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Oklahoma-Temple Observations: LIVE In-Game Blog

John Hoover, Ryan Chapman and Randall Sweet offer their real-time observations from the No. 16-ranked Sooners' 2024 season-opener against the Temple Owls.

Ryan Chapman, John E. Hoover, Randall Sweet

Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Deion Burks
Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Deion Burks / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
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NORMAN — Sooners on SI offers real-time observations throughout today's season opener against the Temple Owls. Newest posts are at the top. Just keep your browser open and refresh often.

9:30 p.m.

Fin. Oklahoma wins its 18th consecutive home-opener 51-3 over Temple. The Sooners defense produced six turnover while its offense produced 378 total yards of offense.

Goodnight from Hoov, Ryan and Randall at GFOMS and Bryce and Dekota on broadcast duties.

9:22 p.m.

Freshman RB Taylor Tatum takes the option pitch from Hawkins and scores from 8 yards to put the Sooners up 51-3 with 3:11 remaining in the game. Tatum had runs of 19 and 35 yards on Oklahoma's 85-yard drive.

9:11 p.m.

Freshman DB Jaydan Hardy secures his first career interception at the OU 4-yard line and returns it to the 30.

9 p.m.

Jaren Kanak returns a fumbled punt return 21 yards into the end zone to extend Oklahoma's lead to 44-3 with 11:44 left in the fourth quarter. It's the junior linebacker's first score as a Sooner. Lewis Carter forced the fumble.

8:50 p.m.

Freshman backup QB Michael Hawkins Jr. is in the game early in the fourth quarter. Hawkins won the backup QB spot over redshirt senior Casey Thompson, who transferred from Florida Atlantic. 

In his first home start, Arnold finished the night 17-of-25 for 141 yards and four TDs with no interceptions. He also had 34 rushing yards on 11 carries.

-DG

8:45 p.m.

Here comes the fourth quarter.

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8:41 p.m.

Jackson Arnold hits Andrel Anthony for his first reception since the knee injury. 

Bill Bedenbaugh tossed Logan Howland in a left tackle instead of Michael Tarquin for this drive, but kept the rest of the line the same. Let the tinkering begin after an underwhelming performance from the big guys up front. 

— RC 

8:39 p.m.

The "worst" drive of the night for the Oklahoma defense comes late in the third quarter. 

Rober Spears-Jennings was hit for an unnecessary roughness after Kobie McKinzie got caught in some trash in coverage, helping Temple cross midfield. 

The Owls were then able to move the chains again to get into field goal range, but a pair of sacks from Ethan Downs and Gracen Halton pushed the owls back to the 31-yard line. 

Billy Bowman almost made an incredible interception as he got flipped through the air, and Temple had to settle for a field goal. 

That was the first drive that looked like the 2023 defense, allowing some yardage between the 20’s before bowing up near the red zone. 

Temple knocked through a 49-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 37-3 with 3:07 left in the third quarter. 

— RC 

8:23 p.m.

Just when it looked like the offensive line was starting to build some momentum in the run game, OU’s drive comes to a halt in the red zone. 

Jackson Arnold got hit for an intentional grounding on third down to set up a 34-yard field goal attempt from Keltner, but the referees switched the call instead. Ended up only being a 24-yard effort.

He nailed it regardless and Oklahoma leads 37-0 with 7:57 remaining in the third quarter. 

— RC 

7:43 p.m.

Halftime stats. It’s an absolute blowout — but the Sooners could be playing so much better.

— JH

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7:39 p.m.

After the deft punt pinned the Owls deep, you saw some real forceful defense on that last Temple possession to greet the runner in the backfield and strip the football. Billy Bowman’s recovery set up Jackson Arnold’s third TD throw to Deion Burks.

That, folks, is what coaches call “complementary football.”

— JH

7:38 p.m.

Have a day, Deion Burks. 

Arnold hits him for his third touchdown today, this one a 5-yard score. 

Sooners now up 34-0 with 36 seconds until halftime. 

— RC 

7:37 p.m.

I know, I know. Temple is really bad. 

But the Sooners have now forced four first half turnovers. 

This time it was Kobie McKinzie and Gracen Halton who combined to force the fumble. Billy Bowman was there to recover and he set the offense up with prime field position at the 6-yard line. 

— RC 

7:33 p.m.

Oklahoma has an edge of 202-62 in total yards. But the Sooners are now 0-for-7 on third-down conversions.

Gonna have to address that.

Jackson Arnold saves the day with a 39-yard punt to the Temple 5-yard line.

— JH

7:27 p.m.

And history has been made at Memorial Stadium.

It’s the first 2-minute warning in OU history.

Greg Sankey must be so, so proud.

— JH

7:24 p.m.

Oklahoma’s defense forces another three-and-out, and the Sooners might hold Temple to just 62 total yards in the first half. 

