Caden Prieskorn #86 of the Mississippi Rebels carries the ball against Billy Bowman Jr. #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Oxford, Mississippi. Photo: Justin Ford / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Oklahoma Sooners came up short on the road on Saturday, losing to Ole Miss 26-14. Jackson Arnold was 22 of 31 passing for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jovantae Barnes had 16 carries for 67 yards. He also had five receptions for 57 yards. The Sooners are now 4 and 4 on the season and return home on Saturday to host Maine. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
GENERAL NOTES:
• Oklahoma rushed for 147 yards, 80 yards more than Ole Miss was allowing on the season entering the day. The Rebels entered the game allowing an average of 66.6 rushing yards per contest (ranked first nationally). OU had 125 yards on 30 carries in the first half.
• The Sooners held Ole Miss to 380 total yards and 69 rushing yards (2.2 per carry), well below its season averages of 560.7 total offensive yards and 200.6 rushing yards entering the day.
• Oklahoma’s 13-play, 92-yard touchdown drive to take the lead just before halftime was its longest drive of the season in terms of distance.
• Through seven games this season, OU has allowed only 17 touchdowns on its opponents’ 101 offensive possessions (17%).
• Oklahoma had one takeaway (a fumble) and two turnovers (two fumbles) in the game. The Sooners are now +2 in turnover margin through eight games this season.
• Since the start of the 2023 season, the Sooners are 12-0 when they win the turnover battle (4-0 this year) and 2-6 when losing the turnover battle (0-4 this year).
• Oklahoma recorded one sack and eight tackles for loss today and now has 26 sacks and 65 TFLs through eight games.
• OU held Ole Miss to 5 of 13 on third downs (38%). The Sooners have held each of their last 22 opponents to a 44% or lower third-down conversion rate (dating back to the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl vs. Florida State) and has held each of its eight opponents this season to a third-down conversion rate of 38% or lower.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
QB JACKSON ARNOLD
• Completed a season-high 22 passes on 31 attempts for 182 yards and two TDs (no interceptions) and rushed 24 times for 39 yards.
• His touchdown passes, both in the first half, went to TE Bauer Sharp (11 yards) and WR Jacob Jordan (9 yards). He now has 10 TD passes in his six games this season (nine in his five starts) against three interceptions.
RB JOVANTAE BARNES
• Rushed 16 times for a game-high 67 yards and caught five passes for 57 yards. His five receptions tied a career high and his 57 receiving yards set a career high.
DB BILLY BOWMAN JR.
• Notched seven tackles and 0.5 tackle for loss today. The TFL was his second of the season (has 1.5 TFLs this season and 8.0 in his career).
DL ETHAN DOWNS
• Notched his fifth tackle for loss this season and the 28th of his career today. This was his third straight game with a TFL.
P LUKE ELZINGA
• Averaged 45.6 yards on five punts, including a 52-yarder and a 56-yarder.
• Sixteen of his 45 punts this season (36%) have gone longer than 50 yards and 16 have been downed inside the 20-yard line.
WR JACOB JORDAN
• The true freshman walk-on notched his first career touchdown reception on a 9-yard play just before halftime.
• He tied his career high with six receptions and finished with 38 receiving yards and a TD. All 12 of his receptions and 124 receiving
yards have come in the last two games.
LB KIP LEWIS
• Was credited with seven tackles (six solo) and a TFL. This was his fourth straight game with at least 0.5 TFL.
• This was his second straight contest and third of the season with at least seven tackles.
DB DEZ MALONE
• Notched a season-high five tackles (four solo; 0.5 for loss). This was his second game this season with at least 0.5 TFL (he has 1.5 TFLs on the year).