The Oklahoma Sooners got an important victory in Norman on Saturday, taking down the Missouri Tigers by 11 points in a must-win game. OU won by a final score of 17-6, improving to 5-2 in SEC play and 9-2 overall this season. If the Sooners can beat LSU at home next week, it's very likely that they'll be in the 2025 College Football Playoff.
Fourth-year head coach Brent Venables and his team didn't suffer from a letdown after last week's big win over Alabama, and they handled Mizzou, despite the return of starting quarterback Beau Pribula. It was a gritty, tough, physical win for the Sooners, but it seems like that's the way they like it.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOklahoma now has five ranked wins this season, and only Auburn entered Week 13 unranked out of those five teams. With a very difficult schedule facing them in 2025, many thought that nine wins for Oklahoma might be enough to make the CFP. With the way this season has gone around the country, a 9-3 record wouldn't be enough to get OU in, but this team has shown a great deal of improvement from last year's six-win season. Nine wins is impressive after last year's disappointment, but it'll be even sweeter if Venables' squad can win one more and get to the playoff, where they'd even have a chance to host a first-round game.
With their third-straight ranked win, the Sooners showed off their toughness again this week. Here are three takeaways from OU-Mizzou.
1. Oklahoma's defense is really, really good
Nov 22, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) reacts during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn ImagesAgainst a team that's been excellent at running the ball and really solid offensively when Pribula has played, the Sooners gave up just six points on two scoring drives. Missouri's opening drive of the game was long, and they ran the ball at will, but OU forced a field goal. The Tigers had a quick-strike drive to end the first half, but again, Oklahoma held them to three points.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat was it. The Sooners held the Tigers scoreless for the rest of the game, with a beautiful second-half performance. Running back Ahmad Hardy ran for 300 yards in a win over Mississippi State; he was held to 57 yards on 17 carries in Norman. Oklahoma got the lead and forced Mizzou to win in the air, turning the pass rush loose. That's become a bit of a formula in second halves for OU, and it came to fruition again on Saturday.
2. Sooners offense is really, really ... inconsistent
Nov 22, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) throws during the second quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn ImagesAgainst Missouri, the Sooners got a stellar defensive performance, won the turnover battle, got a blocked field goal from the special teams ... and won by just 11 points at home. I'm not one to complain about winning, but OU's offense has to play better against LSU if the Sooners want to make the playoff. A big play to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III, a touchdown drive on a short field, and a field goal drive to open the second half were enough to beat Missouri, but Oklahoma can't keep playing with fire this season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVenables talks about improvement a lot, and OU's offense is better than it was last year. So, credit where credit is due. However, it's an offense that is far too inconsistent throughout a game, and it's already cost the Sooners in games against Texas and Ole Miss this year. It's an offense that is still way too reliant on John Mateer, and Oklahoma didn't really try to establish the run with Xavier Robinson against the Tigers. OU's defense looks ready to make some noise in the CFP, but they'll need some support from their offense, or they won't get into the bracket.
3. Oklahoma is a flawed team, but they're a tough team
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables locks arms with players before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Missouri Tigers at Gaylord Family à Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.The Sooners still struggle to play great complementary football, but this team has got to be one of the toughest that Oklahoma has had in years. OU's defense has the ability to keep them in the game against most teams, the special teams has stepped up in November, and the offense has made just enough plays to win the last three games over ranked opponents. Things are a work in progress offensively, but it's hard not to be impressed with Oklahoma's bounce-back performance after 2024.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVenables' fingerprints are all over this program now, and while there are still plenty of things to clean up, the Sooners have taken on their head coach's identity. Oklahoma is aggressive, they're tough, and they're intense. That sounds like a Brent Venables football team, and he's got his Sooners one win away from a berth in the CFP.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 takeaways from Oklahoma's important win over Missouri
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