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SoonerScoop Sights & Sounds: OU 35, Illinois State 3

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo09/01/25BPrzybylo
John Mateer huddle
John Mateer huddles with his offense during their season opener against Illinois State Aug. 30, 2025. Photo - Carey Murdock/SoonerScoop

OU opens the season with the 35-3 victory against visiting Illinois State. And now it’s time for a longtime favorite feature from SoonerScoop.

It’s time for the Sights & Sounds from video editor Eddie Radosevich.

Brent Venables’ opening statement

“Really a lot to be pleased about. Just what you would expect. There’s a lot that was good and plenty that we can coach from and improve and get better. Had 30-plus guys make their Oklahoma debut, including obviously John Mateer. Set an all-time record for passing yards in their debut, 392 yards. He did some great things out there today. Sammy Omosigho had a career-high eight tackles and his first career sack. We had several guys with their first touchdowns in John, Tory, and Keontez had two. Keontez was really good. Burks was great, as well.

“Sategna did some fantastic things. Tight ends made some good plays in the passing game. Blaylock really ran with purpose and power. He really showed some explosiveness. Defensively, a little bit soft (in the) interior of the defense at times. We played with a light box. Missed some tackles, first-game type of thing. But for the most part, they kept the ball in front of them and weren’t really challenged that way. Had a couple of boot plays that we got out-leveraged in the first half. They popped a third-and-long run backed up in the first half. 

“But overall in the second half, defensively saw seven possessions and six of them were excellent. I think the other one was after the turnover. Three plays and held them to a field goal. So I really thought there was good juice and energy and some good physical play out of the defense. Really proud of the football team and the staff. Ben Arbuckle and John Kuceyeski, Wes Goodwin and Nate Dreiling, man, they’ve been fantastic since they’ve been here. So it was cool for them to be able to experience their first time at Oklahoma and see what the Palace is like on game day and what winning looks like.

“I guess that was the second true freshman ever to start at Oklahoma in the season opener, Courtland. He was really good today. I thought he did some great things. Eddy Pierre-Louis made his first start. Mike Boganowski made his first start, as well. But really excited about this group of guys in the locker room. As I’ve said, I can’t brag on them enough, their willingness to work, to be coached, to lead, to show up every day. They’re fun to be around, like challenge. They like each other, spend a lot of time with each other. We’ve got great chemistry and continuity in the locker room. Really excited about what’s in front of us right now.”

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