Live Updates From No. 5 Oklahoma vs. Kent State

Ryan Chapman and John Hoover offer their real-time observations from No. 5 Oklahoma's non-conference finale against the Kent State Golden Flashes.

Oklahoma running back Jaydn Ott | NATE BILLINGS/FOR THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

NORMAN — Sooners on SI offers real-time observations from Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium as the No. 5-ranked Sooners close non-conference play against the Kent State Golden Flashes. Just refresh the page for updates as the game progresses. 

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5:52 p.m.

Whitt Newbauer is the quarterback. Michael Hawkins’ day is done. Newbauer is a transfer from Mercer, a tall QB (6-6, 231) with a big arm. Will be interesting to see what Ben Arbuckle asks him to do the fourth quarter. He just took off on a draw and ran over a Kent State defender. Looked like Blake Bell. Almost.

— Hoover

5:40 p.m.

Third-quarter stats:

5:26 p.m.

When it rains, it pours. 

Jaydan Hardy gets the Sooners’ second takeaway of the day. A nice interception that ends with a defense-wide celebration in the north end zone. 

— Chapman 

5:20 p.m.

Hawkins on a delay keeper goes untouched into the end zone. Jaren Kanak with the pull block across the formation to seal the linebacker and it’s 37-0.

— Hoover

5:12 p.m.

From Mike Houck:

"An initial evaluation of Keontez Lewis by OU’s sports medicine staff proved promising. Out of an abundance of caution, he is being sent offsite for additional testing."

— Hoover

5:08 p.m.

Toby Rowland just read a statement on air from OU publicist Mike Houck that offered a lot of optimism about WR Keontez Lewis’ injury. He said Lewis was taken off site (i.e. a local hospital) as a precaution.

As reported earlier, Chris Plank said Lewis was walking around in the OU training room and said X-rays were negative.

#Sooners Keontez Lewis' initial evaluation "proved promising," OU announces. Being sent off-site for additional testing

— Ryan Aber (@ryaber) October 4, 2025

— Hoover

5:08 p.m.

Oklahoma’s first turnover of the year comes via a strip sack by R Mason Thomas. 

Gracen Halton picked the bouncing ball up and returned it for a touchdown. Emphatic way to break the streak. The Sooners entered Week 6 as the only defense in the FBS that hadn’t yet forced a turnover. 

The Sooners are up 30-0 with 10:17 left in the third quarter. 

— Chapman 

5:04 pm.

That’s three straight off-platform throws by Hawkins, and three straight incompletions. He might want to try to either settle in the pocket a little longer or just let it fly and try to make something happen with his legs.

— Hoover

4:45 p.m.

According to OU sideline reporter Chris Plank, Keontez Lewis is up and walking around at halftime of the Sooners' game with Kent State.

X-rays didn't reveal any fractures after Lewis ran into the wall in the north end zone on the Sooners' opening drive.

— Hoover

4:35 p.m.

Halftime stats:

4:31 p.m.

Tate Sandell nails a 55-yard field goal. 

He’ll be a weapon next week. Sooners on top 23-0 with 56 seconds left until halftime. 

That kick was tied for the seventh-longest field goal in program history. Gabe Brkic hit the other 55-yarder against Tulane on Sept. 4, 2021.

— Chapman

4:25 p.m.

Hawkins has done a really nice job settling down after a shaky first couple of passes. 

He’s completed his last nine passes, including a pair of really nice connections to Isaiah Sategna to get this drive near midfield. 

The second completion to Sategna was outstanding. He kept his eyes downfield and changed his arm angle to get the ball out. 

— Chapman 

4:20 p.m.

The Sooners got off the field without allowing points, but Venables quickly relayed some tweaks to safeties coach Brandon Hall and inside linebackers coach Nate Dreiling to tighten things up on the back end. 

Venables also pulled R Mason Thomas aside. He’ll take the stop, but Venables clearly was annoyed by a few of the plays the OU defense gave up on that drive. 

— Chapman 

4:10 p.m.

Hawkins’ swing pass to Ott down the right sideline featured a stiffer of a defender to the ground, and a 360-spin out of another tackle. 

Tory Blaylock is still RB1, but Ott definitely looks good in this second quarter. Maybe he just needed to get healthy after all.

— Hoover

4:08 p.m.

Officials are reviewing that quick throw to Ott. He broke a couple tackles and one he hit the file, it appeared his teammates actually lifted him up in the air and carried him for a first down.

