It’s been a strange week in Norman. Oklahoma’s locker room, still licking its wounds from a 23-6 Red River loss, suddenly found itself in the middle of a social media crossfire. First, HC Brent Venables took an unintentional jab at the Big 12 that backfired spectacularly. Then, before the dust could even settle, one of his own players lit another match.

Before the Sooners could even regroup, defensive back Peyton Bowen tried to pump confidence back into the locker room with a quote that sounded more like wishful thinking than leadership. “When’s the last time a national championship winner was undefeated? That’s just the day and age we’re in now. So we have a lot of goals still left on the table that we can accomplish easily,” he said via an X post on October 14. What was meant as a rallying cry instantly turned into a viral fact-checking session and another PR headache for a program already under fire.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. Coming after Brent Venables’ “old Big 12” comment went viral, Peyton Bowen’s statement immediately drew fire. Within minutes, fans and rival accounts flooded social media, reminding him that Michigan literally went 15-0 last season. But the first heat came with the HC’s original misfire. Asked about his team adjusting to the SEC grind, he couldn’t resist drawing comparisons at Oklahoma’s former conference. 

“This isn’t the old Big 12 days where Oklahoma destroys everybody every single week except for one game a year,” Brent Venables said. That’s the quote that started this whole storm. That line spread like wildfire. Within an hour, the Big 12’s official X account clapped back with a dagger of its own. “Coach Venables lost eight Conference games in his two seasons in the Big 12.” The numbers didn’t lie and Sooners fans couldn’t help but cringe. And now, the same thing is happening to his player. 

Social media trolls Peyton Bowen’s comment

The backlash came in waves, snarky, brutal, and occasionally hilarious. “What an idiot.” That was one of the top replies under Peyton Bowen’s quote. OU fans love swagger, but delusion? Not so much. The post-loss confidence felt more like a self-own than leadership, especially after Brent Venables’ Big 12 jab already had people questioning Oklahoma’s humility.

When fans start mixing football terms with sarcasm, it’s never a good sign. “They need to see if this dude is in concussion protocol.” This one perfectly captured how tone-deaf the quote sounded coming off a lifeless offensive performance in Dallas.

One fan laid it out straight. “Fact: Michigan was an undefeated National Champion 2 years ago.” Actually, one year ago. But who’s counting? Apparently, everyone. Peyton Bowen’s historical blind spot turned into the internet’s favorite trivia moment.

Then came the receipts. “Lol.. 2023 – Michigan (15-0) 2022 – Georgia (15-0) 2020 – Alabama (13-0) 2019 – LSU (15-0) 2018 – Clemson (15-0) 5 times in the last 6 seasons…..” Five straight examples of perfection in recent memory. It was the ultimate mic drop moment that left Peyton Bowen’s argument flatlined.

The next comment cuts deep because it’s wrapped in humor. “I aspire to this level of delusion.” The Sooners’ fan base isn’t turning on their players, but they’re definitely craving more self-awareness. 

In fairness, Peyton Bowen’s message was about resilience not revisionism. He meant to rally the team, not rewrite history. But in an era where every syllable gets screenshot and dissected, the Sooners can’t afford another PR turnover. Both he and Brent Venables may have meant well, but after this week’s quote blunders, Oklahoma’s best strategy might just be letting their play do the talking.