Oklahoma's Defensive Edge: The Sooners bring one of the top defenses in the SEC, a key factor that could stifle Ole Miss's high-powered offense. Their red zone defense has been solid, which might force Ole Miss to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns in scoring opportunities.

Offensive Struggles for Oklahoma: The Sooners are facing notable issues on offense. They’ve been plagued by quarterback indecision, changes in play-calling, a receiver group diminished by injuries, and an offensive line struggling to find cohesion. These challenges could limit their scoring potential against an aggressive Ole Miss defense.

Boost for Ole Miss’s Pass Rush: On the other side, Ole Miss’s defense could see a significant upgrade with the possible return of edge rusher Princely Umanmielen. Ranked 7th nationally in sacks, Ole Miss’s pass rush is already potent, and Umanmielen’s return would only strengthen their ability to disrupt Oklahoma’s inconsistent offense.

Oklahoma’s Recent Offensive Woes: The Sooners have struggled in recent games, suffering back-to-back disappointing losses to Texas and South Carolina, highlighting their offensive difficulties and inconsistent play. The Sooners put up just 112 points in the two games and Ole Miss has the 2nd best scoring defense in the nation at 10.6 ppg allowed.

Prediction: With Oklahoma’s defensive strength clashing against Ole Miss’s explosive offense, and given Oklahoma’s offensive challenges, this game has the makings of a defensive battle where Ole Miss could exploit the Sooners’ struggles.