The No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners (5–1) will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season when they travel to Columbia to face the South Carolina Gamecocks (3–3) on Saturday, October 18. Oklahoma enters as a 3.5-point favorite, with a low over/under of 43 points, signaling expectations of a defensive battle at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Sooners are coming off a disappointing 23–6 defeat to Texas in which they struggled to generate momentum offensively, managing just 258 total yards and 48 rushing yards on 30 carries. Despite the setback, Oklahoma remains one of the nation’s top defensive units, ranking first in total defense (211.2 yards per game) and second in scoring defense (9.8 points per game). Venables’ group has allowed only four total touchdowns all season—two on the ground and two through the air—and continues to dominate opponents with physicality and depth across all three levels.
South Carolina, meanwhile, returns home looking to rebound from a 20–10 loss to LSU. The Gamecocks’ offense has shown flashes but remains inconsistent, ranking 123rd nationally in total offense (310 yards per game) and 107th in scoring (22.3 points per game). Quarterback play has been up and down, and while the running game produced 193 yards against LSU, sustaining that success against Oklahoma’s stout front will be a tall order. Defensively, Shane Beamer’s team has been respectable, allowing 19 points per game and ranking among the top 40 nationally in both pass defense and overall scoring defense. The Gamecocks’ path to an upset likely depends on their ability to force turnovers—an area where they’ve excelled with 12 takeaways through six games. Still, facing a disciplined and elite Oklahoma defense, South Carolina will need its best performance of the season to keep things close in what projects as a low-scoring, physical SEC clash.
Kickoff: 11:45 AM CT
Location: Williams-Brice Stadium
Television: SEC Network
Notes & Storylines
- No. 14/13 Oklahoma (5-1, 1-1) plays its first-ever game in themPalmetto State when it travels to face South Carolina (3-3, 1-3) on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. CT at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
- South Carolina is one of four SEC programs OU has not beaten (0-1).
- Since the start of the 1999 season, the Sooners are 24-2 in games immediately following their annual contest against Texas.
- Fifth-year South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer served as Oklahoma’s assistant head coach for offense (tight ends and H-backs) during the 2018-20 seasons.
- Oklahoma is one of only six teams nationally that has produced points on all of its red-zone possessions this season. The Sooners are 20 for 20 (15 touchdowns and five field goals).
- The Sooners have won their last 86 games when holding opponents under 21 points.
- Oklahoma has registered at least 11 tackles for loss in each of the last four games (a combined 49). The last season OU racked up double-digit TFLs in four straight contests was 2003.
- OU head coach Brent Venables faced the Gamecocks nine times while serving as Clemson’s defensive coordinator, and the Tigers posted a 7-2 record.
- OU leads the nation in total defense (193.0 ypg) and ranks second in passing defense (126.3 ypg) and 10th in rushing defense (84.8 ypg).
- Forty-six percent of OU’s opponents’ offensive plays this season (155 of 338) have gone for zero or negative yards.
Game Preview Posts
Odds & Predictions
Oklahoma -4.5
Over/Under 43.5
| Caleb | 27-10 Oklahoma |
| Craig | 27-20 Oklahoma |
| Matt | 24-13 Oklahoma |
| Zack | 24-13 Oklahoma |
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook
