Sooners

Sooners during the Walk of Champions on Nov. 2.

 Bob Nguyen/OU Daily

Oklahoma (5-4, 1-4 SEC) defeated Maine (4-5, 2-3 CAA) 59-14 at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

The matchup against the Black Bears marked the final nonconference game of the regular season for the Sooners. The 45-point win snapped OU’s three-game losing streak after falling to No. 6 Texas, unranked South Carolina and No. 19 Mississippi.

Here are three takeaways from OU’s victory:

Maine attacks first, OU recovers

Oklahoma got off to another slow start against Maine.

Heading into the matchup, the Black Bears were 1-0 in Southeastern Conference play after beating Mississippi State 9-7 in 2004. On Saturday, the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team was the first one to attack.

After struggling during the first drive of the game, OU punted on its own 37-yard line. Maine then drove down the field with ease, scoring and notching an early 7-0 lead.

However, the Sooners responded and never looked back.

Oklahoma would outscore Maine 35-7 in the first half after giving up the first touchdown of the game. OU also outgained the Black Bears 402 to 115 in total yards, 236 to 54 in rushing yards and 166 to 61 in passing yards.

The Sooners’ total yards and rushing yards in the first half were both the most they had tallied in an entire game this season.

OU finished the game with 665 total yards, 381 rushing and 284 passing yards.

Barnes, Hester lead offense

Junior running back Jovante Barnes and redshirt senior wide receiver J.J. Hester proved to be a dual threat against Maine.

Barnes led the way, having his best game of the season. Heading into the game on Saturday, the running back had accumulated 374 yards and two touchdowns off 104 rushing attempts, with the longest play being 17 yards. He also had 104 yards and one touchdown off 16 catches.

In the first half on Saturday, Barnes rushed 11 times for a career-high 158 yards and touchdowns. The last time an OU running back rushed for at least 150 yards in the first half was in 2014 when Samaje Perine rushed for 222 yards against Kansas.

Barnes had his first triple-digit rushing game this season after finishing the day running for 203 yards on 18 attempts and scoring three touchdowns. The running back led OU, tallying 155 more rushing yards than any other Oklahoma player.

While Barnes attacked the running game, Hester made big plays in the air.

The Tulsa native caught three passes in the first half for a career-high 98 yards and a touchdown — which marked his first touchdown reception since he transferred to OU in 2022.

Hester finished the game with a touchdown and 112 yards off four catches.

Arnold plays well, makes big play

After re-earning the starting spot last Saturday against Mississippi, sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold strung together another solid outing against Maine.

Against Mississippi, Arnold completed a season-high 22 passes on 31 attempts for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three carries of at least 10 yards.

On Saturday, Arnold, who was taken out in the third quarter and replaced by freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., finished the day 15 of 21, throwing for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The quarterback rushed nine times for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Arnold’s performance was highlighted by a big play to Hester in the second quarter. After getting pressured in OU’s end zone the sophomore found the wide receiver on the outside for a 90-yard touchdown pass.

The play was the longest touchdown catch by an OU player in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, and it tied the second-longest touchdown reception in school history. Arnold’s throw marked the longest pass play in any game since 1995.

Next, OU will play a road game against No. 25 Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC play) on Saturday, Nov. 9. The Tigers are 5-0 at home this season.

Here are live scoring updates from the game:

FINAL: OU 59, MAINE 14 

4Q (6:17): OU 59, MAINE 14 

Oklahoma freshman running back Xavier Robinson had a four yard carry to put OU up by 45. 

4Q (9:38): OU 52, MAINE 14

Maine adds a touchdown on a 5-yard touchdown run.

4Q (12:37): OU 52, MAINE 7

Redshirt senior kicker Zach Schmit made a 24-yard field goal.

3Q (6:20): OU 49, MAINE 7

Jackson Arnold found redshirt sophomore tight end Kaden Helms for his first career touchdown.

3Q (12:40): OU 42, MAINE 7

Jovantae Barnes scored on a 19-yard rushing touchdown for his third of the game.

2Q (0:34): OU 35, MAINE 7

Jovantae Barnes adds his second rushing touchdown of the game from eight yards out.

2Q (3:16): OU 28, MAINE 7

Arnold found JJ Hester for a 90-yard touchdown pass.

2Q (6:46): OU 21, MAINE 7

Sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold scores on a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

2Q (13:44): OU 14, MAINE 7

Freshman running back Taylor Tatum scores a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

1Q (7:07): MAINE 7, OU 7

Junior running back Jovantae Barnes scores on a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

1Q (7:59): MAINE 7, OU 0

Maine scores first on a 3-yard touchdown pass.

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