But then replay shows his knee was down when he caught the ball. That’s a 4-yard loss instead of a 12-yard gain.

Third and long coming up for the Sooners.

— Hoover

4:04 p.m.

After a 6-yard completion from Hawkins to Deion Burks, Jaydn Ott slams a toss sweep into the defense for 10 yards, then adds a 12-yard burst as Sooner Nation rises to their feet. That’s 22 yards on two carries. Before today, he had just 17 total rushing yards.

— Hoover

4:04 p.m.

Jaydn Ott got a nice cheer from the OU fans after his name was announced for picking up the first down. 

Time for the Cal transfer to finally get rolling?

— Chapman 

4:02 p.m.

Danny Okoye just got his first career sack, dropping Kargman for a loss of 8. The Tulsa product blew past the right tackle and wrapped up Kargman, then got up and stomped to the fans in celebration. Nice moment for the redshirt freshman.

— Hoover

Hello, @itsdanielokoye 😤 pic.twitter.com/8wDG3G6ce5

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 4, 2025

4:02 p.m.

Danny Okoye gets a sack to pin Kent State into fourth-and-18 from its own 17. 

We’ll always remember that first down the Golden Flashes started the game with. 

— Chapman 

3:57 p.m.

Welcome back, Kaden Helms! 

He catches a 3-yard touchdown to put the Sooners up 17-0 32 seconds into the second quarter. 

Helms made his 2025 debut on the first play out of the timeout to block. He then slipped through for a touchdown grab. Arbuckle set that up with the first playcall. If Blaylock carried the ball for a touchdown, great. If not, he could come back with the easy play call for Helms, who is back from his broken hand.

— Chapman 

3:54 p.m.

The OU fans obviously loved the scoreboard update with Texas behind in the Swamp. Lots of cheers and a good amount of Gator Chomping from the student section. 

— Chapman

3:53 p.m.

First quarter stats:

3:45 p.m.

Gentry Williams is in for Courtland Guillory to start the third defensive series. 

Eli Bowen flipped sides of the field. Wonder if Venables and Jay Valai are going to throw Bowen out there for most of the first half to help him work his way back into peak football shape after so much missed time. 

— Chapman 

3:42 p.m.

Pretty rough series for Hawkins. 

First, he feeds a hospital ball to Javonnie Gibson, then he misses an open Ivan Carreon, which is hard to do. 

He needs to settle in. Everything looks like it's coming off his arm at 100 miles per hour.

— Chapman 

3:41 p.m.

Hawkins shows one of his gifts on a 27-yard read-option keeper. Fast, explosive, decisive and finished the run strong. 

His throws seem just a little off so far, however, as he sails another high one to the 6-foot-6 Ivan Carreon. Adrenaline can be a tough thing for young QBs to contain.

Hawkins sacked on third down to end the possession. Sandell then bangs in a 49-yard FG to put OU up 10-0.

— Hoover

3:41 p.m.

Hawkins shows one of his gifts on a 27-yard read-option keeper. Fast, explosive, decisive and finished the run strong. 

His throws seem just a little off so far, however, as he sails another high one to the 6-foot-6 Ivan Carreon. Adrenaline can be a tough thing for young QBs to contain.

Hawkins sacked on third down to end the possession.

— Hoover

3:40 p.m.

Javonnie Gibson, replacing Keontez Lewis, elevates to snag a high throw from Hawkins — his first catch as a Sooner. Took a shot to the ribs but seems OK.

— Hoover

Javonnie Gibson gets up and holds on for his first Oklahoma reception.#BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/99onzhgdp7

— Sooner Gridiron (@ouvstheworld) October 4, 2025

3:36 p.m.

Jacob Jordan gets flagged for a holding penalty on another big return by Sategna. That would have been a near-50-yard runback. Questionable call.

— Hoover

3:34 p.m.

The defense rotated most members of the front seven out for the second drive, but stuck with the same unit in the secondary. 

OU forced a quick punt. 

— Chapman 

3:33 p.m.

So that’s a 43-yard punt return and a 30-yard touchdown pass by Isaiah Satenga. That’s a pretty solid start.

— Hoover

3️⃣ » 5️⃣@mikehawkinsj x @isaiahsategna1

📺 SECN pic.twitter.com/Z3memrjlER

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 4, 2025

3:31 p.m.

The extra point got complicated after a hands to the face penalty, but the Sooners lead 7-0 courtesy of a 30-yard connection between Hawkins and Sategna. 

Just a jump ball that Sategna pulled down after he was open behind the Kent State defense. 

