OU GameDay: Which Sooners Could Fly Under the Radar in the SEC Opener Against Auburn?

LB Kip Lewis

Oklahoma Sooners, Kip Lewi — Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Maybe it’s not fair to say the guy who beat both Alabama schools last year with interception returns for touchdowns — “Kip Six,” it’s called now — is under the radar. But away from the obvious game-winner on The Plains last year, we’re thinking about how players and coaches talked in the spring and fall camp in 2024, about how the Sooner defense was getting the best of the Sooner offense in practice. Now, of course, it’s obvious. But in the moment, the OU defense was way ahead of their offensive counterparts, in part, because they frequently took the football away in live scrimmage periods. Kip Lewis was one of the most frustrating of all of OU defenders for his ability to surprise people with his athleticism and explosion and his ability to make plays on the football. Jackson Arnold no doubt remembers those days all too well.

— John E. Hoover

S Peyton Bowen

Oklahoma Sooners, Peyton Bowe — Oklahoma safety Peyton Bowen makes a tackle against Illinois State. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Virtually every member of OU’s defense knows Jackson Arnold, but the Bowen brothers go even further back with the Auburn quarterback. They were high school teammates, and Peyton Bowen’s bond with Arnold was crucial in his recruitment. Oklahoma’s defense has yet to force a turnover this season, and it would be poetic for the first one of the year to come courtesy of a Bowen interception — especially after he posted the famous Kobe Bryant/Pau Gasol video to his Instagram story on Friday night. Bowen has been excellent so far in 2025, and he’s due for another game-changing play like the ones he regularly delivered as a freshman.

— Ryan Chapman

WR Ivan Carreon

Oklahoma Sooners, Ivan Carreo — Oklahoma receiver Ivan Carreon | SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oklahoma had receivers Keontez Lewis and Zion Kearney on the availability report this week, but even though the duo has been cleared for action on Saturday, sophomore wide receiver Ivan Carreon could be someone that the Sooners lean on. Carreon has played in all three games of 2025 thus far, but he has yet to record a catch. He nearly came down with a one-handed, highlight-reel catch in the third quarter of OU’s game against Temple, but the ball just slipped out of his left hand. Carreon led OU in receiving in the 2024 Armed Forces Bowl, finishing the game with 72 yards. Carreon is listed at 6-6 and 224 pounds. His size gives John Mateer and the Sooners another sizable weapon in addition to tight end Jaren Kanak. With speedy guys like Deion Burks and Isaiah Sategna and bigger guys like Kanak and Carreon could diversify OU’s offense against a strong Auburn defense.

— Carson Field

OG Eddy Pierre-Louis

Oklahoma Sooners, Eddy Pierre-Louis — Oklahoma offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis | Ryan Chapman / Sooners on SI

With the Sooners' offensive line suffering a rash of injuries that has a handful of players expected to play significant roles this season on the shelf or questionable Saturday, OU will need to dip into its depth. Even with Jake Maikkula set to go at center, the Sooners must be ready to shuffle some things around inside. That could include a bigger role for Pierre-Louis, the sophomore who battled for a starting spot before the season. Pierre-Louis started the opener at left guard but Heath Ozaeta started the last two. This could be where EPL gets another chance to shine.

— Ryan Aber

DE Marvin Jones Jr.

Oklahoma Sooners, Marvin Jones Jr — Oklahoma's Marvin Jones Jr. (97) celebrates a missed field goal against Michigan. | SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Defensive end Marvin Jones Jr. appeared on this week’s availability report, but he’s set to participate on Saturday. In the event Jones Jr. is available, his role will be expanded with the first half suspension of edge rusher R Mason Thomas. In three games, Jones Jr. has been impressive for the Oklahoma defense. But for at least a single half, he will be looked upon to help stop the Auburn Tigers’ offensive attack and make Jackson Arnold's day miserable. But that's been a role he's struggled with in the past. As a former five-star recruit, Jones Jr. entered college with high expectations, most he was unable to meet. This led to his career as a journeyman playing for Georgia and Florida State before ending up in Norman. If the Sooner edge rusher can maintain his steady play while Thomas watches from the sideline, the Tigers will likely be playing a style they don't want — having Arnold throw downfield.

— Brady Trantham

Published Sep 20, 2025

RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is co-publisher at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK.

Follow _RyanChapman

BRADY TRANTHAM

Brady Trantham covered the Oklahoma City Thunder as the lead Thunder Insider from 2018 until 2021 for 107.7 The Franchise. During that time, Trantham also helped the station as a fill-in guest personality and co-hosted Oklahoma Sooner postgame shows. Trantham also covered the Thunder for the Norman Transcript and The Oklahoman on a freelance basis. He received his BA in history from the University of Oklahoma in 2014 and a BS in Sports Casting from Full Sail University in 2023. Trantham also founded and hosts the “Through the Keyhole” podcast, covering Oklahoma Sooners football. He was born in Oklahoma and raised as an Air Force brat all over the world before returning to Norman and setting down roots there.

CARSON FIELD

Carson Field has worked full-time in the sports media industry since 2020 in Colorado, Texas and Wyoming as well as nationally, and he has earned degrees from Arizona State University and Texas A&M University. When he isn’t covering the Sooners, he’s likely golfing, fishing or doing something else outdoors. Twitter: https://x.com/carsondfield

Follow carsondfield

JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

Follow johnehoover

RYAN ABER

Ryan Aber has been covering Oklahoma football for more than a decade continuously and since 1999 overall. Ryan was the OU beat writer for The Oklahoman from 2013-2025, covering the transition from Bob Stoops to Lincoln Riley to Brent Venables. He covered OU men's basketball's run to the Final Four in 2016 and numerous national championships for the Sooners' women's gymnastics and softball programs. Prior to taking on the Sooners beat, Ryan covered high schools, the Oklahoma City RedHawks and Oklahoma City Barons for the newspaper from 2006-13. He spent two seasons covering Arkansas football for the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas before returning to his hometown of Oklahoma City. Ryan also worked at the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the Muskogee Phoenix. At the Phoenix, he covered OU's national championship run in 2000. Ryan is a graduate of Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

Home/Football

LB Kip Lewis

S Peyton Bowen

Read More Oklahoma vs. Auburn

WR Ivan Carreon

OG Eddy Pierre-Louis

DE Marvin Jones Jr.