OU-South Carolina Quick Hit: The Sooners falter again

The mindset all week was that OU was 4-2, not 2-4. Okay, how would the team react if many fans doubted what they brought to the table?

We studied on Saturday and it's not good. Not good at all. South Carolina came to Norman and ended this game early. The final result almost doesn't register at all (35-9) because it was over so early. No hope of OU coming back.

So now the question arises again: What's next for OU?

Some quick takeaways.

Over early

There's a saying that you can't lose a game in the first quarter. This Saturday? You definitely could. Before you could bat an eyelid, South Carolina was 21-0.

The very first play from scrimmage? interception by Michael Hawkins Jr. And things would only get worse from there.

Hawkins was sacked, fumbled and returned for a touchdown. Then Hawkins would throw a pick-six.

At this point all the energy in the stadium was gone. Jackson Arnold would take the lead from that point on.

To Arnold's credit, he made a courageous effort. We'll see where the QB spot goes from here.

Venables has some tough questions to answer

There is no other way to get around it. Head coach Brent Venables will be under close observation the rest of the way. Not just the coordinators, but also Venables.

Things like the quarterback decision are debatable. But the disaster of a wrong punt attempt in the second quarter is another example of just bad decisions in the game.

It didn't work. I'm not sure they'll ever turn things around in this regard. I try to find a spark and then the opposite happens.

Young people galore

We leave no stone unturned. OU has discovered names on offense and defense that not many fans even knew existed. Wide receiver Jacob Jordan provided a spark. Devon Jordan got a shot at the cornerback.

Many developers may be added in the next five games.

The second half of the schedule is here. Time to head to Oxford. OU (4-3, 1-3) travels to Ole Miss next Saturday at 11 a.m. The Rebels will be excited after losing a heartbreaker in overtime at LSU last week. Ole Miss had a bye week this weekend.