Oklahoma football is facing another setback with a significant injury ahead of their upcoming game against No. 18 Ole Miss. Head coach Brent Venables is under pressure to break a two-game losing streak after tough losses to Texas and South Carolina.
The Sooners, currently at 4-3, are likely to be without wide receiver Deion Burks, who has been deemed doubtful for the game, as reported by On3’s Pete Nakos. Burks, a junior who transferred from Purdue, is a crucial loss for Oklahoma, which is already missing four other wideouts.
Venables has a record of 20-13 in his third year in Norman, and Oklahoma is struggling in its inaugural SEC season with a 1-3 conference record. Burks, a 5’9″ receiver from Inkster, Michigan, has tallied 27 catches for 201 yards and three touchdowns this season, but he hasn’t played since suffering a soft-tissue injury against No. 7 Tennessee on September 21, when the Sooners were ranked 15th.
The team’s situation has deteriorated since that loss, with quarterback issues arising between sophomore Jackson Arnold and freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. These struggles contributed to the firing of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.
As the season progresses, the schedule becomes increasingly challenging, with four of the last five games against ranked teams. After facing Ole Miss and Maine, Oklahoma will play No. 21 Missouri, No. 15 Alabama, and No. 8 LSU.
If the Sooners end up with another losing season under Venables, it could dampen the momentum from their previous 10-3 record. With Burks likely sidelined, Arnold will have limited support as he heads into a tough environment against Ole Miss. The decision to not redshirt Arnold means this season is critical for him.
