Oklahoma-Arizona Alamo Bowl Observations: LIVE In-Game Blog
SAN ANTONIO — AllSooners offers real-time observations throughout today's season finale against the Arizona Wildcats in the 2023 Alamo Bowl. Newest posts are at the top. Just keep your browser open and refresh often.
11:27 p.m.
The dam finally broke.
Oklahoma’s defense had repelled touchdowns on four of five offensive turnovers, but just busted for a huge play.
Noah Fifita connected with Jacob Cowing for a 57-yard strike on third-and-8 to put the Wildcats back on top 31-24 at the Alamodome.
Arnold and the offense has 5:28 to find a response.
— RC
11:19 p.m.
Oklahoma desperately needed points there, but the holding call on Jacob Sexton was a drive killer.
Luke Elzinga was money on the punt, pinning Arizona inside the 5-yard line, to help the defense out.
The Sooners can only hold this explosive Wildcat offense off the board for so long. Offense has to help out at some point.
— RC
10:59 p.m.
Does Jalil Farooq have bacon grease on his hands?
The play was officially listed as an interception, but Farooq tried to tuck the ball and turn and couldn’t hold on. Instead of a solid gain, the ball got batted into the air and returned 87 yards by Gunner Maldonado.
Noah Fifita converts the two-point conversion and suddenly it’s a field goal game with two seconds left in the third quarter.
Again… Farooq has got to figure out how to secure the ball. It’s a recurring issue.
— RC
10:53 p.m.
Looked like Gavin Sawchuk tweaked something in his left leg there. Was in the open field and just pulled up. He headed immediately over to the sideline and made his way to the injury tent.
— RC
10:47 p.m.
Oklahoma unable to add to its 11-point lead as the offense couldn’t get anything going on that drive.
Arizona will start on its own 21-yard line, but it feels like one stop and score from OU could end this one.
— RC
10:40 p.m.
Kip Lewis, who got his ankle taped up at halftime, making an instant impact with a sack of Fifita. Good to see that he’s gonna be okay.
— RC
10:29 p.m.
Sooners are ruled to have lost another fumble (under review). More importantly, they may have lost WR Brenen Thompson, who went across the middle, took a vicious hit and, long after the play, stumbled twice and fell. It was hard to watch.
Ref tells us that replay shows that Thompson was down before losing the football, so no fumble. But surely Thompson's night is done.
— JH
10:17 p.m.
Quite the start for Oklahoma to open the second half: a 12-yard reverse to Gavin Freeman, followed by a 63-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Arnold to Brenen Thompson. You can’t prepare for Thompson’s speed, and the Wildcats were absolutely not prepared.
Oklahoma’s lead is now 21-13.
— JH
9:56 p.m.
My, how this thing has turned.
— JH
9:55 p.m.
Halftime stats:
2023 Valera Alamo Bowl Halftime Stats
OU Stats
— RC
9:54 p.m.
That punt to the 1-yard line at the end of the first half was something of a miracle kick and should be celebrated. But was that the right decision, to punt it? Kind of sends the wrong message to your team. Maybe Brent Venables knows this thing has turned for good.
— JH
9:41 p.m.
Heck of a throw by Jackson Arnold, rolling to his left and finding Nic Anderson who somehow kept a foot inbounds, to put the Sooners on top.
Bit of bad news, Kip Lewis is headed to the locker room early before half. Hobbled off the field earlier.
About as poor a first quarter as OU could have drawn up and suddenly the Sooners are on top 14-13 with a chance for a stop and score before halftime. Football is a funny game.
— RC
9:32 p.m.
Thankfully for the Sooners, the defensive line came to play.
Isaiah Coe got to Fifita first, and Marcus Stripling finished it off to knock Arizona out of field goal range.
A tag-team by a pair of Sooners playing their final game of college football in San Antonio.
— RC
9:29 p.m.
This is a game to forget for Oklahoma’s secondary.
Jaren Kanak absolutely obliterated the running back and drilled Noah Fifita, and neither Woodi Washington or Peyton Bowen could turn around to make a play, allowing Tetairoa McMillan to haul in a 42-yard pass. Just inexcusable stuff downfield.
— RC
9:27 p.m.
Jalil Farooq has a very real fumbling problem. Oklahoma finally had momentum for the first time, and he coughs the ball up.
