Freshman running back Tory Blaylock leaped into the arms of redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Heath Ozaeta after scoring in the first two minutes of the second quarter against Temple.  

The highlight was 18 rushing yards of Blaylock’s eventual game-high and career-high 100. It was also Blaylock’s first of two and OU’s four runs into the end zone on the day, with redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer and senior running back Jovantae Barnes accounting for the other two.

“Establishing the run game, that's the key; No. 1 of our offensive winning edge is establishing the run,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. “Seeing those guys gain more confidence in it, seeing those guys stick their foot and get downhill faster, seeing our offensive line build some good continuity and really opening up some lanes for them, it's exciting.”

With 228 in the run game against Temple, the Sooners put up more than twice their production of 103 against Illinois State and greater than their 138 against Michigan. The driving force was a committee-focused run game with four players — Blaylock, Mateer, sophomore running back Xavier Robinson and sophomore quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. — recording at least 25 rushing yards as opposed to only Mateer against the Wolverines. 

“If you have a guy who's like Reggie Bush or Adrian Peterson or something, that's awesome, but you have to have a bunch of guys that I think you trust who will run behind their pads and not be timid and run behind their pads and get extra hard yards whenever it needs to,” Arbuckle said during Tuesday’s press conference. 

Between the offensive line, Mateer, Blaylock, Barnes, Robinson and Hawkins, this idea came to fruition against Temple. 

“It's really important whenever you have a multitude of guys that you feel good whenever they go out there that they're going to give it everything they have and get the job done,” Arbuckle said. 

Mateer, however, still managed an impressive 51-yard dash into the end zone amidst the group performance.

“That was exciting,” Mateer said. “I didn’t know if I was going to keep that one until the last second and chose to keep it. There was nobody there. It was a lot of fun getting to run into the end zone.” 

Blaylock, who also felt the joy of rushing touchdowns, displayed excellence against Temple after healing from a shoulder injury he suffered against Illinois State. Against Michigan, he fought through it but only recorded 24 rushing yards. Now, the true freshman lights defenses on fire as a testament to his perseverance.

“Again, he's been here for the last nine months, and I think I've been on record saying he ain't a true freshman — his mindset, the way he shows up every day in the building and out at practice and how he understands everything that the offense asks,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. “He's not a true freshman. He's a stud, and he prepares like a stud. And I do trust Tory Blaylock.”

For Blaylock, it is the culmination of all the hard work since he arrived in Norman.

“Everybody got me ready (from) day one since I've been here,” Blaylock said. So I feel like everything I did — graduated early, coming in the winter — led up to this moment, and I've been able to execute.”

Robinson’s production against Temple meant growth for him as well, with 26 in the game after 17 against Illinois State and no production in the Michigan game. He contributed to the whole room clicking well. 

“Running back room is playing really well, and I said last week, whenever you got a lot of guys you trust, you got to keep on finding ways to be creative and get people the ball at the end of the day,” Arbuckle said. “That's a great room. They're really well coached. They run hard."

The development of the run game communicates the state of the offensive line as well. Freshman Michael Fasusi was sidelined with a foot injury after performing well against Michigan, but the line still had a superb output.

“The O-line did a great job up front (of) blocking everything, and I just wanted to be explosive and do what I could,” Blaylock said to The Franchise.

As sweet as the run game was, though, senior running back Jaydn Ott had another dry performance. The senior recorded 1,305 rushing yards for Cal in 2023 but has had an unimpressive Sooner campaign so far. He dealt with a shoulder injury in fall camp before finishing with 6 rushing yards through his first two games in 2025 and a mere 11 against Temple.

“You wish he was a little further along in every way,” head coach Brent Venables said.

Despite Ott’s stagnancy, the Sooners are steadily improving in the run game and celebrating while doing so. Next, they will face Auburn, the No. 2 rush defense in the nation.

“I'm really proud of that room,” Arbuckle said, “and excited.”

This story was edited by Laurie Jones.