Oklahoma-South Carolina Game Day Preview: X-Factors

The Sooners need to get off to a fast start against South Carolina for several reasons. Jumping out of an early hole is a bad recipe for a struggling offense, but there's another factor that could make things awkward for Norman. Oklahoma fans are used to historic offenses. They have one this year – historically bad. The groans and boos were heard in OU's loss to Tennessee, and the fan base's patience is running thin. Brent Venables pointed out this week that South Carolina has had problems on the road Shane Beamer in the past. If OU doesn't put a few points on the board early, the home team in purple could end up drawing the ire of the crowd rather than the visitors, which won't help a young team that's struggling to move the football.

– Ryan Chapman

Defense is currently the Sooners' best asset on offense. It will be difficult for OU to mount long offenses against this defense or any other defense right now. If the Sooners score enough points to win this game, it will be because the defense put them in the right position, stole their momentum at times, and maybe even put points on the board.

— Dekota Gregory

The scoreboard and reaction to Oklahoma's (admittedly miserable) 34-3 loss to Texas on Saturday hid a truth: For about a quarter and a half, the Sooners' offense was serviceable. The same was true for the Sooners' defense. Michael Hawkins' Fumble turned a 14-3 deficit (which might as well have been 14-10) into a three-point football game, namely Taylor Tatum The fumble on the next offensive snap didn't give the Longhorns a score, but it also ensured the Sooners wouldn't. It's good that Venables reiterated his confidence in both, but that shouldn't obscure the fact that turnovers are the be-all and end-all in college football. Every play is meaningful, but they are especially meaningful when you can see the end zone on the horizon. Avoiding these dangers could have an equally dramatic impact on Saturday's outcome.

– Bryce McKinnis

Oklahoma's defense didn't play its best game in Dallas, but that was due in part to the dysfunction of the offense. The defense came away with three straight stops in the first quarter and gave the offense solid field position on all three plays. The Sooners' offense was only able to score a total of three points. After two OU fumbles, the defense got sloppy. From that point on it felt like the unit was beaten down and had lost control of the game. It's clear what this Oklahoma defense is capable of – they've shown flashes of excellence all season long. For OU to have a chance against South Carolina, the defensive unit can't worry about what the offense does or doesn't do. The Oklahoma defense must stay focused as the game progresses and not be discouraged by the great opportunities on the other side of the ball.

—Ross Lovelace

Oklahoma hasn't had much success on offense in 2024, aside from a 51-point performance against Temple earlier in the season. Virtually every position group on the offensive side of the ball struggled, and Seth Littrells Play calling has led to former OU players (Daniel Brooks And Zack Sanchezto name a few) and fans alike are wondering if the Sooners' offensive coordinator is fit for the job. In order to move the ball against a solid South Carolina defense, Oklahoma will need to find some sort of offensive identity in practice leading up to the game with the Gamecocks.

–Randall Sweet