His last fumble, which came on a rushing play in Lawrence, was also a backbreaker. Also fumbled the opening kickoff against Tulsa earlier this year.
— RC
9:25 p.m.
After Gavin Sawchuk’s touchdown run makes it 13-7, Oklahoma CB Kani Walker sets the Sooners up in an incredible position, the Arizona 34, but Jalil Farooq fumbles at the end of a 26-yard completion at the UA 8-yard line.
Oklahoma was that close to leading this thing 14-13. Woof.
— JH
9:21 p.m.
Jackson Arnold went 5-of-6 through the air on that last drive, and his only incompletion was the ball to Jayden Gibson on the sideline where Gibson just couldn’t sneak his foot in. Also had the positive play to pull the ball down and run for seven yards on first-and-15.
— RC
9:17 p.m.
The Sooners have finally arrived in San Antonio.
Steady drive from Jackson Arnold, but it was two big plays from Gavin Sawchuk that got OU into the end zone.
First, Sawchuk made a nice play on a swing pass to run 20 yards on third-and-9, then he finished off the drive with an 18-yard carry on the next play.
Arizona still hasn’t found the end zone outside of the drive that started with a short field, and OU just trails 13-7 with 9:42 left until half. Plenty of time to sort life out on the Oklahoma sideline.
— RC
9:07 p.m.
The Sooners clipped Fifita there and get lucky the drive only ends in a field goal.
Arizona is shredding Oklahoma’s zone defense. OU doesn’t even look close to the Wildcat receivers.
Yet somehow… the game remains a two possession game. For as bad as the first 17 minutes have been, put together a touchdown drive and you’re only down 13-7.
For now, Arizona is on top 13-0 with 13:05 left until halftime.
— RC
9:04 p.m.
2023 Alamo Bowl First Quarter Stats
OU Stats
— RC
9:01 p.m.
Nine o'clock and all is not well for Oklahoma.
— JH
9:00 p.m.
Brent Venables’ pressure not hitting Noah Fifita fast enough.
The young Arizona quarterback got hit on that third down play, but stood in the picker to deliver a strike. Costing the Sooners big plays down the field.
— RC
8:59 p.m.
Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis just had to hope off the field. Wasn’t putting any weight on his left ankle. Had a big fist pump out of frustration as he fell into the sideline.
— RC
8:56 p.m.
Left tackle Walter Rouse was the right tackle in an unbalanced set, with right guard McKade Mettauer on the far left side.
That’s inconsequential of course, because on the next play, Jackson Arnold throws his second INT, a bad under throw to a wide open Drake Stoops.
He may be targeting Stoops too much at this point. Arizona’s secondary is just baiting Arnold to throw to Stoops.
— JH
8:54 p.m.
Austin Stogner’s best play of the year — a short throw from Arnold that turns into Stogner running over a defender and picking up a first down — is wiped out by a holding penalty on Jacob Sexton.
— JH
8:53 p.m.
This is bad. But it's early.
— JH
8:50 p.m.
That was a massive drive for Oklahoma’s defense.
Venables rolled the dice and took the holding call, and it worked out. Somehow after the sluggish start, the Sooners are only down 10 and now Jackson Arnold gets a media timeout to reset.
Punt rolled into the end zone, too, giving Oklahoma fine field position.
Think they need to run Arnold once and let him get a little physical to help him truly settle in.
— RC
8:47 p.m.
That almost third down stop was huge, and took Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman to get Fifita to the ground.
OU accepts a holding penalty, however, and replays third down…
Which Fifita overthrows. Fourth down and Arizona's first punt is upcoming.
— JH
8:41 p.m.
After another three-and-out by Arnold and the OU offense, Luke Elzinga pastes 58-yard punt to the Arizona 10-yard line. Sooners are looking for all the momentum swings they can get at this point.
— JH
8:34 p.m.
Worst possible start for Jackson Arnold and Oklahoma: 0-for-3 passing, with one throw batted down and two badly off target. The third one was intercepted by Genesis Smith and Noah Fifita throws a 35-yard touchdown pass on the next play.
Down 10-0, Sooners revamped offense has a few things to … clean up, shall we say?
— JH
8:33 p.m.
Well, that’s about as bad a start as you could ask for from Arnold.
Sooners started with normal field position, unlike in the second half against BYU, and Arnold had a pass tipped, missed Stoops and then threw a pick. All three throws targeted Stoops.
