OU football blown out by South Carolina to put bowl eligibility in doubt

OU football blown out by South Carolina to put bowl eligibility in doubt | 5 takeaways

Posted by Admin October 19, 2024 Football

NORMAN — There was at least no suspense Saturday for OU fans.

By a few minutes after noon, the outcome had virtually been decided.

The Sooners turned the ball over on back-to-back-to-back possessions to start the game, South Carolina took advantage and the only real question moving forward was the score.

It wound up being 35-9 in favor of the Gamecocks, putting OU’s bowl streak of 25 consecutive seasons in real peril.

OU’s 29-point halftime deficit was its worst at home since trailing Texas A&M 34-0 in 1997.

The Sooners now must not only beat Maine but win one of their four remaining SEC games — all against opponents ranked in the top 16 — to become bowl eligible. OU has games remaining against No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 16 Missouri, No. 7 Alabama and No. 8 LSU. Only one of those games is at home — the matchup with the Crimson Tide on Nov. 23.

Here are five quick takeaways from the loss:

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Disastrous start dooms Sooners

OU’s offense hasn’t been any good all season.

But at least since Michael Hawkins Jr. had taken over at quarterback, outside of the back-to-back turnovers late in the first half against Texas, the Sooners had largely protected the football.

And Hawkins hadn’t really put passes in much danger of being picked off.

That changed early on against the Gamecocks.

Hawkins’ pass was picked off by Nick Emmanwori on the first pay of the game, setting up a South Carolina touchdown drive.

After that, the Gamecocks’ defense just did it itself.

South Carolina scored defensive touchdowns on the next two drives — a 36-yard fumble return by defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway after a Hawkins fumble and then a 65-yard interception return by Emmanwori.

OU trailed 21-0 just 5:20 into the game.

The Sooners became the first SEC team to turn the ball over on the game’s first three possessions since Florida in the 2020 Cotton Bowl — against OU.

OU hadn’t given up three first-quarter touchdowns at home since 2017 vs. Texas Tech.

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Jackson Arnold takes over

When Emmanwori returned the interception the boos starting raining down at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

One of the biggest cheers during the game came a few moments later when Jackson Arnold jogged onto the field to replace Hawkins.

At least Arnold didn’t turn the ball over.

The Sooners punted on three of their first four drives with Arnold behind center, with the only drive not ending in a punt ending on an unsuccessful fake punt.

Arnold’s first three passes were incomplete and his first completion went for a loss of 4 yards on a screen pass to Zion Ragins that was snuffed out.

Arnold finished 18 of 36 for 225 yards and a touchdown as the Sooners threw for a season-high 238 yards.

OU quarterbacks were sacked nine times for 77 yards in losses, yet the Sooners outgained South Carolina 291-254.

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OU’s coaching shaken up

OU offensive coordinator Seth Littrell has taken plenty of heat for the Sooners’ offensive woes so far this season.

Earlier in the week, Sooners coach Brent Venables said he didn’t want to make coaching changes during the season.

But at least some things were changed Saturday when it came to the coaching staff.

Tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley, who is typically on the field for games, was instead in the coaches’ booth in the press box, sitting next to Littrell.

Offensive analyst Kevin John started the game in the box before returning to the field after the disastrous start.

More: OU football vs South Carolina recap: Gamecocks smash Sooners in Shane Beamer’s return

Sooners make lineup changes

Even before the quarterback changes, OU made some personnel changes.

A week after making his season debut, Troy Everett started for the first time this season, replacing Branson Hickman at center.

Everett suffered a knee injury in the spring, leading the Sooners to add Hickman out of the transfer portal from SMU.

Everett became the third player to start at center for OU this season.

The Sooners also made a chance at kicker, with Zach Schmit replacing Tyler Keltner.

Schmit had made two field goals against Auburn when Keltner was injured, but Keltner returned last week vs. Texas.

Though Keltner was apparently healthy Saturday, it was Schmit who handled kicking duties.

The redshirt senior made a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter to put the Sooners on the board.

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Deion Burks out yet again, Jacob Jordan flashes

The Sooners were once again without their five top receivers.

Deion Burks, OU’s leading receiver so far this season, was listed as a game-time decision in the final SEC availability report before the game, and went through some warmups but did not play.

Burks was hurt in the Sept. 21 loss to Tennessee.

Freshman walk-on Jacob Jordan, who had yet to make a catch entering the game, had six catches for 86 yards.

The first three of Jordan’s catches came during a four-play stretch on one second-quarter drive.

Jordan added back-to-back catches in the fourth quarter.