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The Oklahoma Sooners fell to the Ole Miss Rebels 34-26 on Saturday (October 25) in a closely contested game. Despite gaining 6.0 yards per play compared to the Rebels' 5.0, the Sooners struggled with third and fourth-down conversions. Ole Miss converted 9 of 21 third-down attempts and 2 of 3 fourth-down tries, while Oklahoma managed only 4 of 14 and 1 of 3, respectively.
The Rebels ran 87 plays, significantly more than the Sooners' 60, and held a time of possession advantage of 35:36 to 24:24. Oklahoma's sophomore running back, Xavier Robinson, was a standout performer, rushing nine times for a career-high 109 yards and scoring two touchdowns. His efforts briefly gave the Sooners a 26-25 lead late in the third quarter.
However, Ole Miss quickly responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a touchdown pass from Trinidad Chambliss to Trace Bruckler, regaining the lead at 31-26. The Rebels added a field goal in the fourth quarter to extend their lead. Despite Oklahoma having opportunities to tie the game, including a final drive that ended with a Hail Mary attempt, they were unable to score.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin praised his team's defensive performance, which held Oklahoma to just 99 yards over their final three drives. The Rebels' victory marks Kiffin's first win over a ranked SEC opponent on the road. Ole Miss now looks to have a promising path to the College Football Playoff, with three of their final four games at home and no ranked opponents remaining.
Oklahoma, now 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the SEC, faces a challenging schedule ahead with games against ranked opponents Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and LSU. Quarterback John Mateer, who recently returned from hand surgery, has struggled to regain his form, completing 17 of 31 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown against Ole Miss.
Up next: The Sooners travel to Tennessee to play the Volunteers. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 1.