Predictions, picks, odds for OU football at Mississippi State in Week 8 – USFTB

October 24, 2026 4 Min Read

NORMAN — Oklahoma football is looking to get its season back on track after a disappointing 3-3 start.

The Sooners travel to face Mississippi State for the first time at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. The game will be televised on SEC Network.

The Bulldogs are the lone SEC team OU has never played in football.

Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby joined the Sooners as an offensive lineman as part of the 2002 class before serving as a student assistant for four years after his playing career was cut short due to injury. Lebby later served as OU’s offensive coordinator during coach Brent Venables’ first two seasons in 2022 and 2023.

All eyes this week have been on the status of Lebby’s star quarterback, Kamario Taylor. Taylor was listed as questionable on the initial SEC availability report released Wednesday.

Taylor has thrown for 1,450 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions in five games this season.

Assuming Taylor gives it a go, can the Sooners’ defense that leads the nation by allowing only 13 first downs per game hold him at bay? Here are our predictions for Saturday’s game:

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Oklahoma Sooners vs Kentucky Wildcats in Week 7 college football game, see best top photos

Oklahoma arrives to the stadium before the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct., 17, 2026.

(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)

Jenni Carlson, columnist

OU 20, Mississippi State 13

BELL BOTTOM

Sooners hear lots of cowbell in their first ever trip to Starkville but ultimately silence them. The OU defense comes up big again even as the offense continues to sputter.

Joe Mussatto, columnist

OU 23, Mississippi State 16

STARK CONTRAST

OU wins the turnover battle and plays sound football to close out Mississippi State. Basically the opposite of what we saw last weekend in OU’s loss to Kentucky.

Jeff Patterson, sports editor

OU 13, Mississippi State 9

LESS COWBELL

Kamario Taylor has answered the (cow) bell when healthy this season for the Bulldogs, passing for 1,450 yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. Even if he returns from an apparent foot injury, Taylor figures to be a limited pocket passer against a Brent Venables defense that remains playoff caliber.

Colton Sulley, OU beat writer

Mississippi State 27, OU 24

DOG POUND

Taylor gives it a go and continues his impressive campaign as the Sooners’ offense gives the Bulldogs favorable field position for most of the afternoon. OU quarterback John Mateer turns the ball over a couple of times and outside speculation about whether to bench him or not continue.

Jacob Unruh, deputy sports editor

OU 21, Mississippi State 17

STONE WALLED

Behind star defensive tackle David Stone, the Sooners’ defense again dominates, even scoring again to take pressure off the floundering offense for at least one game.

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Predictions, picks, odds for OU football at Mississippi State in Week 8