OXFORD, MS — For most of October, Oklahoma’s defense was largely left out of the conversation about the program.

With putrid offensive performances against Texas and South Carolina, it wasn’t much to Brent Venables the defense could turn the tide.

In Mississippi, however, the defense sprung a leak.

Lane Kiffin’s The 18th-ranked Rebels cut Venables and defensive coordinator by Zac Alley separate unit in the third quarter.

Ole Miss hit OU with five passing plays of 20 yards or more in the third quarter alone, scoring 13 points to ensure the Rebels leave Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with a 26-14 win over the Sooners Saturday.

“At the end of the day, we beat ourselves with some explosive plays on defense,” Venables said after the loss. “… Explosive pieces were a killer.”

Ole Miss connected on a 16-yard completion and a 35-yard completion on the very first drive of the game, one that ended in a touchdown.

Then down 14-10, Kiffin and quarterback Jackson Dart went to work in the third trimester.

Dart completed two 20-yard passes on the first offensive drives of the third quarter to put the Rebels up 16-14.

After stopping the OU, Dart worked a little magic to sink the OU.

Looking down on third-and-14 with Oklahoma’s defensive line close, Dart slipped out of the right pocket and threw the ball to Jordan Watkinswho had gotten behind cornerback Kani Walker after turning the edge, for 26 yards to move the chains.

Two plays later, Walker then bit a double move and Dart hit Watkins again for a 34-yard completion that moved the ball to the 1-yard line.

“At the end of the day, he happened to be the guy over there when they took a shot,” Alley said of Walker’s poor driving. “He could probably be a little bit better in terms of his technique or his eyes. I don’t know. We haven’t seen it up close yet and haven’t studied it, but we’ll go back and look at it.”

On the next possession, Walker was replaced by Dez Malone, who went on to allow a 34-yard completion on the second play of the drive.

That drive ended with a field goal, and after the flurry of points on back-to-back possessions, the Rebels were up 23-14 and the Ole Miss defense was allowed to become increasingly aggressive in blitzing the quarterback EGG. Jackson Arnold.

The third quarter was shocking after Oklahoma held Mississippi to 162 total yards in the first half. Kiffin’s team posted 201 yards in the third quarter alone.

“You have to do your job all the time. It takes technique, it takes discipline,” Alley said. “You have to make sure … Every game is the most important game of the game because that’s the one that could be the big game that changes everything.

“And we had a couple of opportunities to come off the field on third down in the first series and we just didn’t get it right and we talked about some things we need to be better at. I have to put them in better positions to be successful.”

In all four quarters, the defense was unable to generate enough pressure on Dart.

Oklahoma finished with one sack and three quarterback hurries, not enough to shake the talented Ole Miss.

The Rebels gained an average of 6.7 yards per play on first downs, keeping the offense out of many obvious passing situations.

In those spots this season, the Sooners have struggled to generate consistent pressure.

“We’ve got to get off the ball,” Alley said. “Obviously we’re working on our technique and doing what we need to do. We are very close to many of them. We hit the defender and the ball goes out.

“A little bit of that is in the back as well. You have to be on the coverage lanes so they can’t throw the ball in time. So it all works together, especially in mixed situations, to be able to create chaos at the back.”

Dart completed 22 of 30 passes Saturday for 311 yards and a score against the Sooners.

The coverage and miscommunication continued on the defensive back end as well, something OU must eliminate in its final three conference contests to have a chance to rally to make a bowl game.

“As players, we have to be able to put that on ourselves and be aligned,” the safety Billy Bowman said. “I knew they would go fast. At the end of the day, we have to get the call, we have to be in line, we have to communicate. Even if I go fast, that’s no excuse for not knowing your job.”

Ole Miss’ only turnover came on the day when the Sooners were on offense, as JJ Hester DELETED Taylor Tatum’s he fumbles, hitting the ball himself in a bizarre sequence.

All of those factors — the lack of turnovers, the coverage drops, the mistakes even when the defensive backs were in the right position — combined to sink the Sooners in the third quarter, something that will never lead to a victory against one of the best crimes in the country.

“Everything begins and ends with discipline. We have to play with her,” Venables said. “You have to take the things you do in practice and carry them into game day. That’s balance under pressure.

“The teams are too good. This is too good a team. They have a very good system. When you make mistakes, they will punish you… Putting your eyes where they belong is all about defense. this is as basic and fundamental as it comes.

“… That’s how you lose.”