— Chapman 

3:30 p.m.

What a play by Hawkins. Had two Kent State defenders on him and saw Isaiah Sategna open past three defenders. Sategna elevates to catch it as the defense closes on him and Oklahoma leads it 6-0.

I’ll just say it: that throw would be ill-advised next week in Dallas.

— Hoover

3:28 p.m.

Hard to return back to action after that, but it was Javonnie Gibson who came onto the field for Keontez Lewis. 

— Chapman 

3:27 p.m.

The entire OU team just ran into the north end zone as Keontez Lewis was loaded onto the medical cart. The cart is now headed off the field, probably to the ambulance in the south part of the stadium.

— Hoover

3:25 p.m.

As the game in Norman has halted to tend to Keontez Lewis’ injury, Florida holds a 10-0 lead over Texas with 12 minutes to go until halftime, but the Gators just coughed up a fumble.

— Hoover

3:20 p.m.

As the OU medical team runs out a backboard to carry Keontez Lewis off the field, Lewis does appear to be moving his arms and legs on his own power. Now Brent Venables is standing over Lewis as he’s boarded up. A medical cart is en route to pick up Lewis as Miguel Chavis leads the team in what looks like a prayer.

— Hoover

3:19 p.m.

They’re bringing a stretcher out for Lewis.

Total silence inside the stadium right now. 

— Chapman

3:16 p.m.

Keontez Lewis just smashed into wall past the north end zone, face/helmet and left shoulder first. Ouch.

He was trying to catch a deep post throw from Michael Hawkins and it appeared he may have gotten tripped up and was unable to slow himself down. Hawkins' throw was a bit overthrown, and he just never slowed down until he hit the wall.

Lewis has been a regular starter and big-time contributor so far this season, ranking fourth on the team with 17 receptions for 210 yards and is tied for the team lead with two touchowns.

— Hoover

3:13 p.m.

Probably a smart decision for Kent State to start backup Devin Kargman at quarterback instead of usual starter Dru DeShields. Against this defensive line, it looks like whoever takes snaps for the Flashes is going to take a beating today. Like Illinois State did, they’ll sacrifice their backup and hope to keep the starter healthy for later rewards.

— Hoover

3:12 p.m.

Oklahoma’s starters on offense:

Fasusi - Ozaeta - Maikkula - Nwaiwu - Simmons

Burks - Kanak - Sategna - Keontez Lewis

Hawkins Jr. - Blaylock 

— Chapman 

3:09 p.m.

David Stone gets the start at d-tackle, and boy, what a start for Stone. A sack on the Flashes’ second offensive play, then a tackle for loss following their first down. 

Had a feeling he would have a big game. He’s been trending up every week it seems. 

— Hoover

3:06 p.m.

Oklahoma’s starters on defense:

Thomas - Stone - Dam. Williams - Jones Jr.

Daniels - Kip Lewis - Kobie McKinzie 

Guillory - Spears-Jennings - P. Bowen - Eli Bowen

— Chapman 

3:02 p.m.

Oklahoma won the toss and deferred to the second half. Kent State will take the ball first. 

— Chapman 

2:23 p.m.

Per the warmups, Oklahoma will finally be back to its preferred starting offensive line. 

From left to right: Fasusi-Ozaeta-Maikkula-Nwaiwu-Simmons.

— Chapman

2:20 p.m.

Tight end Kaden Helms doesn’t appear to have a cast on his hand as he goes through warmups, either. It would be good news for Helms and Tatum to be able to give it a go today.

— Chapman 

2:18 p.m.

Looks like Jayden Jackson and Damonic Williams will not participate today. 

They are dressed out, but not warming up. 

Jake Taylor and Jacob Sexton are both out as well. 

Taylor Tatum is warming up, however. That would be a first for him this year. 

— Chapman 

2:09 p.m.

John Mateer has his jersey on… but there will be no drama. He lightly trotted down the tunnel and immediately went to stand by Joe Jon Finley as the offense started to warm up. 

Javonnie Gibson is stretching out and bouncing all over the place. Obviously ready to get his OU career going. 

— Chapman 

1:21 p.m.

Today is for the Michael Hawkins show, but OU quarterback John Mateer did have a decent-sized brace on his right hand when the team arrived at the Walk of Champions.

Important to remember that this is the same coaching staff that ran Dillon Gabriel through the entire warmup against Texas to try and deceive. So we'll just wait until next Saturday before passing any big judgments on Mateer's availability in the Red River Shootout.

— Chapman