SOONER WIRE - The Oklahoma Sooners head into Saturday’s game against Kent State in an unusual position. They’ll be starting their backup quarterback but are still considered a heavy favorite. That’s because the Sooners are a good football team, ranked No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 5 in the AP Top 25. They have one of the best defenses in football and an offense that is maybe the healthiest it’s been since 2023.

Unlike last season when Michael Hawkins Jr. started for the Sooners, the depth chart is intact on the offensive side of the ball, in particular at wide receiver. Hawkins will have all of Oklahoma’s top wide receivers available, with Javonnie Gibson expected to make his debut after missing fall camp. That’s a far cry from 2024, when Hawkins entered the starting lineup with OU missing their top five wide receivers and playing behind an offensive line that had been through countless configurations.

All of that sets the stage for what should be an explosive afternoon for the Sooners’ offense against one of the worst defenses in college football.

Oklahoma and Kent State have met just once before, with the Sooners winning a 33-3 game in Norman back in 2022. The two programs do not currently have another game scheduled in the future. OU learned last week who every single team on their schedule is for the next four seasons, with the exception of one nonconference game in 2029.

Through four games to start this year, Oklahoma is playing excellent football defensively. Fourth-year head coach Brent Venables has that side of the ball playing downhill and believing in themselves, as evidenced by a school-record 10 sacks last time out against Auburn and ex-OU quarterback Jackson Arnold.

With the Sooners playing without starting quarterback John Mateer in the wake of his hand surgery last week, and handing the keys to the offense to backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. until Mateer is healthy enough to return, it’ll be paramount that Oklahoma’s defense stays in a rhythm with the Texas game looming in two weeks. OU shouldn’t have much trouble against the Golden Flashes, but there’s a reason they play the games on Saturdays.

Here are three defensive keys to the game for Oklahoma in their matchup with Kent State.

1. Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers

Through four weeks, the Sooners have yet to force a turnover. For as well as OU is playing defensively, it’s pretty astonishing that a defense this good isn’t getting takeaways. Two dropped interceptions against Auburn could have totally shifted the game two weeks ago, but these things tend to come in bunches sometimes. Sooner Nation hopes it comes against Texas, but it wouldn’t hurt to nab a couple against Kent State.

2. Flash that competitive depth

Venables has preached competitive depth since he arrived in Norman, and he looks like he’s got it on the defensive side of the ball. With Kent State not posing much of a threat this week, the Sooners need to get a big lead early and get to Red River without any more injuries. In what should be a one-sided game, some of the younger players and depth pieces on OU’s roster will have an opportunity to shine on Saturday afternoon in Norman.

3. Bounce back in the secondary

Against Auburn’s excellent group of wide receivers (led by Cam Coleman), Oklahoma’s secondary had a rough day two weeks ago. Kent State doesn’t have any weapons that will pose that type of threat, but Venables and the staff will certainly be looking to see how the defensive backs respond after their first tough outing of the season. With Texas’ stable of wideouts coming up on the schedule, OU’s defensive backfield needs to have a confidence-building day against the Golden Flashes.

The Oklahoma Sooners game on Saturday will start at 3 p.m. and will be televised on the SEC Network.