Oklahoma-South Carolina: LIVE In-Game Observations

John Hoover and Ryan Chapman offer their real-time observations from Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium as Oklahoma meets South Carolina for the first time on the gridiron.

Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Danny Stutsman celebrates a play in the first half of the Red River Rivalry. / SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

NORMAN — Sooners on SI offers real-time observations from Norman throughout Saturday's Week 8 matchup between Oklahoma and the South Carolina Gamecocks. Newest posts are at the top. Just keep your browser open and refresh often.

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3:05 p.m.

It’s over. South Carolina demolishes the Sooners 35-9. OU now looks toward a trip to No. 18 Ole Miss after losing two in a row. 

-DG

2:55 p.m.

Former OU quarterback Davis Beville, who is South Carolina’s third-string, enters the game. He’s the third QB of the day for the Gamecocks. 

-DG

2:35 p.m.

Escaping pressure from his own end zone, Jackson Arnold found Jovantae Barnes to make something happen, but after a 17-yard gain, Barnes fumbled to give South Carolina the ball on OU’s 21-yard line. That's just how today is going for the Sooners.

The Gamecocks turned the turnover into three more points, extending its lead to 35-9 with 7:48 left.

-DG

2:07 p.m.

The defense forces another stop after more South Carolina penalties. 

That side of the ball is still fighting through adversity. The lone positive, I guess. 

— RC 

1:54 p.m.

Oklahoma’s touchdown drought is over. 

Arnold hit Brenen Thompson for a 54-yard touchdown pass. 

It’s the second-longest passing play of the year, behind Hester’s 60-yard catch at Auburn. 

The Sooners, naturally, are unable to convert the two-point conversion. 

OU trails 32-9 with 7:33 left in the third quarter. 

— RC 

1:46 p.m.

South Carolina mistakes, a holding flag and a false start, gave OU’s defense a mulligan and the Sooners took advantage. 

Gracen Halton got a third down sack and forced the Gamecocks to punt. 

Not going to matter, but the defense is at least attempting to stop the bleeding. 

— RC 

1:19 p.m.

Oklahoma heads into the half down 32-2 after the Gamecocks’ fake field goal to end the half failed. 

One of the worst halves of football in Norman since… say it with me… 1998. 

This is Oklahoma’s largest home halftime deficit since the John Blake era (trailed Texas A&M 34-0 in ‘97) via @ESPNStatsInfo

— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) October 19, 2024

— RC 

1:14 p.m.

We're hearing a lot of historical comparisons in the press box. To me, this looks a lot like another time OU played a team from South Carolina: 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl, which was a 40-6 loss to Clemson. At home? 48-14 loss to Baylor that same season comes to mind. But in terms of just being outclassed, this has to go back to 1997, when OU lost 69-7 to Nebraska. But all three of those teams were ranked. As bad as OU's offense has been, this is a complete stunner.

— JH 

1:07 p.m.

South Carolina adds insult to injury. 

They pick up the 2-point conversion, now up 32-3 after Sellers found a wide open Joshua Simon for the 33-yard score.

There’s 1:54 left until halftime, and the Sooners are now getting outscored 49-14 in the “middle eight” that Brent Venables always emphasizes. 

— RC 

1:01 p.m.

South Carolina just wanted to get OU to jump offside on fourth-and-5. 

The Sooners gave the Gamecocks exactly what they wanted. R Mason Thomas jumped offside (as did Jayden Jackson). Even the good side of the ball is making big mistakes. 

— RC 

12:54 p.m.

Three different Oklahoma offensive linemen got beat on that third-and-10. Three. 

Zach Schmit settles for a 44-yard field goal. 

Sooners on the board, down 24-3 with 5:17 left until halftime. 

— RC

12:44 p.m.

Well, the defense is doing it’s job. 

Sooners are only down 10-0 when that unit is on the field (after getting short fields due to an interception and a failed fake punt). OU losing 14-0 when the offense is on the field. 

— RC 

12:40 p.m.

Oklahoma loses a yard on this drive. 

The offensive staff threw Kalib Hicks in for that series. Clearly they’ve reached the “trying literally anything” portion of the game. 

— RC 

12:34 p.m.

South Carolina has to settle for a field goal after getting great field position. 

Kicker Alex Herrera nails the 39-yard kick to put the Gamecocks up 24-0 with 12:05 left until halftime. 

— RC 

12:33 p.m.

I really thought we’d see a fake punt today.

I didn’t think it would be on fourth-and-long from OU’s own 26. 

Absolutely brutal.

— JH

12:30 p.m.

As always, it’s more than just the quarterback. 

Bill Bedenbaugh continues to to search for answers. He inserted Spencer Brown at right tackle for that last drive. 

Jackson Arnold had Bauer Sharp for a first down, but Sharp dropped it. 

The Sooners then rolled the dice on a fake punt, it was blown up. 

South Carolina taking over at the OU 26-yard line. 

— RC 

12:26 p.m.

First quarter stats. Don't look.

OU stats / OU

12:22 p.m.

