Oklahoma-Texas Observations: LIVE In-Game Blog
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Final stats:
3:02 p.m.
Oklahoma took over this final drive with 1:23 to play and two timeouts. They’ve driven to the Texas 33 and are setting up for a Gabe Brkic field goal (currently at 50 yards). The Sooners moved this far without calling a timeout. Wanted to try to set it up for another Brkic walk-off.
Instead, Kennedy Brooks takes it 33 yards to the house. Three seconds left.
Game over. Oklahoma will win it 55-48. What an unbelievable game. What a comeback. What a finish.
— JH
2:56 p.m.
On that Casey Thompson touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy to tie it at 48 with 1:23 to play, Oklahoma’s defensive front consisted of Ethan Downs, Marcus Stripling, Jordan Kelley and Josh Ellison.
Nary a starter in the bunch.
Thompson had all day to find Worthy and deliver a perfect throw.
Are we headed to overtime for the second year in a row?
— JH
2:46 p.m.
After giving up a deep post to Xavier Worthy, the Oklahoma defense clamps down. More pressure on Casey Thompson as he throws incomplete to Bijan Robinson (with Danny Stutsman in coverage) and the Sooners take over at their own 24 with 4:37 to play.
— JH
2:37 p.m.
The comeback is complete. On Kennedy Brooks’ 18-yard run on the first play of that drive, OU takes a 48-41 lead.
The win, however, still has a ways to go — 7 minutes and 10 seconds, to be exact.
Call an Uber, Red River Rivalry, you're drunk.
— JH
2:37 p.m.
Unreal. The review overturns the call on the field and gives the Sooners the ball back at the 18-yard line. It only took one play for Kennedy Brooks to find pay dirt, and the Sooners have come all the way back from down 28-7 to lead for the first time today. OU up 48-41 with 7:10 left in the game.
— RC
2:35 p.m.
I absolutely did not see Oklahoma executing this kind of comeback today. After Caleb Williams’ 52-yard missile to Marvin Mims and Spencer Rattler’s 2-pointer to Drake Stoops, Texas appears to fumble the ensuing kickoff. Oklahoma may have this football at the Texas 19. Review coming …
And it's OU's football at the 18. Still 7:17 to play in this game.
Gonna need to rewrite my game story.
— JH
2:35 p.m.
Bryan Mead might get charged for inciting a riot in the OU end of the Cotton Bowl. Every single kickoff in this fourth quarter, he’s gotten straight up and run to the OU students to get them cranked up. And it looks like the Sooners are about to get the ball back off a fumbled kick off. I have never, ever, seen the Cotton Bowl this crazy in my entire life.
— RC
2:29 p.m.
Caleb Williams. Unreal. Steps up in the pocket, holds tight and delivers an absolute dart to Marvin Mims for the touchdown. Pylon cam shows that Mims was clearly in bounds by about an inch, and then Spencer Rattler comes in for the two-point conversion to Drake Stoops? What on earth is happening inside the Cotton Bowl.
41-41 7:25 left.
2:24 p.m.
Incredible blitz pickup by Brayden Willis to give Caleb Williams enough time to find Mario Williams. All those things that have just been a little off to start the year have suddenly been fixed with Caleb Williams at the helm. Safe to say the team has rallied around the true freshman.
— RC
2:20 p.m.
Nik Bonitto, Isaiah Thomas and, of course, Danny Stutsman with constant pressure on Casey Thompson down by the Texas goal line. Thompson, under duress, struggled to even get rid of the football, much less with any accuracy. It’s a Texas punt, and Oklahoma takes over at its 40-yard line, down 41-33, with 10:36 to play.
— JH
2:18 p.m.
Alex Grinch dials up the blitz and guess who is there to bring down Casey Thompson on first down? True freshman Danny Stutsman. Traditionally, Riley has relied on his seasoned vets to handle the pressure in the Cotton Bowl. Today, if OU completes this comeback, it’ll be on the back of the 2021 recruiting class.
— RC
2:14 p.m.
The Texas secondary had good coverage on those last three throws by Williams — the coverage was good on the deep ball to Mims, for that matter — and Williams threw three straight incompletions.
That means another Gabe Brkic field goal cuts it to a one-score game, 41-33, with 11:44 to play.
Sooner defense needs to rise up here. Can’t afford another score.
— JH
2:09 p.m.
Good grief. After Caleb Williams gets away from the pass rush, he slings a ball 55 yards in the air, off balance, to Marvin Mims, who catches it over B.J. Foster for a 47-yard gain.
The kid has just ridiculous arm talent.
— JH
2:02 p.m.
Steve Sarkisian went full Lincoln Riley there to end the third quarter. Went into his shell and the OU defense was 100 percent locked in on the Robinson run game. Fascinating fourth quarter to follow. Sooners fans getting the “OU” chant rolling as they finally have some momentum. Oklahoma sideline spending the timeout to get into their end zone and get the fans rolling. I’ve been to every OU-Texas since 2004 (save last year), and I can’t remember the team ever abandoning the sideline just to get the fans back into the game. The past two Red River Shootouts have to have taken actual years off the collective lives of OU and Texas fans.
