The Oklahoma Sooners, riding a perfect 4-0 start to the season, welcome the Kent State Golden Flashes to Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium this afternoon for what should be a straightforward tune-up before the big Red River Rivalry next week. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Central Time on the SEC Network, with the fifth-ranked Sooners looking to keep their momentum alive against a struggling Kent State squad that's managed just one win in four outings.
Indeed, Oklahoma's defense has been the story so far, allowing a stingy nine points per game and ranking second nationally in total yards surrendered. That's a far cry from Kent State's leaky unit, which has given up 44 points on average and the most total yards in the FBS. The Golden Flashes' run defense, in particular, has been porous—yielding 498 rushing yards to Florida State alone earlier this year. For the Sooners, this presents an opportunity to get their ground game clicking; they've hovered around 105th in rushing yards per contest, averaging a modest 3.6 yards per carry despite solid pass protection.
At quarterback, sophomore Michael Hawkins steps in for the injured John Mateer, bringing a mix of experience from last season's highs and the pressure of a high-stakes transition. He's got weapons like running back Jaydn Ott to lean on, and against Kent State's secondary, expect Hawkins to air it out if needed. However, the real test might come in avoiding complacency; Oklahoma paid Kent State $1.5 million just to show up, part of a $2.9 million nonconference tab that's drawn some quiet eyebrows in Norman.
Key matchup to watch: Sooners' front seven versus Kent State's beleaguered offensive line, where Oklahoma could dominate early and often. Predictions lean heavily toward a Sooners rout, perhaps 42-10 or better, but football's funny that way—upsets lurk even in mismatches like this.
Moreover, with the Texas game looming in Dallas, Brent Venables' crew knows every snap counts toward building confidence. Yet, as the clock ticks down on this nonconference finale, one can't help but wonder if Oklahoma's polish will shine through or if Kent State might snag a few unexpected moments.