Michael Tarquin came back in at offensive tackle for that last drive. 

It ended in Arnold getting hit and fumbling, though the Sooners recovered so that Elzinga could punt. 

Oklahoma is getting dominated by South Carolina’s defensive line. Mismatch is an understatement right now. 

Gamecocks taking over on their own 32-yard line. 

— RC 

12:14 p.m.

Well, something positive has happened in Norman. 

The defense forced a punt, so Arnold will take back over on the 20-yard line. 

Slim pickings in the first quarter. 

— RC 

12:09 p.m.

Arnold’s first drive back in the lineup ends with him getting sacked on third-and-10. 

Luke Elzinga is in for his first action of the day. Defense will return to the field deep in the hole, but Elzinga did flip the field. 

The Gamecocks are taking over at the 20-yard line. 

— RC 

12:06 p.m.

Jackson Arnold is entering at quarterback. The fans are cheering.

— RC 

12:02 p.m.

I suggest a forfeit.

Emmanwori intercepts Hawkins and runs it back 65 yards for a touchdown.

South Carolina leads 21-0 with 9:33 left in the first quarter and I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything quite like this.

Good call by Shane Beamer to choose defense first. 

— JH

12:03 p.m.

Michael Hawkins Jr. tries to push the ball downfield to J.J. Hester and he gets killed as he throws it. 

The result? A 66-yard pick six by Nick Emmanwori. He has both interceptions. 

Oklahoma down 21-0 with 9:33 left in the first quarter and the fans aren’t holding back the boos. 

— RC 

12:00 p.m.

Jackson Arnold warmed up ahead of the kickoff, but it's Hawkins again. The offense took the field to boo's.

— RC 

11:57 a.m.

I said the start couldn’t get worse for Oklahoma. Iw as wrong. 

Michael Hawkins is sacked and stripped, and Tonka Hemingway returns it 36 yards for a touchdown.

Sooners trail South Carolina 14-0 with 11:21 left in the first quarter.

It’s gotta be Jackson Arnold time now, no?

He’s putting his helmet on and getting ready to go in.

But as the possession begins, it's Hawkins on the field, and the boo-birds have arrived.

— JH

11:52 a.m.

Rocket Sanders gets around Kanak on the edge (with a little jersey grab) and is into the end zone with a 3-yard touchdown run. 

Dream start for the Gamecocks in Norman. The crowd already was lacking juice, and the stadium is already dead. 

South Carolina on top 7-0 with 12:33 left in the first quarter. 

— RC 

11:51 a.m.

Oklahoma’s starters on defense: 

Downs - Halton - Williams - Thomas 

Kanak - Stutsman - Lewis 

Walker - Bowman Jr. - Spears-Jennings - E. Bowen

— RC 

11:48 a.m.

Deion Burks not only isn’t starting, he wasn’t out with the offense when they were getting ready to run the first play.

That first play was a Michael Hawkins interception by Nick Emmanwori. Just about the worst start you could have if you’re the Oklahoma offense.

Buckle up.

— JH

11:47 a.m.

Oklahoma’s starters on offense: 

Sexton - Ozaeta - Everett - Nwaiwu - Taylor 

Thompson - Sharp - Ragins - Hester

Hawkins Jr. - Barnes 

— RC 

11:45 a.m.

South Carolina won the toss and will defer. 

For better or worse, Oklahoma’s offense is up first!

— RC 

11:05 a.m.

Deion Burks is in the front of the wide receiver stretch line with Brenen Thompson and Jaquaize Pettaway.

— JH

11:06 a.m.

Oklahoma defensive tackle David Stone is available today, but he has a really large cast on his right forearm. It goes from his wrist almost all the way to his elbow. 

— RC 

11:04 p.m.

Brent Venables and Shane Beamer are chopping it up at the 50-yard line, and there’s OU athletic director Joe Castiglione slapping both guys on the shoulder and shaking their hands.

— JH

10:59 a.m.

Also, no surprise here but Jalil Farooq (designated this week as out) is in street clothes but is definitely OUT of his walking boot. His eventual return would be huge for this offense.

— JH

10:56 a.m.

Troy Everett is snapping with Michael Hawkins in pregame warmups. That could be a real sign that he’ll be starting at center.

Or it could be a sign that Hawkins has been demoted (probably not).

Also, Deion Burks is going through all the warmups and doesn’t seen particularly hindered by anything. Still a game-time decision — and game-time is now about 45 minutes away.

— JH

10:45 a.m.

Monitoring the kicker situation in pregame activities, we’re now about one hour to kickoff. 

Tyler Keltner has joined the rest of the placekicking unit after Zach Schmit got all the early work with snapper Ben Anderson and holder Josh Plaster. 

Both guys are kicking now.

— JH

10:45 a.m.

A couple of bits of early news have filtered out in Norman today.

First, wide receiver Deion Burks was listed as a game-time decision on the final SEC Availability Report ahead of this matchup with South Carolina. Secondly, it looks like there will be a change at kicker for the Sooners.

Big one getting ready to fire off today at 11:45 a.m.

— RC