Live Updates From No. 14 Oklahoma’s First Trip to South Carolina

COLUMBIA, SC — Sooners on SI offers real-time observations from Williams-Brice Stadium throughout Saturday’s matchup between No. 14 Oklahoma and the South Carolina Gamecocks. Just keep your browser open and refresh often.

Third Quarter Stats

1:55 Third Quarter

Wow that's a poor targeting call on Reggie Powers. Hit him in the shoulder with his shoulder. No contact with the helmet. Ridiculous call. They'll fix the targeting, but there's no reason to throw that flag.

Replay did show no penalty, no targeting, play on.

Gamecocks fail again on third down — now 0-for-10 — and it’s another South Carolina punt.

— Hoover

4:23 Third Quarter

Beamer Ball did not work there.

South Carolina tried a fake punt on fourth-and-2, but Taylor Wein picked it off.

Wein also made sure Sellers wasn’t able to release free behind OU’s defense on the attempted trick play a few snaps ago.

The redshirt sophomore is aging like a fine Wein… Alright, I’ll stop.

— Chapman

4:16 Third Quarter

Gamecocks now 0/9 on third down today. Great pressure on Sellers there by ... everyone.

And on fourth down, the fake punt is a pass that’s intercepted by Taylor Wein — Oklahoma’s first takeaway of the day.

— Hoover

6:01 Third Quarter

Tate Sandell absolutely nails a 55-yard field goal. He now has three makes of more than 50 yards on the year, and OU is up 17-7.

— Chapman

8:19 Third Quarter

Oklahoma’s defense has come out firing here in the second half.

David Stone pressured Sellers on third down to ensure the South Carolina quarterback couldn’t deliver a big completion.

Now the Sooners will take over near midfield with another chance to go back up two scores.

— Chapman

9:42 Third Quarter

Oklahoma's defense has EIGHT tackles for loss so far today.

South Carolina's has ZERO.

— Hoover

10:23 Third Quarter

Whitt Newbauer in at QB for Oklahoma. Mateer got his helmet ripped off (not called). Handoff, and here comes Mateer.

But on third down, Sategna drops an easy catch for a first down and Grayson Miller comes in to punt it — and sticks it at the South Carolina 3-yard line.

— Hoover

13:23 Third Quarter

After that OU stop, South Carolina is now 0/7 on third downs today. Beamer wisely punts this one away.

— Hoover

13:23 Third Quarter

A good number of South Carolina fans hit the exit at halftime to walk over to the State Fair that’s set up on the north side of the stadium.

The ones who did stay were not inspired by that first three-and-out of the second half.

— Chapman

Halftime Stats

Halftime

What a play by the Oklahoma defense! The Sooners managed to lay on the pile long enough to prevent South Carolina from spiking the football to try and attempt a field goal.

Shane Beamer is hot, but the Sooners are already in the locker room. Huge moment.

— Chapman

0:00 Second Quarter

Shane Beamer ran the risk of getting tackled in bounds with no timeouts, and Hunt didn't get the first down, so with no timeouts and the clock not stopping, it's a wasted opportunity for South Carolina. Good defensive finish for the Sooners.

— Hoover

0:47 Second Quarter

Shane Beamer calls timeout with 47 seconds thinking the Gamecocks can get the ball back with one timeout. He’s right as Mateer scrambles and throws high and incomplete — the catch would have been well short of a first down.

SC ball, with the nation’s most dangerous punt return man deep.

Swain takes it from the 16 to the SC 48, and the Gamecocks take over with 27 seconds left with one timeout.

More bad football at an inopportune time for OU.

— Hoover

1:43 Second Quarter

South Carolina’s second effort at fourth-and-goal is successful.

Sellers connects with Nyck Harbor, and the Sooners will get the ball back up 14-7 with one last chance to put points on the board before halftime.

South Carolina will get the opening kickoff to start the third quarter.

— Chapman

1:44 Second Quarter

Two pass interference penalties on the OU secondary put the Gamecocks with a first and goal at the OU 2-yard line.

— Hoover

3:25 Second Quarter

Kobie McKinzie, Damonic Williams, P.J. Adebawore and Jayden Jackson rise up on a third-and-2, but then Sellers jukes Adebawore on fourth down and looks like he scooted out of bounds for a first down — but the official notes that he’s short of the first down and will review the replay.

Review shows he got the first down. Oklahoma looking to get a stop of some kind here, especially since South Carolina gets the ball to start the second half.

— Hoover

5:05 Second Quarter

Oklahoma has had two personal foul penalties in their last four plays (30 yards) and a shocking bad punt by Grayson Miller out of bounds and South Carolina sets up at the OU 25. Bad football resurfacing for the Sooners.

— Hoover

7:46 Second Quarter

Back-to-back sacks by Damonic Williams and Gracen Halton force a give-up screen pass on third-and-26, and the South Carolina fans appear to have grown restless.

— Hoover

9:21 Second Quarter

Against Auburn (32 yards rushing, 1.2 yards per carry) and Texas (48 yards rushing, 1.4 yards per carry), the Oklahoma offense ran for just 80 total yards.

In 21 minutes against South Carolina today, the Sooners have 126 yards rushing (7.9 yards per carry).

— Hoover

9:21 Second Quarter

X-Rob bobbles the handoff, catches it and slips four defenders to finish a 10-yard touchdown run. #Sooners lead South Carolina 14-0, 9:21 second quarter.

— Hoover

9:21 Second Quarter

The Sooners are over 100 yards rushing in SEC play for the first time this year… with nearly 10 minutes left until halftime.

The 1-2 punch of Blaylock and Robinson is getting it done early — a fantastic sign for OU. Will help open up the potential for some massive plays downfield later on.

— Chapman

10:55 Second Quarter

Give it up to Blaylock for bouncing back and to Xavier Robinson for staying ready on that 25-yard burst.

But wow, this offensive line doesn’t even look like the same unit we’ve seen.

Ben Arbuckle seems to be calling the same plays, but I can’t emphasize this enough: OU’s o-line is firing off and smashing people.

— Hoover

10:48 Second Quarter

As things stop for another South Carolina injury timeout, there’s a noticeable difference in sideline energy levels.

OU’s offense is feeling itself after popping a few runs, while the Gamecocks look dead despite only being down a touchdown (for now).

— Chpaman

12:35 First Quarter

Nice Mateer-to-Sategna pickup of 10 yards on third-and-7.

Dylan Stewart heading out of the game again. I was thinking they were gonna try him as a third-down situational specialist, but he appears to be really hurting. And he’s turning around saying something to the OU offense as he leaves the field.

— Hoover

12:51 Second Quarter

Gentry Williams just came running out of Oklahoma's locker room and back to the sideline.

He ducked straight into the injury tent and found his helmet.

Certainly has the energy of a guy who is cleared to return. We shall see.

— Chapman

12:51 Second Quarter

Dylan Stewart is back for the South Carolina defense on third-and-7.

But Oklahoma calls timeout.

And at the same moment, Chris Plank reports from the OU sideline that Gentry Williams is out of the locker room and appears to be trying to get ready to play on the Sooners’ next defensive possession.

— Hoover

13:37 Second Quarter

Javonnie Gibson is taking over for Keontez Lewis as Mateer’s trusted target on third down. Good to see Gibson getting involved early.

— Chapman

14:53 Second Quarter

Perfectly played snap by Taylor Wein forces a South Carolina punt near midfield.

More groans from the South Carolina fans. They are not impressed with the playcalling for the Gamecocks’ offense.

— Chapman

FIRST QUARTER STATS

0:38 First Quarter

Not sure how you get a delay of game penalty there just switching the punt team for the offense. Then a false start by the Sooners. Vicari Swain back to return the punt. Maybe just giving Grayson Miller a chance to knock a 70-yard punt?

It’s a short punt and a 19-yard return by Swain, and SC takes over at the OU 48.

Brutal. Venables probably should have just gone for it on fourth-and-1.

— Hoover

0:37 First Quarter

No Vicari Swain to return this first punt. Sounds like he suffered an injury in practice this week that will keep him off special teams per a pregame report by the OU radio broadcast.

— Chapman

2:28 First Quarter

More hard running by Blaylock (and good blocking by the o-line) as OU successfully gets off the goal line.

Meanwhile, the SEC Network broadcast shows South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart working on a stationary bike on the sideline.

— Hoover

4:40 First Quarter

Kendal Daniels had a nice hit on Faison earlier, and this time he knifed through the line and dropped him for a 3-yard loss on third down.

Then Shane Beamer goes for it on fourth-and-goal from the 5, and LaNorris Sellers is taken down short of the goal line. Tremendous stop. Gracen Halton got immediate penetration to send Seller scrambling, and David Stone and Taylor Wein converged on him to make sure he didn’t get the goal line.

— Hoover

4:40 First Quarter

After getting gashed for 38 yards on fourth-and-1, OU’s defense stands tall in the red zone.

Great plays by Jayden Jackson and Kendal Daniels forced the Gamecocks into a decision on fourth-and-goal.

They went for it, but LaNorris Sellers was unable to break through the middle of OU’s defensive line for a touchdown.

The Sooners will take over on their own 3-yard line.

— Chapman

6:50 First Quarter

Chris Plank says the OU medical team is taking Gentry Williams back to the locker room (or possibly the X-ray facility).

Each defense appears to be down one starter after one possession each.

— Hoover

6:50 First Quarter

Gentry Williams appears to have injured his left hand or wrist on the touchdown-saving tackle on Rahul Faison’s 38-yard run, although sideline reporter Gabe Ikard indicated the medical team tending to Williams on the field might be looking at his oft-injured shoulder.

— Hoover

6:50 First Quarter

Oklahoma’s training staff held Gentry Williams’ left forearm firmly in place and he was taken straight to the injury tent.

Hope it’s not another shoulder issue.

— Chapman

9:42 First Quarter

Oklahoma’s starters on defense:

Jones Jr. - Stone - D. Williams - Thomas

Daniels - McKinzie - Kip Lewis

E. Bowen - P. Bowen - Spears-Jennings - G. Williams

— Chapman

9:42 First Quarter

Potential game-changing development: South Carolina DE Dylan Stewart went down early in the drive and the TV broadcast just showed him being taken to the locker room.

— Hoover

9:42 First Quarter

In addition to the rushing efficiency that drive, Mateer was 4-for-5 for 35 yards passing, with Javonnie Gibson leading the way with two receptions (8 yards) and catches by Kanak and Burks.

— Hoover

9:42 First Quarter

Oklahoma rushed for 32 yards against Auburn and 48 yards against Texas.

Tory Blaylock carried the ball four times for 45 yards on the first drive alone, and Mateer added another five on the ground.

The Sooners also got nice contributions from Kaden Helms and a good Carson Kent block on that first drive.

Improvement!

— Chapman

9:42 First Quarter

Tory Blaylock is smashing into the South Carolina defense for big gains, including an 18-yard touchdown on a bounce up the left sideline. Blaylock with 4 rushes for 45 yards. Impressive.

This Oklahoma offensive line is simply exploding off the football on these running plays — almost like there’s no RPO element at all. That’s the one thing that’s been missing this season.

Sooners lead 7-0 after a 75-yard touchdown drive.

— Hoover

12:00 First Quarter

Great blocking by Michael Fasusi and Heath Ozaeta to open a hole for Tory Blaylock to pick up 18 on second-and-20, and Deion Burks snags a short throw on a slant to pick up the first down. That’s the kind of simple execution that was missing last week.

Mateer throw to Kanak over the middle for 16 yards and the Sooners are already at the Gamecocks’ 35.

— Hoover

15:00 First Quarter

Oklahoma’s starters on offense

Fasusi - Ozaeta - Maikkula - Nwaiwu - Simmons

Gibson - Kanak - Burks - Sategna

Mateer - Blaylock

— Chapman

2 minutes until kickoff

South Carolina won the toss. The Gamecocks defer. John Mateer time.

— Chapman

35 minutes until kickoff

Chris Plank said on the Oklahoma pregame radio show that South Carolina punt return savant Vicari Swain (3 TDs this year) is dealing with a hand injury and might not catch punts today, per SC radio. Plank said he was giving it a try in pregame warmups, so we'll see.

— Hoover

41 minutes until kickoff

Derek Simmons is warming up with the starters at right tackle.

Same group that started the Texas game (Fasusi, Ozaeta, Maikkula, Nwaiwu and Simmons) getting ready to roll.

— Chapman

43 minutes until kickoff

It does not appear that Jovantae Barnes or Kendel Dolby made the trip.

I do not think we will see either of them the rest of the year for the Sooners.

— Chapman

47 minutes until kickoff

Offensive tackle Logan Howland made the trip, which is a good sign, despite getting ruled out of this game.

— Chapman

75 minutes until kickoff

Oklahoma’s final availability report of the week is in.

No real shocks. Offensive linemen Troy Everett, Logan Howland, Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor are out. Tight end Kade McIntyre will miss the contest, as will running back Jovantae Barnes, receiver Keontez Lewis and defensive back Kendel Dolby.

John Mateer is warming up with the splint on his thumb again.

Students are starting to roll into Williams-Brice Stadium, but the atmosphere around campus this morning was lacking. I’m sure that will change by kickoff.

— Chapman