with other teams. They say they toned down practice contact this year and still can’t stay healthy.
Keys to win (Cignetti frame)
No turnovers, especially no short-field gifts.

No special-teams disasters. Punts have to flip the field. Tate Sandell has missed two from bad spots. Hosts worry they broke his confidence. Last year’s punt return still stings.

Force Arch into third-and-long and turn him over, or get a defensive score, so the offense gets short fields.

No busted explosives. Texas can drive. They cannot be given a free one.

One undisciplined penalty is the bank. Texas helps with penalties (Simmons ejection).

Win first and second down so third downs stay at 6 or shorter. Do not try to prove a 200-yard rushing day.
Realistic path they sketch: defensive score, another turnover that becomes a Sandell field goal, one offensive touchdown. That is 17. Without that, they do not see two offensive touchdowns against this defense.
Picks
Chad: Texas 20-13. Hates picking Texas. Cannot see OU scoring more than two touchdowns against what may be the best defense they’ve faced, Georgia included.

Tierani: Heart OU 17-14, with 10 of those points from the defense. Head Texas 24-17, with 10 of Texas’s points off turnovers.

Xeno: Stays loyal and picks Oklahoma (he had picked Georgia previously). Other board: Indiana over Nebraska, Oregon over UCLA, Georgia over Alabama, and a UCF–Oklahoma State pick.

Chat leans Texas in the low-to-mid 20s. One Oklahoma win call is 27-9. Record mention: Xeno 16-9.

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54 min
October 05Oklahoma Sooners LIVE 222
Oklahoma Sooners LIVE 222 with Rob Fontenot and Roger Schilling is a Red River preview built around John Mateer, Ben Arbuckle’s play-calling, and whether a bye week can reset a 2-2 Sooners team before Texas.
Show setup
Open (about 0:32–2:10): Sunday-only technical mess. Intro swapped right before air, FanDuel bug missing, Auburn and Mississippi State setups blamed. They still plug FanDuel. Standing ask: post a shared schedule so Sunday 6:30 Oklahoma Sooners Live is locked.

Rob’s new mic gets a quick review; Roger likes it (about 2:13).

Chat names: Revolution, Special T, Jimmy Jam / Jimmy Satterfield, Sooners to Win, Corrections, Donut Man, Ryman Lemon, Jeff Spangler, Sooner Cowboy, Tyler.
SEC chaos and rankings (about 4:21–11:50)
Missouri beat Florida 45–17 at home. Hosts did not have Mizzou on the bingo card after Florida had looked tough.

Poll talk (hosts mixing coaches and AP): Florida around 15–16, Ole Miss 9 or 11 depending on the poll. “What have you done for me lately.” Ole Miss was on a bye.

Their AP snapshot: Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami 4, one-loss Ohio State (only loss to Texas), Alabama 6, Ole Miss 9, LSU 10, Texas Tech 11, Missouri 14, Tennessee 15, Florida 16, Mississippi State, then Oklahoma State ranked above OU. USC also above them.

Results they hit: Alabama 56–23 over Mississippi State; Tennessee over Auburn; USC 25–21 over Washington, with fans booing Lincoln Riley. Hosts reject any Riley-back-to-Norman talk.

Kentucky–South Carolina went to OT. South Carolina scored and kicked the extra point; Kentucky scored and went for two when it did not have to. Hosts like the guts, would not have done it.

Chat question: does this slate expose Mississippi State and make Florida less legit than OU’s schedule suggested? Answer: SEC is a conference of powerhouses, injuries on injuries, some staffs studying film and some not.
Oklahoma: Mateer, Arbuckle, the line (about 11:50–21:40)
Focus is the Red River rivalry. Rob still calls it the Shootout and blames the name change on political correctness.

Brent Venables doubled down earlier in the week: John Mateer is the quarterback. Hosts say he almost has to — “five million dollar man” — but the problems are real.

Diagnosis they share with chat (Special T, Revolution): play-calling plus Mateer losing confidence, plus turnovers climbing each game (interceptions, fumbles, muffs). Four interceptions cited. First weekend without a fumble gets a small cheer.

Rob’s line: better calls should help no matter how Mateer is playing; not turning it over is on Mateer. Punting is fine. They do not see a bench quarterback clearly better, and the offensive line is not keeping anyone clean. No coaching changes; internal fixes under OC Ben Arbuckle. Troy Blaylock expected in a larger role after some yards. Hosts are not sure a running back has a 10-plus yard run yet (Satania maybe).

Bye-week plan they heard: get healthy and self-scout (defense vs. offense as if it were an opponent). Clock is short — No. 1 rival and, in their framing, the No. 1 team in the country.

Historical note from an AI assist: OU has not beaten ranked Texas while unranked in the recent window they checked; Texas has beaten ranked OU while unranked. Dylan Gabriel overtime game mentioned.

Five fixes from a story they would not source: take play-calling from Arbuckle; get the backup ready; get healthy; solve the run game (Blaylock touches); stop acting like it fixes itself.

Tone check: not doom yet. 2-2 after 10-2 and a playoff last year. This time last year they did not score on Texas and still turned it. They are not claiming a 2000 title; they are claiming last year. Honest read: they do not see a real run, hope for bowl eligibility (Alamo preferred; Roger would go). Corrections: beat Texas, get Mateer’s confidence back, lean on the defense.
Line, defense, bye-week history (about 21:40–26:40)
FanDuel: Texas -8.5, total 40.5. Hosts think rivalry is the only reason it is that short; they would have it -14 or into the 20s.

Mateer vs. Arch Manning, from Roger’s sheet: passing yards close (Arch 862; Mateer’s number garbled on air), completion about 66% to 63.5%, passing TDs 8 to 7, interceptions 4 to 3, rushing 76 to 82. Hosts say the stat lines are closer than the records (Texas 4-0, OU 2-2) and that OU has the better defense.

Defense: 13.3 points per game, tied for first in the SEC.

OU off a bye: 2022 beat Iowa State 27–13; 2023 beat UCF 31–29; 2024 lost to Texas 34–3, then another bye and beat Alabama 24–3; 2025 bye and shut out Kent State 44–0, another bye and beat Alabama. “Bye weeks are good for OU.” Win and they want “bye week magic” shirts.

Texas played Tennessee the week before; hosts unsure who Texas played this week and float a Texas bye.
Red River upsets (about 25:40–27:10)
2015: Texas 1-4, OU undefeated and No. 10, favored by 14; Texas won 24–17 (score as said on air).

2013: OU favored by 13, No. 12; Texas won 36–20.

1958: Texas two-point conversion, 15–14, broke a Sooners era.

1963: Texas No. 2, OU No. 1, Texas 28–7.

1996, the one Rob loves: OU 0-4 after losses to TCU and Tulsa, 21-point underdogs, won 30–25 in overtime.

Chat: Corrections watching the game from a Tuscaloosa tailgate at Alabama–Georgia.
Iconic Sooners list (about 33:00–36:20)
Prompt: most iconic OU player. Chat lands on Billy Sims at No. 1.

List they read: 1 Billy Sims, 2 Baker Mayfield, 3 Adrian Peterson, 4 Sam Bradford, 5 Kyler Murray, 6 Steve Owens, 7 Billy Vessels, 8 Jason White, 9 Brian Bosworth, 10 Jalen Hurts.

Roger’s personal pick would have been J.C. Watts (obligation) or the Boz for the commercials. Outrage that the Selmon brothers, Josh Heupel, DeMarco Murray, and Spencer Tillman are off the list while Hurts is on it.
Mid-show threads (about 50:00–58:30)
Recruits at the Texas game: “good place to take them for a slaughter” — then they walk it back because of the defense.

Would they still be negative at 3-1 if they had beaten Michigan? Yes, because of the New Mexico / New Mexico State game. They should have put it on that team.

New Mexico since: beat UTEP 61–7, beat New Mexico State, beat Central Michigan 38–7, beat Mercyhurst 70–7, lost to OU, beat New Mexico State 42–18. Not a bad team; still should not have been that close.

USC 4-1 and getting booed under Riley as the comparison for impatient blue-blood fans.

Contract aside: imagine 2-10 in the year they extended Venables; they wonder about a winning-season buyout clause.

Mateer keys repeated: hold the ball, take a sack, a punt beats a fumble or a pick. OU has not scored a touchdown in the Texas game in a long time. Script they want: score or get a stop and score on the first drive so Texas feels a defense it has not seen.

Rob has Big Guy / Boomer Sooner stickers he cannot find.
Touchdown or Turnover
Rules: agree = touchdown, disagree = turnover. Chat can force overtime.
OU can win this game. Touchdown from Rob, Ryman Lemon, Tyler, Donut Man, Jimmy Jam. Case: defense plus no turnovers. Rivalry-week optimism. Rob works Saturday at 6; kick is 2:30, so he sees most of it.

How many turnovers before Mateer is pulled? Hosts: maybe three in the first half, and only if they are getting blown out. Sooners to Win: five and they still might not bench him. Hawk was the last QB they remember getting pulled for turnovers. Fifth game — do not want a five-turnover game.

Change QB if down big at half. Split. Rob: why leave him in to get hurt if you cannot score and you are down 28? Chat largely “won’t happen.”

Seats: high on the 50 vs. almost on the field behind the goalpost. Touchdown for the high 50 — you can see both scoreboards. Roger hated a Houston end-zone view.

Texas is your most hated team. Touchdown, two-point, and a recovery. Miami a close second for some.

OT: Can OU score 17 on Texas? Mostly touchdown; some turnover. Might have to be a defensive score.

2OT: Witt starts and tells no one until kickoff. Rob touchdown as a mind game; Roger turnover. They joke the clip is “Witt’s starting.”

3OT: Hot-seat talk ends with a win over Texas. Touchdown. A loss, especially a shutout, puts it right back.

4OT: Big guys drunk in a Leader House in Dallas. Turnover — Rob is working and does not get drunk. Side rule: if you are at the game, do not boo your own team.

5OT: Stopping Texas’ run game is the difference. Touchdown. Then Arch has to throw. Side bit: Colorado State defensive coordinator fired at halftime (they land on Jim Mora’s staff). Would never happen at OU.

Arbuckle: “worst play-caller in OU history”; they ask what he has on Venables. If they ever get Witt Neubauer in, do it against someone who will not wreck his confidence, or only up big in the fourth.

Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma did play Oregon there in 2021 with Bob Stoops coaching. Roger forgot it in the 2020–21 blur.
Close (about 1:15:00–1:27:20)
FanDuel plug again; they feel like the red-headed stepchildren of the network schedule.

No Saturday postgame from Rob. Sunday 6:30 recap is on. Smiths may be at the game. Grandmaster / Brad Nash floated as a fill-in.

Big Guy Posse origin: 1988 into 1989; friendship longer (about 42 years).

Shoutouts: Special T (Bucs and Sooners, Sean King fan), Tyler, Jimmy Dudley (Arizona since 10th grade), Ryman Lemon, Donut Man, Sooners to Win, Jimmy Jam, Jeff Spangler, Chris, White Boy Slick.

Sign-off: new-mic debut, class of ’84 Claremore Zebras, peace out. Celebration only if they win.

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1 hr 27 min
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

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