Why OU football is optimistic that QB Michael Hawkins Jr. and the Sooners’ offense will gain traction after the bye week.
In the fourth quarter of OU’s victory over Auburn, the Sooners finally sparked their offense. They accumulated 119 of their 291 total yards in that final frame, demonstrating the ability to stretch the field that had been largely absent until then.
As they prepare for their matchup against top-ranked Texas on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC), the Sooners will need to show continued offensive improvement from freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and the team as a whole.
With a bye week ahead of the annual showdown with the Longhorns, the Sooners are hoping their offense becomes more consistently productive than it has been so far.
“It can only help,” said Sooners coach Brent Venables, referring to the time off allowing Hawkins to find his rhythm. “The additional repetitions—mentally, physically, through walk-throughs, team drills, and meetings—will add up.
“Those 20 hours go by quickly, so a bye week gives coaches more time for presentations that can help players understand things better.”
After five games, the Sooners are averaging only 297.8 yards per game, ranking near the bottom among Power Four teams and nearly 25 yards fewer than the next-lowest SEC team. They sit 13th in the SEC in scoring offense, last in rushing (128.6 yards per game), and last in passing (169.2).
Facing a Texas defense that allows just 228.2 yards per game—ranking third nationally behind only Ohio State and Tennessee—OU will need to make adjustments.
“When you’re struggling, it feels like there are issues everywhere, and sometimes that’s true,” Venables noted. “You have to consider what the opponent sees and what we’re showing them, starting with the basics, and analyze both offense and defense.”
Under Hawkins, the offense has improved its ball protection, which was a challenge under Jackson Arnold. After committing six turnovers in their first three games, the Sooners have gone over six quarters without a turnover since Hawkins took the reins just before halftime in the loss to Tennessee.
