The Oklahoma Sooners are 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the SEC as they head into a Week 10 road game against the Florida Gators on Saturday night. A season filled with early expectations fell apart before the calendar flipped to November.
As a result, Oklahoma took a big tumble in USA TODAY Sports’ weekly ranking of each FBS team. In his 1-138 hierarchy, writer Paul Myerberg places the Sooners at No. 47 in the country, a 15-spot drop from last week. That places them at 11th in the SEC on the list.
With four games left, the focus now turns to how well the Sooners can play over the final month of their season. However, with this season down the drain, much of the focus also needs to be on how OU can avoid a similar fate next season. That starts with fixing the offense, with Venables getting one more chance to do so in Norman.
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Should Oklahoma bench John Mateer after the Ben Arbuckle news?
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) gets up after a failed 2-point conversion attempt during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. South Carolina won 42-25.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1 / 17
Should Oklahoma bench John Mateer after the Ben Arbuckle news?
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) gets up after a failed 2-point conversion attempt during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. South Carolina won 42-25.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Ivan Carreon (82) gets past South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Kendall Daniels Jr. (5) for a touchdown during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. South Carolina won 42-25.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
An Oklahoma fan reacts during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. South Carolina won 42-25.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Brent Venables doesn’t want to talk about staff changes after loss
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer (left) greets Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables after the game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) greets Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) after the game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners kicker Tate Sandell (29) cannot kick a successful onside kick during the fourth quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks defensive lineman Caleb Herring (39) hits Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) as he throws during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Michael Boganowski (25) makes an interception during the third quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis (10) celebrates with teammates after returning an interception for a touchdown during the second quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis (10) returns an interception for a touchdown during the second quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis (10) makes an interception and returns it for a touchdown during the second quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Jake Kreul (98) rushes South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) during the second quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Brent Venables delivers blunt assessment of OU’s offensive struggles
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) throws during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) runs with the ball as Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Peyton Bowen (22) defends during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Photos from Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina
Oct 31, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) runs for a touchdown past Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Courtland Guillory (4) defends during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Brent Venables didn’t hold back after loss to South Carolina
Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables shouts at Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Trystan Haynes (14) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Will Oklahoma make a change at QB? Brent Venables weighs in
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) stands with teammates as they sing after a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. South Carolina won 42-25.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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