We've entered the part of the proceedings where the OU defense is gonna have to do something big.

That was what the OU offense needed to avoid. That right there.

Holding Alabama to a field goal is a big win there. Man, the momentum could've gotten completely away from OU there.

Nifty run by Johnny Mateer. Waited a moment, then went up the gut, sidestepped a couple of defenders who were closing on him, then around the 5-yard line sidestepped another defender. Nifty.

We just had a pre-game flyover ... my day is complete and the game hasn't even started!

More #CFBPlayoff reads ⬇️ @coltonsulley.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/23dvhvh9 @joemussatto.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/p38srm9f @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/4u6pbxc2 Bold predictions: tinyurl.com/ma54699y 3⃣ reasons for OU/Bama: tinyurl.com/y3t9cj4b

Friday's Oklahoman sports & A1 covers: @coltonsulley.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/9x3es77z @joemussatto.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/49sy5vzb @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/5x4s4u94 @jdavis34.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/53ny6vxm #CFBPlayoff picks: tinyurl.com/3m3pstjh 📰: tinyurl.com/32wmmf46

Happy birthday to my co-worker and friend @joemussatto.bsky.social! Give him a HBD!

If you know me or have followed me on social for any amount of time, you know I don't root for any teams that I cover. Win? Lose? Draw? Whatever the outcome is fine with me. But I gotta tell you: The Thunder not making the Cup Finals? Totally OK. Means I can go to bed early tomorrow during CFP week.

Catching NFL games in between other things today, and I randomly caught Mahomes and Parsons get hurt. Now a Rams injury that looks bad. Might just need to watch Netflix.

I have no idea how it'll go, but I desperately want to see Phillip Rivers in action for the Colts.

You won't read a more lovely story today. It's a reminder that there's a place for everyone! Thanks to the Washington community for showing us and to @jacobunruh.bsky.social for telling us about it. www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...

This story took more than a year — NDAs kept folks here in OKC from talking — but it was worth the wait! Now the story of how Oklahoma City will host part of the 2028 Olympics can be told. www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...

Monday's Oklahoman Sports cover: @joemussatto.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/2pmurehp @jdavis34.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/mj7epun7 @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/bdh586mw ⚡: tinyurl.com/4bdau97w 🏈: tinyurl.com/yzyhvnf2 📰: tinyurl.com/32wmmf46

Got busy and forgot to post this sooner, but I had the honor of attending the memorial for legendary HS coach Clyde Ellis yesterday. What a legacy he left — and not just in the state titles he won. www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...

Softball in November? Heck, we do softball all year. Check out our high school All-State team and my look at the Spark's first official step in the AUSL, Monday night's draft.

Eric Morris checks a lot of boxes as Oklahoma State's next head football coach. But there's one box that I believe was not only critical for the Cowboys but also may be a must for every Power Four hire this cycle. www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...

In today’s edition of Mussatto’s Minutes: - Ben Arbuckle’s pens - Sooner turned Tiger Nic Anderson - Steve Lutz sticking to promise - Early NBA MVP ballot - OKC boxer vying for world title chance www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...

From feeling like the OU defense missed a big play ... to getting a big play. After the Powers' targeting negates a third-down stop, Johnson comes up with an INT. Feels like last week when the muffed fumble recovery came right before the pick six.

OU defense looked to go more prevent when Missouri got the ball with a little over 2 minutes left to half. Tigers have marched down to the Sooners' 3. Getting a stop here would be big for OU. Forcing a FG? Might get a stop the way OU is blocking FGs.

And now the OU offense is starting from its own 3. Oh boy.

End of the first quarter, OU defense is holding up fantastically; Missouri has only 78 yards. But the OU offense has -7 yards.

OU's offense did NOT get something going. Went backwards in fact. Yeesh. OU defense is gonna have to score. Or set up a score with a turnover.

Strong answer by the OU defense there. After giving up a big 20-yard run, the Sooners get three consecutive tackles for loss to force a Missouri punt. Now, the offense needs to get something going.

