Oklahoma Confident in O-Line 'Growth' Before Michigan Battle

(by Ryan Chapman) NORMAN — Oklahoma’s rushing attack won’t exactly strike fear into Michigan when the Wolverines start their film review this week. The No. 18-ranked Sooners kicked the 2025 season off with a 35-3 win over Illinois State on Saturday with a hot-and-cold performance from the offense. Transfer quarterback John Mateer set...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI

'Dream is now coming true': John Mateer's journey comes to culmination at OU, breaks record in debut

(by Joshua McDaniel) Redshirt junior John Mateer, against Illinois State, followed in the steps of Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts and others as a transfer quarterback debuting in a Sooner uniform. However, the Washington State transfer cares little about expectations. “It’s freakin’ football. I didn’t come here for the media, or so I could get the...read more from the OU Daily

5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners win over Illinois State

(by John Williams) The Oklahoma Sooners opened the 2025 season with a solid performance against the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday night. It wasn't the margin of victory that many were expecting, but Oklahoma did just what it needed to in a game that was never really in doubt. Oklahoma outgained its opponent 495 to 151 despite...read more from the Sooners Wire

CBS Sports research recap: Notable numbers out of Oklahoma's 35-3 win over Illinois State

(by Collin Kennedy) It was quite the interesting season-opening win for the Oklahoma Sooners. A 35-3 victory over Illinois State gets OU out to a 1-0 mark in 2025. Even more interesting? Some of the statistics emerging out of the action. Every week, the CBS Sports Network and its talented team of researchers dive into each game...read more w/video from Sooners Illustrated

Final grades in OU's win over Illinois State

(by Jesse Crittenden) NORMAN — For Oklahoma, Saturday’s season opener was about taking care of business. The Sooners did that, coming away with a ho-hum 35-3 win over Illinois State to open the 2025 season. Before looking ahead to Michigan, here are OUInsider’s final grades for both the offense and the defense against Illinois State...read more from the OUInsider

Michigan star defensive player ejected against New Mexico, miss first half against Oklahoma

(by Trent Knoop) ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It appeared Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham had himself a sack, and a scoop-and-score against New Mexico in the third quarter of action. But not only was the Lobos' QB Jack Layne down, but the refs ruled Barham's hit as targeting. What does that mean? Not only was the star linebacker ejected...read more from Michigan Wolverines on SI

Takeaways: Bryce Underwood shines in debut with Michigan, Wolverines down New Mexico

(by Trent Knoop) ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Bryce Underwood era started with a bang on Saturday night. The No. 14 Michigan Wolverines took down New Mexico, 34-17. The Wolverines moved to 1-0 on the young season and Michigan will head to Oklahoma next Saturday for a big game against the Sooners. As for Saturday against...read more from Michigan Wolverines on SI

OU Football: Brent Venables Postgame Press Conference | Oklahoma 35, Illinois State 3


...from the OUInsider

OU Football: Ben Arbuckle Postgame Press Conference | Oklahoma 35, Illinois State 3


...from the OUInsider

A drive-by-drive recap of No. 18 Oklahoma's win over Illinois State

(by James D. Jackson) NORMAN – The No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners and Illinois State Redbirds are set to battle it out on Saturday evening for the season-opener. Oklahoma is looking to bounce back from a poor 2024 season, and it starts in Norman, Oklahoma, against an opponent that's ranked No. 6 in the nation in the FCS. Oklahoma...read more from Sooners Illustrated

OU-Illinois State quick-hitters: Sooners get the win, Mateer shines, questions loom

(by Bob Przybylo) OK, now we have our starting point for OU football for the 2025 season. A little slow to start, but things got rolling soon enough. Paced by quarterback John Mateer, the Sooners took care of visiting Illinois State on Saturday evening. Mateer cool, calm, collected If you could count on one thing for OU, it was that...read more from the SoonerScoop

Oklahoma-Illinois State: OU Stock Report

(by John E. Hoover) It’s hard to get too excited about Oklahoma’s 35-3 win over Illinois State on Saturday night in Norman. The Sooners beat up on an FCS opponent. OU was favored by 35 ½, per FanDuel sports book, but still had most of their starters and frontline players on the field for the entire game. The Redbirds showed up, got their...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI

Oklahoma Sooners 35 Illinois State 3 Recap (Run Blocking/OL needs work)


...from onikuno

OU 35, Illinois State 3: Takeaways from the Sooners' win

(by Jesse Crittenden) NORMAN — The Sooners were expected to take care of business against Illinois State on Saturday. They did, albeit in unexciting fashion. The Sooners beat the Redbirds 28-3, opening the 2025 campaign with a win at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. It was a slow start for both teams before the Sooners...read more from the OUInsider

Oklahoma legend Brian Bosworth gives Sooners season-opening advice

(by Eric W. Bolin) Brian Bosworth has a wishlist for what he wants to see from the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. The Sooners open the 2025 season against FCS Illinois State in Week 1 in what is sure to be an easy game. But the former Sooners linebacker doesn't want OU to treat it that way. They have a much bigger fish in Week 2 when...read more from the Sooners Wire

How to watch and listen to No. 18 Oklahoma vs Illinois State

(by Josh Callaway) Folks, we have finally made it. Game day. Kicking off the highly-anticipated 2025 season, No. 18 Oklahoma hosts Illinois State out of the FCS on Saturday night at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The tilt opens up the fourth year of the Brent Venables era and the Sooners' second campaign in the SEC...read more from Sooners Illustrated

Matchups to Watch in Oklahoma's Season Opener

(by Ryan Chapman) The longest offseason in sports is nearly over in Norman. No. 18 Oklahoma kicks off its massive 2025 season with the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Redbirds are excellent FCS competition; they enter the season ranked No. 6 in the FCS Coaches Poll. But for OU, the contest will serve as a dress rehearsal...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI

Report: Brent Venables to take $1 million pay cut for 2025 season

(by Nick Schultz) Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is taking a $1 million pay cut for the 2025 season, according to documents obtained by USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz. His salary will be $7.55 million this year. Speaking with USA Today, an Oklahoma spokesperson said the decision – which Venables “initiated” – is a one-time contribution...read more from On3.com

Oklahoma HC Brent Venables Calls Week 1 Opponent 'Great Challenge'

(by Carson Field) NORMAN — When addressing the media ahead of his team’s season opener, OU coach Brent Venables spent more time talking about Illinois State than he did on any other topic. Venables, entering his fourth year as the Sooners’ coach, fielded questions about his team’s identity, last year’s disappointing finish and new...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI

Sooners set to unveil new-look offense in season opener against Illinois State

(by Chip Rouse) The talking season is now at an end, and it's time for the actual games to begin. For Oklahoma, that means a season-opening matchup with the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday night at a sold-out Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Sooner fans will get their first look at the retooled Oklahoma offense and a...read more from Stormin' in Norman

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