— RC
Third-quarter stats:
1:57 p.m.
Two straight surreal throws from Caleb Williams — one dropped by Jadon Haselwood for a touchdown, and one caught by Marvin Mims between two Texas defenders — and the Sooners have cut it to 41-30 with 1:02 to play in the third quarter.
Ryan Chapman asserts there’s no quarterback controversy in Norman.
I agree. The job belongs to Caleb now.
— JH
1:55 p.m.
Caleb Williams has to burn a timeout out of the review. Couldn’t get everything sorted pre-snap. At least he had the awareness to call the timeout.
— RC
1:53 p.m.
Kennedy Brooks’ curse that time: he’s too good. He stayed on his feet and, officials rule at first, gets the ball pulled out at the end of a 65-yard run. Replays seem to show he was on the ground when the ball was finally ripped out, however. Replay is taking some time.
— JH
1:51 p.m.
That right there is this entire game in a nutshell. Kennedy Brooks should have had the ball inside the 10-yard line but gets it ripped. The OU fans watching the replays on the screen believe Brooks was down, but you can’t be having that kind of play happen regardless. Massive massive replay review. Oklahoma had both of the close calls go their way in the first half.
— RC
1:40 p.m.
On one hand, the field goal (technically) cuts it to a two-possession game. But Riley has now opted for two field goals on fourth-and-five or shorter today. Entering the game, Texas’ defense ranked 122nd nationally in fourth down defense. I get that Brkic is automatic but at what point does Riley roll the dice a little bit? Time will tell if it ends up being too conservative, need more defensive stops regardless of if field goals or touchdowns go on the board for OU.
— RC
1:37 p.m.
Time-consuming Oklahoma drive ends with a Gabe Brkic field goal. Texas now leads 38-23.
OU ran the ball very deliberately on that march, trying to make things easier on Caleb Williams, although by the end he was taking audibles from the sideline and calling out protections into the Texas end of the Cotton Bowl noise.
— JH
1:35 p.m.
Robinson emerged from the injury tent still in possession of his helmet. He got down into his stance, appeared to be testing if he could still give it a go. We’ll see if he returns or if Morris will take the Sooners home.
— RC
1:30 p.m.
Right tackle Tyrese Robinson heads to the injury tent and Wanya Morris slots in for the second-and-1.
— RC
1:27 p.m.
The OU fans are garnering quite the reputation for booing — this time booing the announcement that beer service will be cut off at the end of the third quarter. Likely mad because they’ll need more fluids to forget this one if things don’t turn around?
— RC
1:26 p.m.
Sure, Caleb Williams might be just 2-of-6 passing for 32 yards, but he is averaging 42 yards per carry.
Sorry, it’s been that kind of day in the press box.
— JH
1:22 p.m.
Williams escapes the pocket and whips a throw to Mike Woods, but leads Woods too far out of bounds. The hit also jars the ball loose, and Oklahoma opens the third quarter with a punt.
Texas has smelled blood in the water all day. This could be the finisher.
— JH
1:18 p.m.
Down 38-20 at halftime, Caleb Williams gets the start to begin the third quarter and he executes a 17-yard keeper.
I don’t see any way Spencer Rattler wins over Lincoln Riley today.
— JH
12:57 p.m.
I would say it’s gut-check time for the Sooners, but that moment came down 14-0 with 13:07 still left on the clock. Time to see what Caleb Williams is made of. A tough spot to ask for a Kyler Murray-esk OU-Texas comeback, but it would be a hell of a way to introduce yourself properly to the Oklahoma fanbase. Regardless of what the OU offense does however, the defense is going to have to figure out how to stop Bijan Robinson. The star back already has 102 yards on the ground and Steve Sarkisian is going to lean on him a whole lot more to close out this one.
— RC
Halftime stats:
12:51 p.m.
Jaden Davis gets burned again, but can you pull him when Latrell McCutchin has already busted for a huge score?
— RC
12:44 p.m.
The dream stalls for Caleb Williams: his escape and running throw to Brayden Willis sails a little wide, and his fade throw to Jadon Haselwood is underthrown. Gabe Brkic saves the day with a 35-yard field goal and it’s 35-20, 3:02 til halftime.
— JH
12:40 p.m.
We’ve now had two Superman-type plays today: both courtesy of Caleb Williams. One was a dive for the goal line. That one was a tight throw across the middle to Jeremiah Hall, who hurdled one defender (a la Trey Millard) and came down horizontal on another one.
Sooners are already driving.
— JH
12:40 p.m.
Second straight year that a Spencer Rattler first half fumble and interception combo has led to a different OU quarterback entering the game.
But this year, if Caleb Williams moves the ball, I doubt Lincoln turns back.
— RC
12:37 p.m.
After Spencer Rattler’s second turnover of the day, he’s been pulled.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
That ain’t Tanner Mordecai waiting on the bench this time.
It’s Caleb Williams’ time.
