The Oklahoma Sooners are coming off a major win over the then-No. 1 Texas Longhorns in the 122nd edition of the Red River Rivalry. The Sooners won the game on a field goal as time expired, 27-24.
However, despite the win, Oklahoma is still unranked and sits at 3-2. The season still has a long way to go, starting with a huge game in Norman on Saturday against the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky is led by new head coach Will Stein. He has the team off to a 5-1 start and is fresh off an upset of the then-No. 10 LSU Tigers.
Quarterback John Mateer said the Sooners are not overlooking Kentucky heading into Saturday's matchup.
"They're really good all around," Mateer said via Sooners Illustrated. "They are scoring a lot of points. I mean, they're
good. It's a good team, good quarterback, good head coach. We're excited."
That matchup with Kentucky gives Oklahoma an immediate opportunity to show that its upset of Texas was more than a one-week breakthrough. The Wildcats have built momentum of their own, making Saturday's game an important test for a Sooners team looking to climb back into the rankings and keep its postseason goals within reach. Playing at home in Norman for the first time in four weeks should give Oklahoma an added boost, but it will need to bring the same intensity and discipline that fueled the win over the Longhorns.
For Mateer and the offense, the focus will be on carrying Dallas' late-game execution into a more complete performance. If Oklahoma can protect the football, sustain drives and continue getting timely contributions from its defense and special teams, it will have a chance to turn its biggest win of the season into the beginning of a winning streak. The Sooners have taken a step forward; now they have to prove they can keep moving in the right direction.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's John Mateer impressed by Kentucky ahead of Saturday's game
