Oklahoma Sooners at Mississippi State Bulldogs

Injuries noted

Oklahoma Sooners: Taylor Heim (out) — LB #7 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Trell Harris (out) — WR #11 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Elijah Thomas (doubtful) — WR #14 listed Doubtful on the SEC Update 2 report; Xavier Robinson (out) — RB #21 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Trynae Washington (out) — TE #22 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Eli Bowen (questionable) — DB #23 listed Questionable on the SEC Update 2 report; Jacobe Johnson (out) — DB #24 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Eddy Pierre-Louis (out) — OL #55 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Michael Fasusi (questionable) — OL #56 listed Questionable on the SEC Update 2 report; Ryan Fodje (out) — OL #70 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Heath Ozaeta (questionable) — OL #77 listed Questionable on the SEC Update 2 report

Mississippi State Bulldogs: Kamario Taylor (questionable) — QB #1 listed Questionable on the SEC Update 2 report; Isaac Smith (out) — S #2 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Jalen Smith (out) — LB #10 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Ayden Williams (out) — WR #11 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Trevion Williams (out) — DL #23 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Diesel Moye (out) — DL #99 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• John Mateer is OU's confirmed starter

  7.47 Y/A

  John Mateer is OU's confirmed starting quarterback. Oklahoma's October 22 game primer identifies Mateer as its starter. On October 20, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle reaffirmed the team's backing of Mateer for the Mississippi State game. 2026 line: 1308 passing yards, 65.1% completions, 7.47 yards per attempt, 9-7 TD-INT over 6 games.

• Kamario Taylor is MSST's projected starter

  9.42 Y/A

  Kamario Taylor is MSST's projected starting quarterback. Expected to attempt a return against Oklahoma, but no confirmed start. October 23 reporting attributed to ESPN's Pete Thamel says the decision depends on how his foot/toe injury feels before the game and during warmups. 2026 line: 1450 passing yards, 66.2% completions, 9.42 yards per attempt, 17-4 TD-INT over 5 games.

TRENCHES

• MSST: 176.5 rushing yards per game to OU's 92.5

  84 YPG

  Mississippi State runs for 176.5 yards a game through 6 games, up from 158 last season. Oklahoma is at 92.5, down from 118.5. Both moves are modest over six games and could settle somewhat. Mississippi State at home is the side more likely to lean on the ground, while Oklahoma's run game has not been carrying its weight.

PACE & SCRIPT

• MSST: 32.5 points per game to OU's 21.3

  11.2 PPG

  Mississippi State scores 32.5 a game over 6 games while Oklahoma scores 21.3 over 6. Mississippi State is close to last season's 30.4, so that offense looks real, while Oklahoma has dropped from 26.2. The Sooners' slide may tighten up with time, but for now the home team carries the more reliable scoring.

• OU: 18.2 points allowed per game to MSST's 28.5

  10.3 PPG

  OU is at 18.2 points allowed per game over 6 games; MSST is at 28.5 over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 23. Last season OU was at 15.5 over 13 games and MSST at 30.2 over 13 games.

TURNOVERS

• MSST: 1.33 turnovers committed per game to OU's 2.33

  1 TO

  Oklahoma gives the ball away 2.33 times a game over 6 games, Mississippi State 1.33. Last season the two were close, Oklahoma at 1.23 and Mississippi State at 1.15, so Oklahoma's jump looks like a run of bad luck more than a new identity. Expect it to come down, though for this road game the Sooners have shown they can gift possessions.

MISMATCH

• MSST: 176.5 rush yards a game to OU's 92.5

  176.5 VS 92.5

  Mississippi State runs for 176.5 yards a game over 6 games, up from 158 last season. Oklahoma has dropped to 92.5 from 118.5. The Sooners struggling to run over six games makes them more one-dimensional, which lets Mississippi State's defense sit on the pass. Oklahoma needs early rushing success to keep the Bulldogs honest, while Mississippi State can lean on its ground game to shorten the game at home.

COVERAGE

• OU: 148.3 passing yards allowed per game to MSST's 264.8

  116.5 YPG

  Oklahoma allows 148.3 passing yards a game over six games, and Mississippi State gives up 264.8 over six. The sheet doesn't show which passing offenses each has seen, so part of the gap could be schedule. Six games of this split is still a real pattern. Oklahoma's passing game draws the easier matchup, and Mississippi State's quarterback props face a defense that has kept passing games quiet all year.

• OU: 25.6% third downs allowed to MSST's 40%

  14.4 PP

  Oklahoma's defense lets opponents convert only about one in four third downs over 6 games, while Mississippi State allows 40%. Third-down rates are noisy over six games and depend on how often offenses face third-and-long, and the sheet doesn't show that. If it holds, Oklahoma should get off the field and Mississippi State should keep Oklahoma's drives alive, which favors Oklahoma sustaining possessions.

REPLACEMENT

• Jalen Smith (LB) is out for MSST

  OUT

  LB #10 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Taylor Heim (LB) is out for OU

  OUT

  LB #7 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Trell Harris (WR) is out for OU

  OUT

  WR #11 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Xavier Robinson (RB) is out for OU

  OUT

  RB #21 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Trynae Washington (TE) is out for OU

  OUT

  TE #22 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Jacobe Johnson (DB) is out for OU

  OUT

  DB #24 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Eddy Pierre-Louis (OL) is out for OU

  OUT

  OL #55 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Ryan Fodje (OL) is out for OU

  OUT

  OL #70 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Isaac Smith (S) is out for MSST

  OUT

  S #2 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Ayden Williams (WR) is out for MSST

  OUT

  WR #11 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Trevion Williams (DL) is out for MSST

  OUT

  DL #23 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Diesel Moye (DL) is out for MSST

  OUT

  DL #99 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Elijah Thomas (WR) is doubtful for OU

  DOUBTFUL

  WR #14 listed Doubtful on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

SITUATIONAL

• MSST: 24.7 first downs per game to OU's 16.3

  8.3 FD

  OU is at 16.3 first downs per game over 6 games; MSST is at 24.7 over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 23. Last season OU was at 18.5 over 13 games and MSST at 21.7 over 13 games.

• MSST: 277.8 team passing yards per game to OU's 219

  58.8 YPG

  OU is at 219 team passing yards per game over 6 games; MSST is at 277.8 over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 23. Last season OU was at 235.8 over 13 games and MSST at 241.2 over 13 games.

• MSST: 46.2% third-down conversion rate to OU's 33.7%

  12.4 PP

  OU is at 33.7% third-down conversion rate over 6 games; MSST is at 46.2% over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 23. Last season OU was at 38.6% over 13 games and MSST at 41.8% over 13 games.

TEAM RECORD

• SEC game: OU 1-2, MSST 2-2 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the SEC. OU is 1-2 against it, MSST is 2-2. 2026 standings through 2026-10-24.