The Oklahoma Sooners picked up an important road win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday to move to 4-3 on the season and 2-2 in SEC play. Important to their chances for bowl eligibility. Important for getting some positive momentum for the final five games of the season.

And it came on the heels of the offense's best performance of the season. Against a Mississippi State defense that was allowing 28.5 points per game, it should have.

The Sooners left points on the field with three Tate Sandell misses and a Rocky Beers touchdown that somehow wasn't called a touchdown. But the offense moved the ball, racking up 467 yards of total offense and for the second week in a row, outgaining their opponent by more than 100 yards.

Let's look at who's stock is up heading into Week 9.

John Mateer, QB

Aside from the fourth quarter against Kentucky, John Mateer has been playing good football over the last three weeks for the Oklahoma Sooners. He's managed the game well in wins over Texas and Mississippi State and for three quarters in the loss to Kentucky.

On Saturday against the Bulldogs, he showed the improvisational playmaking that made him a Heisman contender early in the 2025 season. But he also showed a willingness to check the ball down to simply move the football. He completed 76% of his passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. He likely would have gone over 300 yards and had another touchdown had tight end Rocky Beers kept control of the pass he caught in the end zone.

The Sooners quarterback still has work to do, but he's playing some solid ball right now. Another big test awaits with the South Carolina Gamecocks and their relentless pass rush on the way to town.

Oklahoma Running Game

Like John Mateer, the Oklahoma Sooners running game has been better in recent weeks. Still not great, but they've made positive strides. Against the Bulldogs, Oklahoma ran the ball for 184 yards on 41 carries. That was the first time this season the Sooners had 40 or more carries.

In 2025, OU had four games with 40 or more carries.

Tory Blaylock saw 12 carries and ran for 71 yards. Lloyd Avant had 13 carries for 55 yards. Mateer had nine carries for 37 yards.

If the Sooners can lean in on the running game, it takes a lot of pressure off of John Mateer to be everything for the offense and allows him to manage the football game.

And with Oklahoma's defense, that's the recipe for complementary football.

Adepoju Adebawore, DE

Adepoju Adebawore was a five-star signee in the 2023 recruiting class along with Peyton Bowen and Jackson Arnold. Adebawore has played well in his career for the Sooners, but he struggled to stay healthy, and now that he is, the fourth-year player is experiencing a breakout season.

Against Mississippi State, Adebawore had two total tackles and 1.5 sacks, including one on the first defensive snap of the game.

Adebawore has been strong against the run, but this season he's showing off his pass-rush prowess. He's tied for second on the defense with 11 total pressures.