Live updates as playoff spot on the line

Everybody, welcome into the show. I’m Brian Keating alongside Hannah Hoover. This is the KOCO College Football Countdown, counting down to Oklahoma and LSU at 2:30 right here on Channel 5. Where has the season gone? I don’t know. We’ve been seeing *** lot of you guys though for these pregame shows, so. I like to wake up in the morning with you and have *** little fun talking about OU football, so it’s really *** good time, and I can’t believe it’s already the final regular season game. I mean, it really has flown, but then it feels kind of like we’ve been doing this forever, so I don’t know which one. No, no, no, uh, the season comes and every week it just feels like the most important game. And as Oklahoma continues to win and win, it is the most important game of the season. Here you go. You know the stakes today. If you win, you are in Oklahoma and LSU at 2:30 right here on Channel 5. The Sooners at home against the LSU Tigers for the first time. We’ve got *** big show counting you down to kick off at 11 o’clock here. Um, big show, plenty of storylines, but I think certainly, Hannah. One of those things we’ll talk about today is the college football playoff. Yeah, no doubt about it. Also, when we talk about coming up in the show, we’ve got limited history. OU and LSU have only played 44 times, which is hard to believe. And then also we have will weather play *** role because Brian and I like to stay warm. OK, we don’t like to get too cold out there. We have way too many layers on when we’re at the game, so maybe you will too. I don’t know. We’ll find out in just *** second and then obviously you already said it, the college football playoffs. I think those are 3 big storylines. The weather, you know, last week at home against Missouri, I think we sat around, we were high at top doing this pregame show. We thought, man, this is football weather. This is kind of fun. Today, I think we might get *** little closer to nastier weather and colder weather. College football, it’s the most important game of the season. Big show coming up. I want to ask you, and this is something I think we’ll look for today, Hannah, Oklahoma and the pressure because how will the Sooners. Look at this game and it it’s. With everything on the line, they played the games against Alabama and Tennessee and Missouri, but everything’s on the line today. How will Oklahoma handle that pressure? Yeah, and then obviously the sooner success in the red zone we’ll get to that, but it’s really awesome. They’re perfect in the red zone. And then get to the quarterback. I think that’s O’s number one goal for the defense because when they do that they really muddy things up. So *** good, *** good game ahead we got here in Norman. It’ll be fun. The head coach at Oklahoma, Brent Venable, certainly he was asked about the pressure and the situation for the Sooners, and here’s what he had to say earlier in the week. Going into our last regular season game here at home, and we all know what’s on the line this weekend. Go to be *** great challenge for us and something I know our guys are really excited about. This is *** team in our locker room that loves *** challenge. That’s kind of who we have become on the season, *** team that really, uh, relishes the bigger the challenge, um, the more they respond. I think that’s been their calling card, right? The bigger the challenge, the better that they’ve responded. They didn’t play great in the first half last week and then all of *** sudden Isaiah Sean you down. You get *** stop on defense. It’s the touchdown on one end. I think they have handled the pressure. I think Brent Venables has handled the pressure this season. You know, when everybody came into the season, Brent Venable on the hot seat, I think. Handle the pressure. I think they do like to get in the mud. Brent Venables calls his team grimy. We’ll get into that, but I think they have, they have handled that pressure. The other thing I, I think you look at for the University of Oklahoma besides the pressure, when they have opportunities to score because their offense hadn’t just lit it up, when they get those opportunities, can you punch it in? Can you get in the red zone and can you finish drives? That’s gonna go. Long way to I guess *** good LSU defense. Yeah, they’re *** good defense and also, you know, when OU is in the red zone, they’re 32 for 32. They have *** perfect completion. They have *** perfect execution there and so it’s cool to watch what they can do. The problem is that they just haven’t had *** ton of those opportunities on offense and so we’ll see what they can do today. Hopefully they get just enough explosive plays. You saw the last one from Isaiah. you know, and when he gets going, it really can cause some damage. So if you just get *** few explosive plays, put your offense in the red zone, whether that’s because of the defense or the offense, whatever it may be, it’s the conversion rate is 100% when they’re there. You can’t be better than 100%. They need touchdowns, field goals though. Tate Sandell’s *** weapon. We’ll talk about him later in the show as well, but we know the formula for Oklahoma, right? You play defense, you don’t turn it over. You kick field goals, even 55 yard field goals, and that’s how you win football games. So, OK, let me ask you this, as you brought up the defense. I think the key for Oklahoma today, moving forward, if they get to the college football playoff, um, pressure the quarterback, get to the quarterback, let that defensive line loose, and that’s been *** pretty good formula for Oklahoma to win football games. Yeah, make the quarterback uncomfy and Michael