No. 13 Oklahoma Faces No. 8 Ole Miss in High-Stakes SEC Football Clash

No. 13 Oklahoma and No. 8 Ole Miss meet Saturday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (11 a.m. CT) in a soggy, high-stakes matchup where equipment crews will be working to keep footballs dry; OU listed Jovantae Barnes and Gentry Williams out, Logan Howland available, and true freshman Ryan Fodje is expected to start at right tackle. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has publicly bristled at the SEC’s decision to pair Ole Miss and Oklahoma as annual opponents under the new nine‑game schedule, calling the matchup “really disappointing.” The Rebels have slid defensively from last season after losing key NFL draftees, dropping near the bottom nationally in tackles for loss, sacks and rushing yards allowed, even as defensive coordinator Pete Golding seeks more consistency. Still, Ole Miss has had bright spots — notably holding LSU to 57 rushing yards in a 24-19 win — and the program is openly competing for a College Football Playoff berth. For Oklahoma, the game is both a measuring stick and an opportunity: the Sooners say they’re SEC‑ready, fans have packed Memorial Stadium, and beating a ranked Ole Miss would cement their standing in the conference race.