Rapid Reaction: Oklahoma Sooners beat Mississippi State 23-15

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Rapid Reaction: Oklahoma Sooners beat Mississippi State 23-15

Gabe Ikard believes John Mateer will have a big day Saturday

John Williams, Sooners Wire · Sooners Wire

Sat, Oct 24, 2026 ·

4 min read

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The Oklahoma Sooners moved to 4-3 on the season with a 23-15 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs . The Sooners controlled the game, even though Mississippi State managed to cut it to one score late.

After a four-turnover game a week ago, the Sooners turned it over just one time, on a Rocky Beers fumble when he was trying to hurdle a defender. John Mateer was a lot better than he was last week as well, playing efficient, mistake-free football to guide Oklahoma on a number of scoring drives. Unfortunately, a number of those drives ended with zero points on missed field goals from Tate Sandell.

Mateer was 22 of 29 for 283 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also ran for 37 yards on nine carries. He had a touchdown called incomplete when Beers seemed to have possession in the end zone, but a Bulldogs defensive back swiped at the ball, knocking it free in what felt like a long after the play was over.

The Sooners also ran the ball better as a team. Oklahoma ran it 41 times for 184 yards. They averaged 4.5 yards per carry, led by Tory Blaylock (12 carries for 71 yards) and Lloyd Avant (13 carries for 55 yards).

Isaiah Sategna led the receiving corps with eight receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown. His second-half touchdown seemed to spark the Sooners' offense coming out of halftime.

Oklahoma outgained the Bulldogs 467 to 352 and was 7-of-16 on third down compared to Mississippi State, which was 1-of-11 on third down. Oklahoma was also 1-of-1 on fourth down.

It was an important performance for the Sooners, who have had some positive days moving the football in their last three games. It's the third game in a row that the Sooners offense was able to find something positive, dating back to the second half of the win over Texas.

The key for Oklahoma was minimizing the mistakes. And John Mateer did just that.

If the Oklahoma Sooners can get that kind of offensive performance moving forward with the defense they have, they'll be a tough team to beat.

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Oklahoma Sooners game-by-game predictions from ESPN

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III (1) runs with the ball as Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Ty Bryant (14) defends during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is is pictured during the= college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct., 17, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks coach Ben Arbuckle is pictured during the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct., 17, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oklahoma's John Mateer (10) is pressured by Kentucky's Mi'quise Humphrey-Grace (90) as he throws in the fourth quarter of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct., 17, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Jake Kreul (98) reacts after tackling Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Kenny Minchey (3) during the second half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Elijah Barnes (0) and Kentucky Wildcats defensive lineman Mi'quise Humphrey-Grace (90) tackle Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) during the second half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Taylor Wein (44) reacts during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oklahoma's John Mateer (10) scrambles in the fourth quarter of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct., 17, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Nic Anderson (4) makes a diving catch in front of Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Courtland Guillory (4) during the second half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oklahoma's Michael Boganowski (25) tackles Kentucky's Jason Patterson (26) in the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct., 17, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oklahoma's Manny Choice (0) makes. catch as Kentucky's Hasaan Sykes (12) defends in the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct., 17, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oklahoma's Jonathan Hatton Jr. (20) looks to get by Kentucky's Ty Bryant (14) in the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct., 17, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; The Sooner Schooner runs onto the field before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Jake Kreul (98) and Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis (10) tackle Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Kenny Minchey (3) during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners punter Jacob Ulrich (87) throws an interception while attempting a fake field goal during the second quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) greets offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oklahoma's Rocky Beers (81) makes a touchdown catch in front of Kentucky's Ty Bryant (14) in the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct., 17, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) throws during the first quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State score

Quarter	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Score
Oklahoma	3	7	10	3	23
Mississippi State	0	0	7	8	15

Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State live updates, analysis

Hit refresh for the latest updates from Oklahoma football's Week 8 game against Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium.

FINAL: Oklahoma Sooners close out win, 23-15

06:54 PM ET, October 24 2026, John Williams

The Oklahoma Sooners got the ball back with just over two minutes to play and John Mateer came through on a pair of critical third downs. First, running and diving for the first down to open the drive. Then, on third-and-11, Mateer rolled out and hit Beers for a 13-yard completion to get the final first down, allowing the Sooners to kneel the ball and close out the win.

Mississippi State makes it a game: OU leads 23-15

06:49 PM ET, October 24 2026, John Williams

Just when it looked like Oklahoma would be able to pull away from the Bulldogs, Mississippi State backup quarterback Billy Puckett hit Magee for a 42-yard touchdown over Trystan Haynes and then went right back at Haynes for Magee for the two-point conversion.

The Sooners defense has played great for most of the game but it's going to be on the offense to go close it out under two minutes.

Sandell strikes, Sooners extend lead: 23-7 - 4:26, fourth quarter

06:41 PM ET, October 24 2026, John Williams

John Mateer hit Isaiah Sategna for another big pass on third-and-9, gaining 48 yards. The Sooners extended the lead to 16 with under five minutes to play.

One of the big stories of the game will be Oklahoma's ability to move the ball, but the lack of touchdowns has allowed the Bulldogs to stay in the game.

Mississippi State threatens, Peyton Bowen interception in the end zone: Sooners lead 20-7 - 8:07, third quarter

06:28 PM ET, October 24 2026, John Williams

The Oklahoma Sooners gave up a couple of big plays to Mississippi State and looked like they might face a first-and-goal from the 1, but a holding call backed the Bulldogs' offense up and on first down, Puckett tried to go to the end zone and Peyton Bowen came up with an incredible interception to end the drive.

Bowen is having an incredible game for the Sooners defense.

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Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State score

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FINAL: Oklahoma Sooners close out win, 23-15

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Sandell strikes, Sooners extend lead: 23-7 - 4:26, fourth quarter

Mississippi State threatens, Peyton Bowen interception in the end zone: Sooners lead 20-7 - 8:07, third quarter