Van Buren is. Who will play today for LSU. He’s the backup to Garrett Nessmeyer, and so that’s *** quarterback who doesn’t have as much experience. He came from Mississippi State in 2024. He had 11 touchdowns, 7 interceptions last season, so he’s not the guy that you’re going to, uh, find comfortable in general. And so if you could really make him even more uncomfortable than he is naturally, I think it could be dangerous. Last week they didn’t have their best game with him behind center, which gets us right to our four defensive keys to the game. Now the Oklahoma 4 defensive keys to the game. I think it’s pretty simple for Oklahoma. We talked about the formula, you know, you don’t turn it over. You play defense and you pressure the quarterback. You got *** young quarterback coming to Memorial Stadium. LSU in theory, other than just every college football Saturday, they got nothing to play for. Oklahoma has everything to play for, everything to play for. Can you pressure the quarterback. You turn them over *** couple of times and then can that be the winning formula for the Sooners as we begin the final day of the regular season in Norman, Oklahoma. This D line is so good. You asked *** bunch of questions then. The answer is yes to all of them, you know, it’s like I believe they’re going to really muddy it up here today and look at there with the sacks tied for first with Texas A&M. So Texas A&M is pretty good. They didn’t have their best game last night against Texas, but there you go. Texas number 3. Defensively they’re awesome, but I think what stands out to me is that Oklahoma is tied for the lead in the NCAA and all of college football with sacks, and they’ve only played 11 games. Everybody else on that list played 12. So Oklahoma has played one fewer game. And they lead the nation still in sacks. That’s why it’s our 4 defensive keys to the game. Oklahoma get to that quarterback, which transitions me to the next topic, you know, I mentioned what Brent Venable said earlier this week and what he called his team. I think it’s very interesting because they got *** bunch of dudes on that defense who are nasty. They get after you, they wake up in *** bad mood. And so when Brent Venables was asked about his defense, this is how he described them. Now thankful for uh the The mindset, the grit, the toughness of this football team, call them grimy. That was *** grim. They’re *** grimy group, and I say that with great, great respect, relentless mindset, passionate about one another, their opportunity. I love to compete. Brent called them grimy. I think that gets me. I am curious how you would describe the Oklahoma defense. I mean, grimy is *** great word. It’s *** great word, muddy. I don’t really know how to compete with grimy, but I’m just going to say relentless because it seems like no matter what happens on offense, and they did touch on this last week, Brent Venables did that. You know, yeah, it is *** little frustrating when your offense is punt, punt, punt, but they just keep with the same mindset and just get back out there and do it again and do it again and do it again and stop, you know, the other opposing team’s offense and it just works. So relentless is my word, Brian. I think relentless is *** great word. I said they wake up in *** bad mood. I think they are nasty. Um, I, I think grimy, they do muck it up, but I think they just control the game and whatever they’ve been able to get at him and it’s interesting, you know, Brent in, in his conversation with us on Tuesday. He brought up that during the games at times he talks to Ben Arbuckle, who’s the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma and just says, Ben, just be careful. Let’s not do anything silly. Let’s not do anything crazy here because we got them. They’re not gonna get another first down the rest of the game. And so just be careful, and I think that is Brent’s philosophy and that is the staple of this team, but you like relentless, I think they are nasty and that’s more in the vein of grimy, so I appreciate that. Nasty, yeah. And, and I just, I think what they’ve been able to do, and I think it’s *** credit to Brent Venables who is the best defensive coordinator in college football, and he has the best defense in college football. Can they do it again today because the college football playoff awaits if the answer is yes. So LSU’s got *** brand new head coach. It is not Brian Kelly. Here’s the interim talking about the Oklahoma defense and what the Tigers face on Saturday. We did *** sin in in some areas, um, again, specifically defensively and special teams, um, we still have some work to do to to get over this. We’ll have to, we’ll have to play better and next week to have *** chance to to win this football game, and I’m confident we will we’ll we’ll we’ll get to work in. So, uh, LSU, they’ve been up and down. We thought this game might be for *** college football playoffs. I really had this circled, uh, not the case. And so it’s interesting hearing from interim head coach Frank Wilson. I am curious to the level of want to that it’s gonna take for LSU to win because here’s the deal. Oklahoma wants to. They wear the t-shirts that hard. Kill man, um, they are hard to kill. If LSU is gonna come to Memorial Stadium and have *** chance to win this football game, their want to has to be at an all-time kind of high level, and I am curious to see that today. Yeah, me too. I think they’re really their team as *** whole culture wise. I’ve heard we talked to our sister station and we’ll get to that later in the show. Just what’s the vibe, you know, what is it around? LSU’s campus and in the locker room and the vibes are low, to