Five Questions: Oklahoma vs Missouri
Welcome to Five Questions, a weekly article featuring insights from experts on the Oklahoma Sooners’ upcoming opponents. For week eleven, Payton Guthrie spoke with Joey Van Zummeren, writer for Missouri Tigers on SI, about what to expect from the Missouri Tigers against the Oklahoma Sooners as both teams start the ending stretch of the 2024 season.
FIVE QUESTIONS: OKLAHOMA VS. Missouri
Payton Guthrie - Missouri football fans had some large expectations heading into the 2024 season with some setting their sites on the expanded playoff field. Has Missouri lived up to your expectations that you set before the season started?
Joey Van Zummeren - The losses to Alabama and Texas A&M put the rest of the world on how much Missouri had fallen off from preseason expectations, but the warning signs were there for this team all the way back in Week 3 against Boston College.
Frankly, I've yet to see a single game from the Missouri offense where they've met the potential I thought they had ahead of the season. The drop off on offense is really odd after being one of the top in the SEC in 2023. They lost running back Cody Schrader, but kept the starting quarterback, offensive play caller and two elite wide receivers. But the offensive line also lost two starters and the dropoff there has really prevented the unit from finding much rhythm anywhere.
Payton Guthrie - When the Tigers have the football how *should* they try to attack this very good Oklahoma defense?
Joey Van Zummeren - Typically in a game with, at the very least, a limited Brady Cook, I'd say a heavy reliance on the run game. But that is easier said than done against Oklahoma. I still think that will be their main plan, but that also hinges on the health of leading rusher Nate Noel, who also missed the Alabama game with injury. You'd think the offense would run through star receiver Luther Burden III, considering he really just needs the ball in space to make a play. But he only got three touches against Alabama and didn't touch it all until late in the first half against Auburn.
Against Alabama, the offense's problem was on third downs when Brady Cook was in. It was one-of-nine to start the game. The run game was working to keep them ahead of the sticks but Alabama sent loads of pressure and Cook wasn't able to roll out effectively. If Cook is more able, I'd expect to see a similar approach: run-heavy on first and second downs, mostly utilizing short throws in the passing game.
Payton Guthrie - When the Sooners offense (which has found some semblance of a ground game) has the ball, what will the Tigers do to hold down Oklahoma?
Joey Van Zummeren - The Missouri defense has been inconsistent, but at its best, the unit has been pretty dominant. It stifled Alabama and kept Missouri in that game for much longer than it should have been.
Against Auburn, Brady Cook doesn't get to have his heroic moment if the defense doesn't hold the fort down in the middle of the game. Its biggest problem has been allowing explosive passes.
If Oklahoma's receiver room returns to health this week like most expect, the top end of the defense could certainly be somewhere to attack. But Missouri's pass rush unit has really stepped up over the last two games. Johnny Walker Jr. and Zion Young have really hit their stride at defensive end and the depth on the interior of the defensive line has always been strong.
But they're certainly attackable in the run game too, allowing the fifth most rushing yards per game in the SEC. A season-ending injury to inside linebacker Khalil Jacobs doesn't help them in the run game.
Payton Guthrie - What players should OU fans keep an eye on during the game?
Joey Van Zummeren - It feels like Burden has been due for a massive SEC game to bolster his draft stock, no saying whether that comes this week or not though.
Again, no matter who is at quarterback, I'd expect them to focus on the short pass game so tight end Brett Norfleet is someone to watch there. Defensively, linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. can wreck plays in the backfield along with Young and Walker.
Payton Guthrie - Score Prediction?
Derek Peterson - Missouri opened as four-point favorites but that's shifting seemingly each day with the uncertainty around Cook.
If Cook plays, I'll take Missouri 28-24. If not, Oklahoma 28-17.