Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
Oklahoma falls to South Carolina as offensive struggles continue
Oklahoma lost 42-25 to South Carolina at home on Saturday, adding to a season of offensive struggles.
The Sooners are now 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the SEC, the conference they joined before this season.
Coach Brent Venables hired coordinator Ben Arbuckle after the 2024 season to improve the offense, and Arbuckle brought quarterback John Mateer from Washington State.
Oklahoma had scored just three points on its first eight offensive possessions before Mateer threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Ivan Carreon.
The team entered the game near the bottom of the SEC in total and rushing offense, and its three-and-out rate ranked 120th nationally.
Venables faces decisions about the offense at season's end, with the team needing a strong finish to build momentum for 2027.
Oklahoma lost 42-25 to South Carolina at home on Saturday, Oct. 31, as its offensive struggles continued.
The Sooners scored only three points on their first eight offensive possessions before a fourth-quarter rally.
Quarterback John Mateer finished with 244 passing yards and threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Ivan Carreon.
Oklahoma entered the game last in the SEC in total offense and rushing offense, and 15th in scoring offense.
The loss left Oklahoma 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the SEC, with decisions ahead for coach Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
- Who
- Oklahoma and South Carolina. Oklahoma coach Brent Venables and quarterback John Mateer were central figures for the Sooners.
- What
- Oklahoma lost 42-25 to South Carolina as its offensive struggles continued.
- When
- Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
- Where
- At Oklahoma, which was playing at home.
- Why
- Oklahoma struggled to produce offense, particularly early in the game. The article does not state a single cause for the loss.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Venables hired Ben Arbuckle after the 2024 season to reinvigorate Oklahoma's offense.
Oklahoma beat top-ranked Texas in the Red River game to begin the month.
Oklahoma trailed South Carolina 28-10 at halftime, then rallied in the fourth quarter before losing 42-25.
- Final score
- South Carolina 42, Oklahoma 25
- Oklahoma record
- 4-4 overall; 2-3 in the SEC
- John Mateer
- 26-of-43 passing for 244 yards
- First-half passing
- 7 of 12 for 25 yards
- Fourth-quarter scores
- Two Mateer touchdown passes to Ivan Carreon
What people are saying
It ain't changing. You'll see No. 10 trot back out there. That's been the story every game of John Mateer's career; there are opportunities, they're just not being discovered.