Is Oklahoma Sooners’ Reluctance to Run the Ball Costing Them Big?

You know, watching the Oklahoma Sooners stumble so markedly in Saturday’s Cotton Bowl just doesn’t sit right with me. They are undeniably a more formidable squad than that 23-6 scoreboard suggested. Honestly, the offense’s performance was… well, let’s just say it was far from inspiring. John Mateer, usually a sure-handed player, seemed off-kilter—turning the ball over thrice and squandering what should have been golden chances. He’s taken the blame, though, which shows some character, and there’s a flicker of hope that he and the Sooners will rebound on the road against South Carolina. The Gamecocks aren’t pushovers, ranked eighth in the SEC for points allowed and 13th in yards allowed, but frankly, defense isn’t the real issue here. Oklahoma’s offense simply needs to step up its game and, critically, embrace the running attack—they can’t afford to keep shirking that responsibility if they want to turn things around. LEARN MORE

The Oklahoma Sooners are a better team than they showed in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. The 23-6 loss was a disappointing effort by the offense. John Mateer was inaccurate and undisciplined, turning the ball over three times and missing a number of opportunities.

Mateer took responsibility for the performance after the game, and there’s a good chance he and the Sooners bounce back this week on the road against South Carolina. The Gamecocks are currently eighth in the SEC in points allowed per game and 13th in the conference in yards allowed per game.

Whether South Carolina has been on defense or not isn’t the issue. Oklahoma’s offense has to simply play better.

In particular, the Sooners need to find an answer in the running game. And at the very least, they need to be more committed to it.

First of all, the running backs can’t carry the ball just 14 times. Sure, it hasn’t been particularly efficient, but you have to commit to running the ball in the traditional run game. John Mateer had eight quarterback runs, not including the sacks. He’s a good player, but Arbuckle should be solely relying on Mateer to carry the team.

As much as Ben Arbuckle might argue that he wants to run the ball, he doesn’t seem as committed to it.

Oklahoma’s best running back, Tory Blaylock, had just two carries in the first quarter. Ott, who has struggled to get going all season, had just one carry in the first quarter. By comparison, Mateer threw it or ran it a combined 12 times in the first quarter.

Oklahoma scored on its opening possession and led the entire first quarter. That’s a perfect opportunity to try to achieve some semblance of balance. You can’t know that your run game isn’t going to work when you only give the running backs three carries.

In the second quarter, Oklahoma’s running backs carried the ball six times. Four for Blaylock, two of which went for 11 yards, and two carries for Xavier Robinson. Again, by comparison, Mateer threw it or carried the ball 13 times. Also, Oklahoma threw it once with wide receiver Javonnie Gibson.

Mateer had 25 plays in the first half where he ran it, threw it, or was sacked. The running backs, by comparison, received just nine carries. In a defensive game in which Oklahoma was leading.

Oklahoma only ran three plays in the third quarter, and they were all John Mateer in an Oklahoma three-and-out.

The Sooners didn’t play complementary football on Saturday. They didn’t even really try to get the running game going. Texas has a good run defense, but the Sooners didn’t keep them honest by relying on Mateer so much. This week, against a South Carolina defense that’s No. 73 in the nation in rushing yards allowed, the Sooners can’t ignore the run game.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X@john9williams.