Losses of turnovers were once again the be-all and end-all for the Oklahoma Sooners. Before anyone could even get into the game, the Sooners were down 21 points after the offense turned the ball over on each of their first three possessions.

You don't like to think that a 60-minute game can be decided in the first six minutes, but that's exactly what happened in the Sooners' 35-9 loss to South Carolina. An offense that struggled in SEC play was dominated by a South Carolina defense that had a field day against both of Oklahoma's quarterbacks.

The Sooners' offense struggled once again, and that has become the theme of the 2024 season. Here are the key takeaways from Oklahoma's loss to South Carolina.

1. Losses of the ball decided the game again

Three turnovers on Oklahoma's first three drives left the Sooners in a 21-0 hole in the first six minutes of play. Like the second-quarter turnovers against Texas a week ago that decided the game, the turnovers in the first six minutes cost OU a chance to compete against South Carolina.

It wasn't just Michael Hawkins Jr.'s fault, as South Carolina's pressure was difficult for OU's offensive line all game.

Hawkins has the talent to be a really good quarterback at the college level, but the limitations of the personnel around him may be too great to overcome. Not just for him, but for every quarterback behind this offensive line.

2. The pass protection was poor

The Oklahoma Sooners offensive line had arguably its worst day in pass protection in the modern era. They allowed nine sacks, which was an OU record. According to early statistics, not a single player on South Carolina's defense recorded more than one sack. That means nine different players joined Oklahoma's quarterbacks on Saturday.

We knew it would be a tough matchup for the Sooners, but they struggled to keep Hawkins and then Arnold clean. In addition to the nine sacks, Oklahoma allowed two more quarterback hurries and 13 tackles for a loss.

What the offensive line has brought to the field in each of the last two weeks has not been nearly good enough. It will be difficult for the offense to find consistency if it cannot protect the quarterback.

3. Jackson Arnold entered and stepped forward

Jackson Arnold may not have had a good game, but he was solid for the Oklahoma Sooners. He finished the day 18 of 36 for 225 yards and a touchdown. It was the first time this season that an Oklahoma quarterback threw for more than 200 yards in a game.

He challenged the South Carolina defense deep, hitting Brenen Thompson for a 54-yard touchdown and laying a ball just down the sideline to JJ Hester. Hester was likely pinned, making it difficult to fight for the ball.

Arnodl was under a lot of pressure but still helped push the offense downfield. It was good for Arnold to have a few weeks to reset. He was expected to start for the Sooners heading into the Ole Miss game.

4. The defense has collapsed

The Oklahoma Sooners held South Carolina to just 1.8 yards per carry and 254 total yards in the game. Now that the Gamecocks had a 21-point lead in the first six minutes, they didn't need to force the issue offensively, but the Sooners' defense only allowed a single scoring drive as South Carolina had the ball on their side of the 50 started.

The Sooners recorded six sacks and 11 tackles for loss and made LaNorris Sellers uncomfortable for much of the game. But again, it didn't matter as the Sooners' offense canceled out another strong performance from the defense.

5. Real bright spots for freshers

Jacob Jordan made a point early in the game when given an opportunity, and the Sooners coaching staff kept putting him on the field. He recorded six receptions for 86 yards in the game and deserves more playing time in the future.

Another true freshman who has played well all season also shined against South Carolina. Jayden Jackson recorded the first sack of his career and four total tackles. He was a force in the middle of the Sooners' defense, blocking the running lanes and providing plenty of inside pressure.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners' loss to South Carolina