Arizona immediately cashed in with a 35-yard connection from Noah Fifita to Jacob Cowing, and OU is already in a 10-0 hole with 10:33 left in the first quarter.
— RC
8:31 p.m.
Oklahoma’s starters on offense:
Rouse - Shaffer - Everett - Mettauer - Sexton
Stogner - Gibson - Stoops - Farooq
Arnold - Sawchuk
— RC
8:28 p.m.
Danny Stutsman is one of the most popular players on this Oklahoma team, and the place nearly erupted when he almost picked off that pass. He also was in on a tackle and pressured the quarterback.
Looks like Oklahoma’s best defensive player is all the way back.
— JH
8:27 p.m
Really nice recovery for Oklahoma’s defense after giving up the 40-yard catch-and-run on the second play.
After a false start, Robert Spears-Jennings blew up a swing pass, Danny Stutsman almost picked off Noah Fifita and Kip Lewis made a strong tackle on third down.
The Wildcats settle for a 39-yard field goal and take a 3-0 lead with 10:57 left in the first quarter.
Jackson Arnold time.
— RC
8:23 p.m.
It’s early, but it looks like Oklahoma’s gonna sell out to try to get to Arizona QB Noah Fifita tonight. Two good pressures on the first two plays, but Fifita hits Tetairoa McMilllen on a couple quick slants — one for 40 yards and one for 15 — and makes the Sooners pay.
— JH
8:23 p.m.
Oklahoma’s starters on defense:
Downs - Coe - Bothroyd
Lewis - Stutsman - McCullough
Williams - Pearson - Bowen - Bowman - Washington
— RC
8:20 p.m.
Oklahoma wins the toss and defers. We will have to wait for Jackson Arnold.
— RC
8:19 p.m.
As we prepare for the coin toss, looks like Joe Jon Finley is on the sideline and Seth Littrell is up in the box for the Sooners.
— RC
7:55 p.m.
From earlier:
7:50 p.m.
No shock here, but it’s a heavy, heavy OU crowd in San Antonio tonight.
The people want to see Jackson Arnold for four quarters… and frankly so do I.
Per the clock on the ribbon boards, 29 minutes until kickoff.
— RC
7:37 p.m.
Looking down the offensive line in warmups and the starting group appears to be the exact same as what was listed on the depth chart, which I guess is no surprise:
LT Walter Rouse
LG Caleb Shaffer
C Troy Everett
RG McKade Mettauer
RT Jacob Sexton
Running back Gavin Sawchuk appears to be getting the first
reps as well, so no real surprises for the offense.
— RC
7:27 p.m.
LB Konnor Near has a protective wrap or brace on his right wrist and isn't suited up. Near played in just four game this season and logged just 22 defensive snaps, but posted the highest defensive grade of any OU player with an 84.6, per Pro Football Focus.
A transfer from Appalachian State, Near's biggest contributions this season have come on special teams, where he played in 12 games, logged 114 snaps and posted a PFF grade of 81.1, per PFF.
— JH
7:23 p.m.
Listen, I know I'm not breaking any new ground here, and I'm sure all three guys would vehemently disagree with me, but Seth Littrell, Joe Jon Finley, DeMarco Murray and Jay Valai look like they could suit up tonight and get some snaps. How would PFF grade them? Don't know. But they could play. A little.
— JH
7:19 p.m.
With Davis Beville here (see below), Jackson Arnold has kept his No. 10 jersey for tonight, rather than switching to his high school number, No. 11. A lot of people anticipated that might happen. Maybe next year.
— JH
7:16 p.m.
Despite reports and announcements earlier in the week and last week that QB Davis Beville and WR LV Bunkley-Shelton, both are here in the Alamodome, suited up and going through pregame warmups per usual.
Another portal guy who opted into tonight's game, RB Tawee Walker, is here as expected.
— RC/JH
7:07 p.m.
Seven mid-term freshmen practiced with the team all week but aren't eligible to play in tonight's game. During early warmups, six of them congregated around the 6-yard line in front of the goalposts and watched their new teammates do work.
And yes, DT Jayden Jackson looks like THAT dude.
— JH
6:55 p.m.
The teams are back in the locker room getting full uniforms on, but freshman defensive back Makari Vickers is already in street clothes. He has a sore ankle. Doesn't appear he will be able to give it a go in the season finale.
— RC
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