say the least and so I don’t know how much of *** want to they have we’ll get into that later because maybe the biggest want to is just ruin OU’s playoff chances really. They still have athletes. They still got 5 star athletes running around LSU and if they play their best game, they can come in and win, but it’s gonna take their best game to have any chance to win in Norman, Oklahoma. We mentioned at the top of the show, this is only the 5th time OU and LSU have ever played. The first one Oklahoma won way back in the 1950 Sugar Bowl. The next three they lost. We’ll get to the Sugar Bowl. We’ll get to the Sugar Bowl later on in the show, but first things first, here’s *** reminder of the three that might not have gone quite as well. Intercepted. And LSU has scored on the Marcus Spears interception. LSU wins the BCS National Championship. Come on target, wide open receiver. Madeus Moss with one man. Touch time And LSU is going home to New Orleans to play for *** national championship on January 13th. Nasmyer going Our final score tonight. and Oklahoma wrap up the regular season. Tigers win it 37 to 17. So those are the last three for the University of Oklahoma. It didn’t go quite as well. I remember sitting at that, uh, 2019 Peach Bowl and that LSU team was spectacular. This one not quite as much. I think Oklahoma’s got *** real chance and, and obviously there’s *** reason they’re the favorite to win the, uh, the football game today. Weather is *** part of the story though, and it could be *** little bit dicey and I, I’m, I am curious to see how the weather plays and if it does. *** jacket, I think I think you’re gonna need *** jacket. Let’s heading on to, uh, Joseph Neubauer. Joseph, what’s the weather gonna be like as Sooner fans head out the door and go to Memorial Stadium today? I know we worry about rain. It’s actually not going to be an issue for once. It’s gonna be the wind. You’ve probably heard it this morning. Cold front generating that wind. It’s literally moving in as we speak. It may generate *** little bit of mist and. Drizzle for the tailgate, but the rain’s going to be out after 11 a.m., guys, and the wind is going to be filling in even more so than it already has some high wind values on the other side of this cold front. So we’re sitting in the lower 50s, chilly, breezy right now. It gets *** whole lot windier once we’re actually playing football at 2:30. We got 20 to 40 mile per hour wind gusts. Temperatures start in the 40s. We end in the 30s. It’s gonna feel like below freezing by the end of this game, like the wind chill values play *** factor for you going to the game, tailgating after the game, also for the players as well, and the wind is certainly going to be up there too. I’m thinking like field goals and stuff like that. It’s the same deal up there in Stillwater as well, so statewide wind playing *** huge factor, and then, yeah, I believe you mentioned it there, *** really nice jacket, lots of layers. That’s the name of the game for those headed to the game, guys over to you. We have *** big college football Saturday heading up. It’s gonna be cold, *** little football weather final game of the regular season as well in Stillwater, Oklahoma. We’ll talk *** little bit about the Cowboys and Iowa State. It’s senior day for the Polks, but OSU’s got *** brand new head football coach, Eric Morris coming in from North Texas. We will hear from him for the first time since he became the head coach at Oklahoma State over this last week and, uh, talk about what we think of that hire. Eric Morris to Oklahoma State. It’s coming up next the KLCO College Football Countdown. Welcome back to the KLCO College Football Countdown. Brian Keating, Hannah Hoover. Let’s get to the OSU Cowboys. Senior day in Norman, senior day in Stillwater. We don’t have to talk about all the nasty records and all the things happening in *** boon picking stadium. It’s been *** tough year. It’s been *** tough couple of years for Oklahoma State. They got Iowa State in the final home game of the regular season at 11 o’clock. Can they break the losing streak? They are about *** 2 touchdown underdog at home to Iowa State, but that’s clearly not the biggest news of the week because there is *** new era for Oklahoma State football. We’ve been waiting. We have been waiting since Mike Gundy was fired way back in September. The next head coach at Oklahoma State was announced on Tuesday. It’s Eric Morris who is currently. The head coach at North Texas led North Texas now to their first ever trip to the American Conference championship game. That’s exciting. What what do you think about Eric Morris as the head coach at Oklahoma State? I’m excited just to see what he can do. He has *** long list of great stats with quarterbacks. He’s got connections to Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield. The list is long, and I’m excited to see what happens at Boone. Picking stadium, I think the biggest plus is that he’s so in the weeds maybe is the phrase to use with the NIL and revenue sharing. That’s all he knows as *** head coach. And so I think that’s *** real advantage as you look at what college football is today and he gets it. I think that that’s the biggest thing that he brings to the table. He’s *** young guy. He’s 40 years old. He played wide receiver at Texas Tech. He’s been the head coach at *** couple of different places, incarnate word in Texas. He was the offensive coordinator at Washington State. Coach John Matier helped recruit Cam Ward, who was the number one pick in the NFL draft this last season. The list is long. He is an offensive guy and yesterday after North Texas won their game against Temple to clinch