It’ll be interesting to see how Littrell manages this next drive, but OU could run a four-minute drill and hold the ball until the break. 

— RC 

7:20 p.m.

Welcome back to the end zone, Deion Burks. 

He hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Arnold, as easy as you like. 

Nice run (and blocking up front) from Jovantae Barnes set up the score as well. 

Sooners are now on top 27-0 with 5:28 left in the first half. 

— RC 

7:16 p.m.

Jackson Arnold is 9-of-14 for 100 yards with two touchdowns. 

— JH

7:14 p.m.

Temple got backed up into third-and-11 and gave us our first look at a faster pass rush group. 

Venables and Zac Alley rolled out R Mason Thomas, David Stone, Gracen Halton and Adepoju Adebawore. 

A penalty on the Owls wiped it anyways. 

— RC 

7:08 p.m.

Oklahoma is averaging 3.6 yards per carry against a Temple defense that ranked 127th in the country against the run last year. 

Understand that losing Hickman will have altered things, but that unit looks flat-out bad through a quarter and a half.

Oh, they're 0-for-6 on third downs, too.

— RC 

6:56 p.m.

Not a bad drive for Robert Spears-Jennings. He went ahead and got the forced fumble and the recovery.

Only real negative play looked to be a bust from Lewis Carter. Otherwise, the defense is as advertised against a bad Temple team. 

— RC 

6:50 p.m.

First quarter stats. Sooners are rolling in this one.

— JH

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6:48 p.m.

A couple new pairings are now out on the field for the Sooners’ defense. 

The linebackers are now Stutsman and Lewis Carter. Jacobe Johnson and Gentry Williams rolled out a corner, and Billy Bowman was given a break in favor of both Peyton Bowen and Robert Spears-Jennings. 

— RC 

6:45 p.m.

Tyler Keltner’s first field goal attempt was from 50 yards. He got it. 

Kicking competition over. 

Sooners now up 17-0 with 43 seconds left in the first quarter. 

— RC 

6:43 p.m.

Back on the field … what a play by Kendel Dolby. 

He had fantastic coverage and batted the ball up twice while battling the receiver. Kani Walker was in the area and picked it off to set the offense up at Temple’s 35-yard line. 

— RC

6:41 p.m.

Updates you don’t want to see in the first quarter against Temple: both Jalil Farooq and Branson Hickman have been taken to the locker room. 

— RC 

6:39 p.m.

Got our first peek at Oklahoma’s defensive depth on that drive. 

Samuel Omosigho had the pressure on second down from the cheetah spot in what was more of a horror movie-style jump scare for Temple quarterback Forrest Brock than a true delayed blitz. 

Then defensive tackle Gracen Halton obliterated his offensive lineman to register the Sooners’ first sack of 2024. 

The first three drives resulted in a three-and-out, a fumble and a sack. That’ll do. 

— RC 

6:37 p.m.

Gracen Halton came in on third down, put a swim move on the Owls’ right tackle and crushed QB Forrest Brock for a 7-yard loss on third down.

That’s the kind of play this defense needs more of if it’s going to live up to Venables’ reputation.

— JH

6:32 p.m.

Successful first two plays after the offensive line got reshuffled. 

First OU threw out a two-back look, which wasn’t seen much last year, and Jovantae Barnes rushed for 13 yards and a first down. 

Then Jackson Arnold took a hit but delivered a great pass over the middle to Deion Burks, a 14-yard strike. 

The drive ended up as a five-play drive and it took Arnold 1:43 to take the offense 43 yards. 

Sooners up 14-0 with 8:07 left in the first quarter. 

— RC 

6:30 p.m.

Nice run there by Jovantae Barnes, his first carry of the season goes for 13 yards and sets up the second OU touchdown …

— JH

6:25 p.m.

There’s RB Taylor Tatum’s first career carry, a nice 4-yard, one-cut pickup right up the middle. 

Bauer Sharp came in motion to the formation and set up as a blocker, then caught a 7-yard pass on the next play.

On the next play, center Branson Hickman appears to have sustained a right ankle injury and limped off the field with assistance.

Geirean Hatchett is the replacement for Hickman, Tarquin is back at left tackle, Sexton is the left guard and Brown is now at right tackle.

— JH

6:23 p.m.

I’m splitting my eyes between Damonic Williams, R Mason Thomas and Ethan Downs to see what kind of push up front the Sooners are getting. Kind of tough to see this early because it looks like they’re playing sort of cautious and catching blocks early. Williams did shed his blocker extremely well on the play before the fumble, however.

Big advantage for the Sooners so far, and they’ll soon start exposing it.

— JH

6:21 p.m.

Ethan Downs was incredible on that play. He plastered the running back in the backfield, realized Temple’s quarterback had the ball and circled back to punch the ball out. 

