3 Oklahoma Sooners defensive keys against the Missouri Tigers

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3 Oklahoma Sooners defensive keys against the Missouri Tigers

The Oklahoma Sooners have been leaning heavily on their defense this season, and that won’t change on Saturday. OU faces the Missouri Tigers in a must-win game for the Sooners if they want to stay on track to make the College Football Playoff. 

Despite an offense that hasn’t looked completely right since John Mateer hurt his thumb, Oklahoma has lost just twice through ten games, and Brent Venables’ defense has been the main catalyst as to why. 

Mizzou brings another challenge, as their starting quarterback situation is up in the air. Beau Pribula dislocated his ankle earlier this season against Vanderbilt, but he could make his return versus OU after missing just two starts. If the Tigers determine Pribula can’t go, true freshman Matt Zollers would make his third career start on Saturday. 

Regardless of which QB plays, the Sooners will once again need to prove their aggressive nature on defense. They’ve struggled against the pass over the last few games, but they’ve been able to lock in in the second half. 

Here are three keys for OU’s defense against Mizzou’s offense. 

1. Contain Ahmad Hardy

Nov 15, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama running back Daniel Hill (4) catches a pass in front of Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy is the engine that makes the Tigers go on offense, much like Mateer is for the Sooners. Hardy ran for over 300 yards last week in a win over Mississippi State, and if he runs wild again this week, Oklahoma will suffer the same fate. Hardy is the best running back the Sooners have seen so far this year, and keeping him under wraps is job one for Venables and his defense this week. 

2. Continue to force turnovers

Nov 15, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Oklahoma defensive back Jaydan Hardy (1) celebrates at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Oklahoma defeated Alabama 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

For most of the year, the Sooners couldn’t take the ball away from their opponents, especially in critical situations. Over the last two games, however, that hasn’t been the case, and OU winning the turnover battle has played heavily into the outcome of the game. Whether the Sooners see Pribula or Zollers on Saturday, they’ll need to continue to confuse the quarterback and turn up the heat to force giveaways and mistakes. 

3. Nothing Easy

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 15: Devon Jordan #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners sacks Ty Simpson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Oklahoma is under a lot more pressure in this matchup than Missouri is. The Tigers are ranked inside the CFP committee’s top 25, but they won’t make the playoff, even if they win out. That means that Mizzou is trying to play spoiler, and they’re going to pull out all the stops, since they have less on the line. OU has been really good about making their opponents work for the points they get, and that needs to continue. The Sooners can’t count on always getting help from the offense, and they can’t afford to give up anything easy or anything over the top that can shift this game in Missouri’s favor. 

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 keys on defense for the Sooners versus the Tigers

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