their spot in the American championship game, here is what Eric Morris said about becoming the head coach at Oklahoma State. I grew up in the Big 12, um, you know, I was able to watch, you know, Coach Gundy build that thing, and, and I played their time. I mean, the atmosphere is electric. I don’t think I ever won *** game there as *** player or *** coach. Um, so yeah, I mean I think that’s kind of what made it intriguing for me. Yeah, I, it’s ***, it’s *** good job. He’s gonna do, I think he’s gonna turn that offense around. There’s just no question about it, number one scoring offense in all of college football. Yeah, that’s what OSU needs. They need to put some points up on the board. We’ve seen that all season long, so look, I think it’s. Encouraging and I can’t wait to see what the reset looks like come 2026 when we start hearing recruits and just all the news that comes with that. So I think this is great news for OSU and someone to look forward to and something to look at as well is that the potential. With *** few of the players on North Texas’s team transferring to Stillwater in this area of college football, including the quarterback, and we don’t know this, but including the quarterback Drew Mestermaker who leads the country in passing. So *** lot of moving parts, but number one offense in college football, Eric Morris set to be the next head coach at Oklahoma State University. It’s senior day for the Cowboys. It’s senior day for. *** bunch of players. It is also senior day for the interim head football coach, Doug Meachum. We’ve talked *** lot about him. He was thrown into *** nearly impossible position. They hadn’t won *** football game. I’m, I’m not, I’m not here to say he’s just done this remarkably, but he’s so positive. And today is also senior day for Doug Meacham, who talked with us earlier in the week. My message has been just. You know, uh, it’s gonna be *** collective effort. Uh You know, play like you know tomorrow and do it for these guys that and send them out with *** memory, you know, they they’ll last forever. 20 OSU seniors will take the field for the final time on Saturday as the Cowboys host Iowa State. They don’t have any. Motives other than to just want to play football, win *** game, you know. It’s also the final run out for interim head coach Doug Meacham, who took over in September after Mike Gundy was fired. Just the opportunity, you know, uh, for. Chad Weiberg, to have the faith in me to be able to, uh, get us to the finish line means *** lot that. Um, they saw something in me that they felt like I could. You know, uh, be the front man for this football team. And Doug Meachum played at Oklahoma State. He was an offensive lineman for the Cowboys in the 1980s, so senior day in Stillwater is very personal for the interim head coach. It’s been an honor to do it. It’s been kind of unique and cool to go through this as *** head coach. Like I said before, I’ve never been *** head coach in any way, shape or form, so it’s kind of neat to get this perspective on it, so like. Yeah, when you go through your life at the end of the thing you know you look back and there’s there’s moments and this will be one of them for me so it’s awesome and when the season does come to an end on Saturday and his job future is completely uncertain what’s the first thing on the to do list? Some surfing sounds good, uh, golf. But, and I’m *** horrible surfer. Don’t get it twisted. I’m not any good. I just like doing it. Now, the Hyundai picks of the game. Our Hyundai picks of the game, can the Cowboys break the losing streak? With Iowa State coming to town? Can they run their way to *** victory finally after. 10 straight losses for the Cowboys. Is this the week the Big 12 streak comes to an end? Our Hyundai picks of the game. Can it be the day, Hannah Hoover? Anything is possible. That’s why they play the game. That’s what my dad always says. That’s why they play the game, but I’m not picking OSU unfortunately to win this one because Iowa State is really good. I’m gonna go 31 to 13. I’m really going to highlight their defense because their nose tackle used the word nasty earlier about OU. He’s nasty. He’s really good. I watched him play against TCU. I’ve scouted this team. I’m just kidding, but I, I know they’re really good and so it’s gonna be difficult for Oklahoma State and, um, I, I wish, I hope that they proved me wrong. I think Oklahoma State’s at least played their best football the last couple of weeks. They had *** chance to beat Kansas State. They certainly had *** chance and probably should have won last week in Orlando. I just, I’m not sure that I can see it happening and I don’t think this team is capable of scoring enough. I’ve got Iowa State winning by *** couple of touchdowns. Um, look, I’d love to be wrong. this team hasn’t shown us they can score enough. Iowa State is not Alabama, but they’re better than Oklahoma State. And so with the weather, with the want to, we’ll see. Doug Meacham’s done *** nice job keeping this thing afloat to some degree, but I just don’t think. That he’ll get his first win as head coach. That’s why he’s *** surfer. That’s why you play the game surfing’s next week. Can you win *** football game today? Uh, let’s get back to the University of Oklahoma. Let’s talk *** little bit of offense. The Oklahoma Sooners. Playing the LSU Tigers today and, uh, Hannah Ben Arbuckle, the offensive coordinator for the Sooners, you just can’t turn it over. It’s very simple. The first thing that I want to say I’m most proud of is that we didn’t turn the ball over one time. You know, we didn’t turn the ball over one time. That’s 2 weeks in *** row, and that’s *** huge key to