Built for December: How Oklahoma Beat Missouri with Complete, Playoff-Style Football

On this episode of the Sooner Nation Podcast, we break down Oklahoma’s gritty 17–6 win over No. 23 Missouri — a victory defined not by flash or fireworks, but by complete, disciplined, championship-caliber football. This was more than a win. It was a statement about who the Sooners are becoming at the most important point of the season. We dive deep into how Oklahoma shut down the nation’s leading rusher, delivered a second-half defensive masterpiece, and leaned on smart, mistake-free quarterback play from John Mateer. We unpack Isaiah Sategna’s game-changing 87-yard spark, Taylor Wein’s dominant performance in the trenches, and the Bowen brothers’ takeover of the second half. And yes — we talk about Tate Sandell quietly becoming one of the nation’s most reliable weapons. This episode explores why Oklahoma’s ability to win in different styles matters, what this game revealed about the Sooners’ playoff readiness, and how Brent Venables’ team continues to build a résumé based on discipline, toughness, and complementary football. Talking Points Include: Why this was the definition of a “program win” John Mateer’s composure and leadership despite an uneven passing day How Sategna’s 87-yard lightning bolt flipped the entire game OU’s defense holding Missouri to zero rushing yards in the second half Taylor Wein’s emergence as Oklahoma’s most disruptive defender The secondary’s timely takeaways and the Bowen brothers’ impact A special teams performance that changed momentum Key stats that reveal this team’s championship DNA What this win means for OU’s College Football Playoff hopes Why this was Oklahoma’s most playoff-like victory of the season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices