Within 24 hours of their humiliating defeat at the hands of their arch-rival in the Cotton Bowl, the Oklahoma players gathered without coaches to prevent a repeat of that outcome.
Top-ranked Texas dominated the Sooners 34-3 on Saturday, leaving Oklahoma’s offense scoreless and their defense giving up more points than it had all season.
“I mean, obviously, you kind of already know what the mood’s gonna be like,” said OU linebacker Danny Stutsman. “It’s pretty clear. I was just addressing the team, you know? We put that performance on tape, and naturally, you’re disappointed with it. There’s not much more to say at that moment. I think everything was said at halftime and before the game; we just didn’t live up to it.”
However, the next day brought a need for further discussion. Stutsman, who serves as a captain, revealed to reporters on Monday after practice that the team held a players-only meeting on Sunday.
“Right after something like that happens, it’s easy for guys to start pointing fingers,” Stutsman explained. “There are countless excuses to make, but we have limited opportunities. After that game, we came together for a players meeting, and it was a positive step. We really aired everything out, and now it’s a new week, a new mindset, and a new opponent. We’ve flushed it, learned from it, and come back together as a team.”
Stutsman’s defense had a stellar start to the season, allowing just 11.3 points per game during the non-conference schedule. However, that number has jumped to 26.7 against SEC opponents so far.
The majority of the challenges have arisen on offense, leading to speculation about potential division within the locker room and frustration from the defense over the offense’s struggles. The Sooners are averaging just 15 points per game against SEC defenses, ranking near the bottom in various offensive categories, including total offense, where they sit in the bottom 10 of all 133 FBS teams.
“I don’t feel like there’s any division,” defensive lineman Gracen Halton stated. “That’s something we need to emphasize in the locker room. We’re all in this together. We walk into the same locker room before and after the game. No matter what, we’ve got each other’s backs. I’ve stepped up because I care about my teammates, and I respect BV. I know he’s looking for guys willing to do that, so I have to step up.”
After losing two of their last three games and falling out of the rankings, what was the main takeaway from OU’s players-only meeting?
“The message is that we need to get back on track,” Halton said. “We’ve worked hard for this, and we know what everyone in our room has gone through to get to where we are. We can’t stop now. It’s about putting positive thoughts in everyone’s minds and ensuring we get back to work with a unified mindset.”