victory whenever we get into this room on Sundays and Mondays and Tuesdays, whenever Coach B standing up there winning the turnover margin, and so the kids have bought into that, you know, the ball may get *** little risky from time to time, but ultimately we’re not giving it back to them. OK, Brian, so since the 2023 season, OU is 18-0 when it wins the turnover battle and you understand why people preach this coaches preach it so much and that’s what Ben Arbuckle was doing just then is it’s so critical to win the turnover battle to take care of the football, and you mentioned it earlier. I think the recipe success for Oklahoma. Offenses they are *** little conservative, you know, just take care of the ball, do what you gotta do, have *** few explosive plays. We’re not trying to outpass anybody, out rush anybody. It’s just go take care of business and take care of the football, and it’s really the defense that’s going to dominate and create those turnovers on the other side. Do just enough to win the football game, 18 straight when they’ve won the turnover battle. They started off this season slow. They didn’t create *** bunch of turnovers early. They forced 8 in the last 3 games. It’s the biggest reason they’re 3-0, uh, in the last 3 weeks. Stay with us on the KOCO College Football Countdown counting you down to Oklahoma and LSU. What we’re thankful for because, hey, we’re the spirit of Thanksgiving. It is the spirit of Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for plenty. I’m sure you’re thankful for plenty as well. We’ll get to all that the KFCO College Football Countdown. to the KLCO College Football Countdown. The situation is very simple for Oklahoma. You win, you are in the college football playoffs. Yeah, and I talked to our sister station in New Orleans who covers LSU to ask, well, what’s at stake for LSU because they’re not getting into the college football playoff. What are they playing for? Here it is. We know what’s on the line for Oklahoma, *** college football playoff appearance, but what is on the line for LSU and what’s the vibe check this week? It’s pretty simple, Hannah. What’s on the line is to ruin Oklahoma’s chances to go to the college football playoff. Not much really left to play for LSU this year because Brian Kelly has been fired and it’s been *** sloppy mess for the LSU Tigers with Brian Kelly after Brian Kelly. So the one thing they’re trying to do is ruin Oklahoma’s season and finish the regular season with 8 wins and. You know, at least keep the fans somewhat happy as they get ready for the next head coach. When it comes to Garrett Nessmeyer, will he be playing or is it going to be Michael Van Buren this week? It’s Michael Van Buren, uh, Garrett Nussmeyer. It’s just too hurt. I mean, he’s been hurt for pretty much the entire season, heard about the abdominal injury even before the season kicked off. He showed it how bad it was for him, and he just could not throw the ball down the field and you could see the pain and grimace in his face any time he tried to launch the ball down the field and Michael Van Buren struggled last week against Western Kentucky. Yes, Western Kentucky went into that game with 8 wins, but as *** 20+ point favorite and your offense can’t get going. Against that team, oh man, it’s, it’s, it’s gonna be *** problem for Michael Van Buren. It’s kind of strange to me because LSU is always historically so good and has *** great SEC program and going into the season, I had this game circled on the calendar thinking this is the one you want to watch. What does it take to get back to that and what are the conversations, if you can say any of them about what LSU may look like in 2026? Well, it all depends on who’s gonna be the head coach. Uh, is it going to be the Lane Train, Lane Kiffin, which many people continue to say that he is the guy, he is going to be the head coach. They just need to establish. *** good culture once again *** winning culture. They need to bring in *** coach who can kind of identify and understand the players and get respect back from the players. I just think you saw *** lot of that go out of the window with Brian Kelly for so many seasons. Actually, I would think the whole time Brian Kelly was there, they need to get back to those cultures, culture ways that LSU equals winning. winning ways equals national championships. I have no doubt they’ll get back to their winning ways, and I’m sure they will put *** big push for finances to make sure they get the right coach, the right head coach for LSU. That’s exactly right. Well, I know they’re not back to the winning ways just yet, but what is your prediction for this OU versus LSU ballgame. I think it’s gonna be *** defensive battle. I, I think Oklahoma is gonna win this game. I got Oklahoma winning it. Let’s just go 24. 13. Well, he doesn’t like the LSU Tigers to win. Um, I think that’s gonna make *** lot of people around here happy. Um, Thanksgiving has come and gone, Hannah, and so we thought it would be fun to say, what are you thankful for? I will let you go first. Your top three things you are thankful for on this Thanksgiving holiday specifically Oklahoma. We’re talking Oklahoma football. I’ve got other things I like, but it’s not just these 3 things. But you know, surprisingly, special teams normally don’t get *** ton of love, but I gotta say I’m thankful for the kicker Sandell. 