At 4-4 with four conference games remaining, the Sooners have traded conversations about the College Football Playoff for a much more immediate concern: finding two wins to keep their 27-year bowl streak alive. Jason Witten inherits an offense in need of an identity, and Brent Venables faces a November that will define the season.

Ivan Carreon delivered a breakout performance, Owen Heinecke and Kip Lewis kept making plays, and Oklahoma found a few individual bright spots in a 42-25 loss to South Carolina. But the offensive line’s continued struggles—and a defensive collapse that surrendered 521 yards—overshadowed nearly everything else.