Crazy in that going on high alert in the first quarter seems a little wild. But you can already see how Missouri could tilt time of possession dramatically in its favor.

I know this will sound crazy, but the OU defense needs a quick stop here. And if the Sooners force a turnover? All the better for OU. Missouri is gonna shorten this game, and OU needs to be on high alert right now.

OU holds OU to a field goal that Peyton Bowen got a hand on. Found a way through anway. But here's the trick with Missouri: That drive took 8:23. Possessions will be at a minimum today. OU offense has to take every possession seriously.

Missouri already has 42 rushing yards this drive. OU only allows an average of 82.2 a game.

So far, it's death by a million papercuts for the OU defense. Missouri offense has no play longer than 8 yards and most are 3 or 4 yards. But the Tigers just keep moving the sticks.

Narrator: She was sorely disappointed.

OU-Missouri on deck here in Norman. In related news: If there's no flyover today, I will be SORELY disappointed. Military Appreciation Day. Good conditions. C'mon, flyover!

The OKC Spark now knows who will be available in the Dec 1 expansion draft — including one very familiar face to folks in Oklahoma. www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...

Honored to get to share the story of Emmanuel Rivera and The Come Up Foundation. Awesome to see what's being done in the lives of kids in Oklahoma City. www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...

If you need a softball fix — and who doesn't?!?! — the US Women's National Team's Food Drive Scrimmage is TONIGHT at Devon Park. Gates at 5 p.m., starts at 6 p.m. Bring a non-perishable food item. And here's some softball reading to tide you over: tinyurl.com/yc6fjn7j

Monday's Oklahoman Sports cover: #okstate: tinyurl.com/ywz9dpx9 @coltonsulley.bsky.social : tinyurl.com/44ta2nuz @scottwrightok.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/mr5z8z95 @jdavis34.bsky.social : tinyurl.com/ymvu26rr @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/4b43nvsm 📰: tinyurl.com/32wmmf46

Sunday's Oklahoman sports cover: @coltonsulley.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/j8k336c7 @scottwrightok.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/3rvnsfnj @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/mwu5nktr #Thunder: tinyurl.com/mu7rb4f @joemussatto.bsky.social : tinyurl.com/2spvjazt 📰: tinyurl.com/32wmmf46

Narrator: The offense would not.

OU defense rallies there. Forces a three-and-out. Will the offense do anything with it?

OU offense needs points this drive. Otherwise, the momentum could get away from the Sooners quickly.

That feels like a big momentum shift right there. Wein jumps the line and gets a finger on that field-goal attempt. OU was looking at being tied after being fairly impressive. Instead, Sooners up three at half. OU 17, Alabama 14.

The tight end? Always open. OU 17, Alabama 14.

Now OU with the answer. Hardy forced the fumble on the punt return, Omosigho recovered. Two plays later, Mateer dances his way into the end zone. OU 17, Alabama 7.

Alabama answers after the pick-six with a 12-play, 72-yard drive. OU 10, Alabama 7.

About the only thing the Sooners didn't do in the first quarter was score a TD on that first drive. But hard to argue with a 10-0 lead in Tuscaloosa at the end of the first quarter.

Oklahoma defense: 7 Oklahoma offense: 3 Alabama: 0

Eli Bowen makes good on this the very next play. 87-yard interception return for a touchdown. Wowza.

Bad decision there by McKinzie. Gotta fall on the ball.

Not sure what this trooper was doing. Seems like he went looking for this, walking directly into four players.

Friday's Oklahoman Sports cover: @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/4bmbtzwt @jdavis34.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/4s2nm8em @scottwrightok.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/54wd2jdr #Thunder: tinyurl.com/4jzvetua @coltonsulley.bsky.social : tinyurl.com/2e264p9x 📰: tinyurl.com/32wmmf46

The east side has dominated big-class high school football in Oklahoma for almost 30 years. But the last west-side champ was a juggernaut. Meet the 1995 Midwest City Bombers. www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...