55 yards right there. He makes it and he makes it look easy, so it doesn’t matter to me what you wear if you want to wear *** 5 inch inseam pants, it’s not my look. Listen, if you’re going to make the field. The field goals, we don’t really care. We’re just happy you’re out there having *** good time and you know making things happen. I think my second thing that I’m thankful for right there is the D line. Look at our Mason Thomas. I know he’s not playing today, but man, they’ve got so many guys who show up every single game, and they are stacked. That’s just the SEC. And uh the last thing I’m thankful for is *** pick 6 coming up here because it’s the first one Oklahoma had all season long and I thought we’ve been waiting on it this time and time again and so we were like when is this pick 6 gonna happen because they muddied up they have *** ton of turnovers. But yeah, I love *** good pick 6. I’m glad we finally got to see that against Alabama. Look, that was an enormous play for Oklahoma’s football season. I think, uh, those are tremendous things to be thankful for. Um, the Oklahoma defensive line. Again, as good as anywhere, Brent Venables and that entire Oklahoma fan base is very happy for the uh thankful for that defensive line. Let’s go to mine, and I think for me. I am thankful for John Mattier’s legs. He’s *** heck of *** runner, man. Um, the, the throwing game, it’s not what Oklahoma does best, but John Mattier and his legs has allowed OU and that OU offense to get off, and the last couple of weeks played better football. I think number 2, what am I thankful for? Oklahoma. How about the road warriors for the Sooners? Undefeated. On the road in SEC play, enormous wins against South Carolina and Tennessee and Alabama, and here they are. That’s the reason they are in this position to play *** win and you’re in the college football playoff. SEC Road Warriors and big boy celebrations. You like the defensive line. I like the defensive line when they get after it, and you see them big boys get after it. Come on, give me *** big boy celebration. The big boys are about Thanksgiving. This is *** Thanksgiving holiday for the, for the big boys. You put all the food out there, you let them eat, and today the food is the LSU Tigers. Listen, that was amazing. I love that. That was really good. That is what we are thankful for on this college football Saturday before Oklahoma gets ready to host the LSU. Tigers, stay with us. Counting down the KLCL College football countdown. Oklahoma hosting LSU and for the first time since 2016, the Sooners have won 4 straight against ranked opponents. LSU is not ranked. This one ought to be easy, right? Yeah, well, that offense, will it be enough? We’ll find out on the KOCO college football countdown. We talked *** lot about the Oklahoma defense for good reason. It’s best in college football. I, I do want to talk *** little bit about the offenses today because I think if Oklahoma can get their formula, they can get just enough offense, it’s probably good enough to win for LSU, it’s weird because I think at the beginning of the season, everyone just assumed their offense would be great and their defense is what had to come along. Their defense has been great. The offense. Less so. And if you’re an LSU Tiger fan, obviously bad news the last couple of weeks because your starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeyer won’t play today, and that’s obviously an enormous loss and real challenge now for the LSU Tigers coming to Memorial Stadium. Yeah, he reaggravated an abdominal injury and that was hadn’t played since Alabama on November 8th, so this is his third straight. Game to be out and yeah obviously he’s not coming back I think last season you saw Garrett Nessmeyer put up crazy numbers and expected him to do the same and it just it hasn’t been the season. I still think he’s *** super talented guy, super talented player, but he won’t be playing today against the Sooners and that makes all the difference because now it’s *** new quarterback behind center. So Garrett Nessmayer is uh. Looking for brighter days, he’s going to look for *** bowl game or recent senior Bowl, I should say, to go get his stats back and go make *** case for the NFL, but he will not play today against the Sooners. Yeah, he’s *** guy that’s kind of an NFL prototype guy, but he’s out today, which means that Michael Van Buren will be the quarterback for LSU and You probably don’t know *** lot about him. He hadn’t played *** ton of football. I did find it interesting that earlier in the week when Brent Venables was asked about the LSU quarterback and he talked about Michael Van Buren, he said he’s *** guy that we really recruited and we really wanted to get him to Oklahoma. So you know he’s *** talented guy. Today it’s Michael Van Buren for LSU. And Garrett Nussmeyer is out. What about John Matteer because so much of the Oklahoma conversation centers around the OU defense and can John Matteer be good enough? Can John Matteer be good enough in this stretch, the one thing he’s done better than he has the rest of the year, he hasn’t turned it over and that’s. Been the key, no interceptions, and that’s the key for Oklahoma. Yes, and you know, against Texas, he struggled with interceptions, you know, so he’s definitely made improvements since that game and it makes all the difference when you can just take care of the ball. John Mateer, I think you better watch out for him today because this is the last regular season game and there’s something about him that just tells me. He might want to show off *** little bit. OK, I hope, I hope that’s the John Matteer we see after the Missouri game. This is John Mattier, the quarterback at Oklahoma. I mean we could we could really make these games one sided if we just score and keep drives alive because we know they’re going to do their part. So it’s *** little bit of both. You play to win the game, but I mean we know it’s right there. It just doesn’t have to