Venables Downplays Loss; Kiffin Pushes Back

Oklahoma lost 34-26 at home to Ole Miss, surrendering 431 total yards and falling to 6-2 overall (2-2 SEC). Coach Brent Venables, previewing Saturday’s trip to No. 14 Tennessee, downplayed the result as not season-defining but admitted critical mistakes and said he needs to coach the team better. Venables said he is working to support and manage expectations on quarterback John Mateer and praised freshman offensive tackle Ryan Fodje and senior Kendal Daniels’ late-season improvement. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin publicly pushed back on Venables’ claim that Oklahoma was the “better team,” citing statistical dominance and past victories. Oklahoma faces a daunting remainder of the schedule, including visits to Tennessee and Alabama, leaving questions about the program’s direction under Venables. Tennessee enters with one of the nation’s highest-scoring offenses and playmakers like DB Edrees Farooq, who returned an interception for a touchdown.