The Oklahoma Sooners welcome the Ole Miss Rebels to Norman on Saturday. The Sooners have never beaten the Rebels and are 0-2 since joining the SEC.
The Sooners lost last season in Norman 34-26. Now, the Rebels come into Norman at 6-3, with their College Football Playoff hopes hanging by a thread after being blown out 42-7 at home by the Georgia Bulldogs last season.
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That’s why head coach Brent Venables expects a hungry and desperate Ole Miss team this Saturday.
“We’ve got a really talented football team in Ole Miss coming here this weekend,” Venables said. “… This is a team that’s coming into here with a desperate mindset. They’ve got to win to go to the playoffs. They are still in a strong position to do so if they win out.”
Oklahoma will have to be prepared for an Ole Miss team that understands the stakes and has little room for error. The Rebels still have a path to the College Football Playoff, but another loss would make that pursuit much harder. That urgency could make them a dangerous opponent, especially against a Sooners team looking to establish momentum late in the season.
For Oklahoma, Saturday offers a chance to change the narrative against a program it has yet to defeat. The Sooners will have home-field advantage and a chance to build on their dominant win over the Florida Gators, but they’ll need a complete performance to take down the Rebels. With both teams entering the game with plenty to prove, the game carries major implications for each program’s season.
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall and Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables shake hands before the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall and Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables shake hands before the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Brent Venables praises Jason Witten after Sooners top Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten and Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables talk before the game by the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Brent Venables confident Jason Witten can become a full-time OC
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten walks on the field during the second half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops talks with Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall before the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Brent Venables raves about the offensive performance against Florida
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) stiff arms Florida Gators inside linebacker Ty Jackson (7) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Updated Oklahoma Football game-by-game predictions from ESPN
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis (10) gestures with a Gator Chomp during the second half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Jacob Jordan (7) runs with the ball during the second half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Brent Venables praised the OL for its play against Florida
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators jack linebacker Jayden Woods (0) looks at Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Courtland Guillory (4) intercepts a pass to Florida Gators wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. (9) throws the ball during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners mascot Boomer sits on the field during the second half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators cornerback Ben Hanks III (12) tackles Oklahoma Sooners tight end Rocky Beers (81) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Oklahoma TE Rocky Beers named Mackey Award Semifinalist
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners tight end Rocky Beers (81) attempts to catch a pass while Florida Gators star defensive back Kanye Clark (20) defends during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators cheerleaders perform during a timeout during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Oklahoma defense responds to loss with dominant outing against Florida
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) gestures after a quarterback sack during the first half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Reggie Powers III (3) and Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) tackle Florida Gators quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. (9) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators dazzlers perform during a timeout during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners tight end Hayden Hansen (89) gestures after making a touchdown during the first half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners tight end Hayden Hansen (89) makes a catch for a touchdown during the first half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Fantastic photos from Oklahoma’s 23-7 win over the Florida Gators
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. (9) reaches for a first down while Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Danny Okoye (16) tackles during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Is Oklahoma’s Brent Venables on the hot seat?
Nov 7, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables walks on the field after the game by the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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