Oklahoma football entered Norman boasting one of the nation's top defenses. That aspect handed the Sooners the edge over Ole Miss on Saturday in this massive Southeastern Conference (SEC) showdown.

Except Lane Kiffin exploited OU's high-powered defense, leading into the 34-26 stunner on the road.

Kiffin even put aside potential distractions about his future to knock off a top 15 foe. But Kiffin putting on a masterclass in coaching wasn't the only reason why Ole Miss sent Sooner fans to the exits in distraught.

Here's where the blame lies in that eight-point defeat.

Ole Miss, not Oklahoma, delivered stout defense in the end

The Sooners fielded the nation's best defense for most of 2025. They're now outside of the top five following Saturday's loss.

Oklahoma only got forced to punt

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