be pretty, you know, football is not *** pretty game. It’s not *** cute game. I mean you got to push the pile and be the most physical team, and I think that’s what it means like it’s not going to be like perfect and all well flowing, but when the waters get rough, that’s when we enjoy it. Even the offense talking about being the most physical team, it’s really the identity of the Oklahoma Sooners, whether you’re offense or defense, you just gotta find *** way to, uh, be grimy. The offense is grimy *** little bit too more too often, uh, more often than Oklahoma fans, uh, would like, I think that’s for sure and and what John Matteer said is right. We just, the winning formula is what the winning formula is. We don’t have to light it up. We don’t have to be this. We just have to be good enough in the last few weekends, the Oklahoma offense has been just good enough for the OU defense to take over. I think this is *** guy, if you’re looking for somebody to make *** big play this year, I think it’s Isaiah Citania. When he gets off, um, it, it just seems like Oklahoma is really tough to beat and he had the big play last week against Missouri. You can count on him for the explosive play 6 touchdowns, 80. 27 yards on the year and he’s leading in the SEC so it’s, it’s fun to watch what he can do. I mean, look, he just takes off for the races. He’s *** track star, really, I mean, I think he had to have played track at some or ran track at some point *** track guy Austin, Texas, yeah, there you go. So he goes off for the races and it’s over for all these other guys. So if he can just get *** couple of explosive plays and can find *** way to get the ball to Isaiah Citania. It’s dangerous and you don’t need *** ton of them. You don’t need to just light it up like I said in the passing game. You just got to do enough, but this is crazy that he is one of the top leading receivers in the SEC considering, I mean, I just don’t feel like they have *** ton of pass plays, and yet here he is. Seania is their really explosive receiver, 56 receptions this year, 6 touchdowns, had over 100 yards last week against Missouri. But if you’re looking for an explosive play. Isaiah Saania is *** pretty good place to look. That’s enough about offense. You’re done. That’s enough about offense. Our star player to watch from Lucky Star Casino. Now the Lucky Star Casino’s star player to watch. It’s enough about offense because this is about the Oklahoma defense and our star player to watch from Lucky Star Casino. I mean, how about this young kid Eli Bowen coming on? He’s had *** great games last couple of weeks. Alabama, obviously you see the 6 Missouri *** pick. We, I mean, it’s just fun to watch this guy what he could do on defense and the fact that they’re playing *** young inexperienced quarterback and Michael Van Buren for LSU. I just feel like something, something could happen. I think I think that something exciting and brewing. Oklahoma, they didn’t have *** bunch of turnovers early in the season, so they’re kind of behind on trying to catch up, but they’re beginning to make their way up towards at least the middle of the SEC. They got 8 turnovers forced in the last 3 games. That is the recipe. 12 for the season, which puts them towards the bottom of the SEC, but they’re coming up, that defense coming on, and Eli Bowen, our lucky star casino star player to watch. As the college football playoff begins to get clearer and closer into *** picture. Hannah, it’s simple for Oklahoma. You win and you’re in, which was the case for *** number of SEC schools along the way. It’s *** college football Saturday, but with the Thanksgiving holiday, it means we had big time football on Friday after Thanksgiving. It started early this weekend. Let’s get to some of the. Big games across the Southeastern Conference and let’s start with the Egg Bowl, which happened on Friday afternoon, and that was *** Mississippi win against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Didn’t start great, but Ole Miss is in the college football playoff. They beat Mississippi State 38-19. The weird thing for Ole Miss now who’s gonna be their head coach. Yeah, that’s the biggest question like congrats you’re the college football playoff, but do we have the same coach? We don’t know. I think we’ll find out pretty soon here in the coming. I don’t know, could we find out today we find out? I mean that his answer was very noncommittal post game when Taylor McGregor asked him, you know, what’s your mindset? What do you want to do? And he said, I’m just going to enjoy this moment with my team. So Ole Miss in the college football playoff. How about them George Bulldogs? Georgia punches their ticket to the SEC championship game against number 23 Georgia Tech. I guess they had punched it before, but they get the big rivalry win against Georgia Tech and Mercedes Benz rivalry. It wasn’t *** beautiful game. It doesn’t have to be pretty. It’s like watching Oklahoma play. John McTier said to do just enough. They win it 16 to 9 and the Georgia Bulldogs are rolling into the SEC title game where *** win against the. Tech yellow jackets and then the one we all wanted to see Texas and Texas A&M. A&M was undefeated and all them Texas Longhorns did was go down and say, Hey Aggie, come on, we got you baby, and they’re *** little fired up for this number 3, Texas A&M Aggies, but man, it was impressive. Arch Manning on the run there with this beautiful pass to Ryan Wingo, really fun to watch this team. I know sooner fans are not all excited about it, but it was *** Really great game for Black Friday and college football weekend. It was *** great win for Texas. Steve Sarkisian, who’s the