The Sooners need to start fast against South Carolina for a number of reasons. Digging out of an early hole is a bad recipe for a tough offense, but there’s another factor that could make things tricky in Norman. Oklahoma fans are used to historic offenses. They have one this year – historically bad. The groans and cheers were audible in OU’s loss to Tennessee, and the fan base is running out of patience. Brent Venables pointed out this week that South Carolina is struggling down the road Shane Beamer in the past. If OU doesn’t put some points on the board early, it could be the home team in crimson that draws the crowd’s ire, not the visitors, which won’t help a young group struggling to move the football .

–Ryan Chapman

The defense is the offense’s best asset for the Sooners right now. Long drives will be difficult for OU to produce against this defense, or any defense right now. If the Sooners score enough points to win this one, it will be because the defense put them in position, stole momentum at times and maybe even put points on the board.

– Dekota Gregory

The scoreboard and reaction to Oklahoma’s (admittedly miserable) 34-3 loss to Texas on Saturday hid one truth: For about a quarter and a half, the Sooners’ offense was serviceable. The same was true for the Sooners defense. Michael Hawkinsfumble turned a 14-3 deficit (which might as well have been 14-10) into a three-score football game, and while Taylor Tatum’s A fumble on the next offensive snap didn’t result in a Longhorns score, but it also ensured the Sooners wouldn’t. Good on Venables for reaffirming his faith in both, but don’t let that undermine the fact that turnovers are king in college football. Every play is meaningful, but they are especially meaningful when you can see the end zone beyond the horizon. Avoiding these dangers could have an equally dramatic effect on Saturday’s outcome.

– Bryce McKinnis

Oklahoma’s defense didn’t play its best game in Dallas, but that was partly due to the offense’s dysfunction. The defense came away with three straight stops in the first quarter, giving the offense solid field position all three times. The Sooners’ offense managed just three total points. After a few OU fumbles, the defense got sloppy. It felt like from that point on the unit became dejected and lost control of the game. It’s clear what this Oklahoma defense is capable of, they’ve shown flashes all season. If OU wants to have a chance against South Carolina, and beyond, the defensive unit can’t worry about what the offense does or doesn’t do. Oklahoma’s defense must stay focused throughout the game and not be discouraged by coughing up big opportunities on the other side of the ball.

– Ross Lovelace

Oklahoma hasn’t had much success on offense in 2024, aside from a 51-point performance against Temple early in the season. Nearly every position group on the offensive side of the ball has struggled, and Seth Littrells play-calling has resulted in former OU players (Daniel Brooks And Zack Sanchezto name a few) and fans wondering if the Sooners’ offensive coordinator is right for the job. To move the ball against a solid South Carolina defense, Oklahoma will have to find some sort of offensive identity in practice heading into its matchup with the Gamecocks.

–Randall Sweet