After it bounced around for a bit, Terry recovered and Jackson Arnold has great field position for his second drive. 

— RC 

6:19 p.m.

Only two subs to start the second drive for the defense. 

Kobie McKinize stepped on for Kip Lewis, and Da’Jon Terry is on for Jayden Jackson. 

— RC

6:18 p.m.

The tight end room is back in a big way in 2024. 

It was Sharp who caught Arnold’s excellent pass, but Jake Roberts was also rolling on the wheel route. Health ravaged Joe Jon Finley’s unit a year ago, but even without those there’s just a lot more talent in the room in 2024. 

— RC

6:14 p.m.

TE Bauer Sharp with the Sooners’ first touchdown of the year, a 14-yard catch from Jackson Arnold after a short fourth-down run by Gavin Sawchuk. 

FSU transfer Tyler Keltner kicks the PAT, and he’s a perfect 132-of-132 in his career.

Sooners lead it 7-0, 11:17 in the first.

— JH

6:11 p.m.

SEC officials stop things for a spot review, though I thought Arnold picked up the first down on the ground. 

First two plays from scrimmage for OU’s offense will likely be a big piece of the 2024 offense — get the ball to Burks in the backfield, chuck it deep to Jalil Farooq. 

Back to action, after review Arnold was ruled to be down for fourth-and-1.

— RC 

6:09 p.m.

A reverse to Deion Burks opens the game, and a corner route to Jalil Farooq for 47 yards is the second play.

I think Sooner Nation is going to like Seth Littrell.

— JH

6:09 p.m.

Oklahoma’s starters on offense:

Sexton - Hatchett - Hickman - Nwaiwu - Sexton

Thompson - Farooq - Sharp - Burks 

Arnold - Sawchuk 

— RC 

6:07 p.m.

Gotta admit, I thought the whole “Woodi Washington chasing positions and/or is a backup now” narrative was subterfuge.

But there they are, Dez Malone and Kani Walker, starting at cornerback in the season opener.

Washington is on the sideline.

— JH

6:07 p.m.

Oklahoma’s starters on defense:

Thomas - Williams - Jackson - Downs 

Stutsman - Lewis

Walker - Dolby - Bowman - Bowen - Malone 

— RC 

6:02 p.m.

Baker Mayfield narrated the pregame hype video and the crowd just lost their mind.

So much so that I believe an “SEC! SEC! SEC!” chant just broke out.

Temple wins the toss and takes the kickoff. This Oklahoma defense takes the field first in 2024.

Greg Sankey must be so proud.

— JH 

5:53 p.m.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is in the house. And is taking pictures.

— JH

5:45 p.m.

Randall says Makari Vickers is also in street clothes on the sideline today. Brent Venables said his discpline would be handled internally, but Vickers very well could be serving a suspension for a DUI arrest in June. He also may be sitting out with a minor camp injury.

— JH

5:44 p.m.

LB Dasan McCullough is still rolling around with a protective boot on his left foot. He is in street clothes and is definitely out tonight.

— JH

5:42 p.m.

The team is back in the locker room, band is about to take the field. College football is so back in Oklahoma. 

— RC 

5:29 p.m.

With RT Jake Taylor apparently still nursing a preseason injury (it's believed to be relatively minor), starting LT Michael Tarquin seems to have shifted to the right tackle while starting left guard Jacob Sexton seems to have kicked out to left tackle. That puts Geirean Hatchett at left guard.

— JH

5:13 p.m.

Finally, a little clarity on the Sooners’ center position beyond Sunday’s depth chart release:

Branson Hickman is firing pregame snaps to Jackson Arnold, Geirean Hatchett is snapping to backup QB Michael Hawkins, and Josh Bates is snapping to third-team QB Casey Thompson.

So there’s that.

— JH

5:11 p.m.

4:50 p.m.

Finally, it's here. All the talk is over as the No. 16-ranked Sooners kick off their third season under Brent Venables and the program's first in the SEC.

There are some new game day bells and whistles, including a new route for the Walk of Champions pregame. Those will be on full display all night along with Jackson Arnold, who is making his home debut, and OU's pair of new coordinators.
— RC 

Published |Modified
Ryan Chapman

RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

John E. Hoover

JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

Randall Sweet

RANDALL SWEET

Randall is a recruiting analyst and staff writer at AllSooners focusing primarily on OU Football and the recruiting trail. Working as a journalist, Randall has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and high school sports across the state. A 2022 University of Oklahoma graduate, Randall hails from Lubbock, TX. While in college, Sweet wrote for the OU Daily in addition to working with Sooner Sports Pad and OU Nightly. Following his time at OU, Sweet served as the Communications Coordinator at Visit Oklahoma City before leaving to join the team at AllSooners. The West Texas native has bylines in the Norman Transcript and is a Staff Writer for Inside the Thunder. Randall holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. 

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