head coach of Texas, really trying to elbow his way in. We got to be in. They’re not getting in. There’s no way they’re getting in. I think I mean no way scenario is their number 12 and then Miami needs to beat Pitt today to help them out. I mean, I’ve heard that that’s Oklahoma would have to lose and then maybe there’s *** 3 loss we don’t want them to. It’s not getting in. It’s not happening. Texas, out. You lost 3 times. We don’t care. We don’t care that you’re that big brand name. You’re not going to get out of here. Texas is out. They did beat Texas A&M. Stay with us on the KOCO College Football Countdown. *** little history for the LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners. We went through the bad stuff. We went through the 3 wins for LSU. This is the win for Oklahoma. It’s really fun to. back. I love doing these things. It’s the 1950 vintage Bud Wilkinson Oklahoma Sooners. And did you know that Oklahoma has won 47 of the last 50 November home games dating all the way back to John Blake’s final season in 1998. 47 out of 5 for the centers, Brian. Tough to come in there and win. Good luck, LSU Tigers. Stay with us on the KFCO for Countdown. Oklahoma LSU 2:30 today right here on Channel 5. The weather is gonna be interesting. It’s gonna cool off. It is windy if you just walk outside. Does that make *** difference? Tate Sandell is the outstanding. He’s probably the best field goal kicker in the country. This is *** weapon for you and I don’t know if the weather might neutralize any of this. Yeah, it’s always possible. You don’t want to kick into the wind and, you know, go southward. It’s pretty much automatic, you know, if you get across to like robotic if you get to the 40, he’s got *** chance to kick *** field goal. He’s been unbelievable. Um, *** couple of 55 yards at Tennessee, made big kicks. He’s near the top in the country at kicking field goals. I just wonder, this is *** weapon for Oklahoma, and I, I think if you’re looking for ways that LSU could come in here and win, it’s that OSU or Oklahoma makes *** few mistakes, and I don’t know, I’m just throwing it out there. Maybe the weather plays into the field goal kicking and some of that decision making. They definitely relied on Tate Sandell for their offense in *** lot of ways throughout some of these big road. Games road warriors he’s been unbelievable. Yeah, you definitely hope that he’s on his game and the win doesn’t play *** major factor. He’s been, he’s been unbelievable. It’s the fifth meeting between Oklahoma and LSU. LSU has won the last three, but the first time they played was after the 1949 season when Oklahoma was undefeated going into the 1950 Sugar Bowl. So let’s look back, go back in time, January 2nd, 1950. January 2, 1950, the Sugar Bowl featuring the second ranked Oklahoma Sooners and the number 9 LSU Tigers from Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, and before the game even started, we had drama. Former LSU player Walt Piggy Barnes was caught spying on the Sooners with *** telescope, so legendary coach Bud Wilkinson switched up the game plan, and boy did it work for Oklahoma. Pearson takes *** back with pits from Royal. And throws *** forward. Thomas takes it on the 3 and steps into the end zone. George Thomas scored twice in the first quarter on *** halfback pass from Lyndel Pearson and then on the option to score Oklahoma 13 LSU nothing and then Leon Mule Train Heath raced out to the longest play in Sugar Bowl history. That point, the 50, the 45, the 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, the 15, the 10, the 5, and scores, and the route was on for the Sooners, but they weren’t done when Darryl Royal scored again for Oklahoma to make it 280 for another Oklahoma touchdown and Mule Train Heath went 34 more for the Sooners. Leon races through *** big hole in the middle, breaks into the clear, and goes all the way 34 yards to Oklahoma’s fifth touchdown. Oklahoma won the game 35-0 to finish the season 11-0 and ranked number 2 in the country and one of the greatest Sooner teams ever not to win the national championship. Like to go college football is upon us. The picks are in. Oklahoma LSU. Stay with us from the KOCO College Football Countdown. Alright. 166 straight sellouts for the University of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The streak continues today as the LSU Tigers come to town, and it is that time our yundai picks of the game. Now, the Hyundai picks of the game. It is the biggest game at Memorial Stadium this season. You win and you’re in. Can the big plays come? Can John Mattier run his way and can that nasty defense do it for the University of Oklahoma as the LSU Tigers come the Norman? Our picks of the game starting with you I’m gonna take the soon on this one. I have *** big belief in that defense 24 to 13 Oklahoma. I think you just enough on offense to get it done and I don’t see LSU really being super successful on offense today. I don’t think this young quarterbacks going to have much of *** chance if I’m honest against this defense, so I got Oklahoma for the biggest game of the year. OU has won 10 straight of their final home games of the season. Last home game of the season they’ve won 10 in *** row. It’ll be 11 today. I think that defense gets it done. I think we’re talking about the college football playoff. I think we’re talking about the college football playoff in Norman, Oklahoma in about 3 weeks. But you got to win today. You got to win today, and I think that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Enjoy the college football. Happy Thanksgiving weekend for Hannah Hoover. I’m Brian Keating. So you and LSU right here on Channel 5.