— JH
12:35 p.m.
Bijan Robinson is the best player on the field and its not even close. But the best part about that run is how it immediately drove the stake into the OU defense after Spencer Rattler’s baffling fumble. OU completely unable to build on any success today. Incredibly sloppy performance.
— RC
12:34 p.m.
So Bijan Robinson can really, really run the football. He just did his best Earl Campbell/Ricky Williams impersonation on a 50-yard gain to the OU 2-yard line, knocking Sooner defenders aside and throwing them to the ground.
What a player.
Next play, Thompson throws to Jared Wiley and Texas’ lead has grown to 35-17.
— JH
12:32 p.m.
Trailing 28-17 and trying to drive, Rattler adds to Oklahoma’s misery with a fumble. He was running, trying to get away from pressure, and just had it knocked out of his hands. Texas recovers at midfield, 8 minutes til halftime.
— JH
12:28 p.m.
Kennedy Brooks having a nice moment here on this drive. He’s rushed for 26 yards on two plays. The Texas run defense is the most glaring weakness of the team, and credit to the Oklahoma defense (and Caleb Williams) for hanging in there enough on the last couple of drives to keep OU somewhat within striking distance so Riley doesn’t have to abandon the run.
— RC
12:25 p.m.
Perrion Winfrey is really turning it on here to start the second quarter. Life the Sooners needed in this game. Somehow, some way… Oklahoma is still in this football game?
— RC
12:20 p.m.
Here’s an observation: Smokey the cannon behind the Texas end zone is the second most powerful piece of artillery inside the Cotton Bowl today, behind Gabe Brkic’s right leg of course.
— RC
12:20 p.m.
Rattler starts with a 48-yard wheel route throw to Jeremiah Hall, but his third-down pass is tipped and Gabe Brkic drills a 40-yard field goal.
Sooners deficit is now 28-17, 12 minutes til halftime.
— JH
12:13 p.m.
Welcome to OU-Texas Perrion Winfrey. Makes a play deserving of his post game photo from last year to keep the ‘Horns in third-and-11. Third down stop by the Sooners defense and the OU half of the Cotton Bowl is ready to come unglued. First time the Sooners have had momentum since the punt OU forced all the way back on Texas’ third drive of the game.
— RC
12:10 p.m.
I don’t care how Lincoln Riley spins this now. This is a FULL BLOWN quarterback controversy.
Caleb Williams now has the three longest plays for the Oklahoma offense this year (a 66-yard run, a 59-yard run and a 57-yard pass) and just single-handedly gave the OU offense life. It’s now 28-14.
Naturally, that translates to the defense as the Sooners start the next series with a sack.
— JH
12:07 p.m.
Caleb Williams stays in and absolutely ignites the OU sideline. Makes a pair of Longhorns miss and takes the ball 66-yards to the house for a touchdown. Williams now has the three longest plays from scrimmage this year for OU.
-- RC
12:06 p.m.
Caleb Williams enters the game after the quarter break, Texas burns a timeout. Williams gave a big fist pump as if he was frustrated, will be interesting to see if he comes back after the timeout or if that was his shot.
— RC
First quarter stats:
12:00 p.m.
Well, Harrison got yanked, but Erik Swenson was the replacement. Wanya Morris is only listed as right tackle on the depth chart for whatever that’s worth.
— RC
11:57 a.m.
Casey Thompson’s deep ball to Joshua Moore for 48 yards is on the money for another Texas touchdown. Moore just worked Latrell McCutchin — a true freshman from Austin — and scores easily. It's 28-7 Texas.
Alex Grinch is just throwing his palms up, like there are just no other answers.
— JH
11:55 a.m.
Alex Grinch moving Nik Bonitto around plenty to create some mismatches. Feels like he hasn’t been blocked by Texas yet, but Sarkisian is also doing a nice job of running right into Bonitto’s pressure.
— RC
11:53 a.m.
Think we’re really starting to see today why Lincoln Riley has eschewed downfield throws this year. The handful of times he’s called them today, it’s been either incomplete, intercepted or resulted in a sack.
The OU offense is struggling against this Texas defense, big-time.
— JH
11:54 a.m.
Anton Harrison is getting absolutely dominated at left tackle. Might be time for Wanya Morris.
— RC
11:48 a.m.
Casey Thompson has completed passes of 75 yards, 7 yards, 27 yards and 10 yards, and the Oklahoma defensive backs haven’t been anywhere close to the receivers really. Easy, massive windows for Thompson to throw the ball into. He’s used his legs a few times to extend plays as well, but the Sooners will have to hit home on their pressure of him if the secondary can’t hang on the back end.
— RC
11:46 a.m.
Casey Thompson is having a day against this Oklahoma secondary. Two OU DBs collide and Joshua Moore makes an acrobatic TD catch for a 21-7 lead.
So far today, CT’s son is 4-of-5 for 119 yards with two TDs.
That Rattler INT (possibly on Stogner) was costly.
— JH
11:43 a.m.
Austin Stogner broke to the outside, Spencer Rattler thought he was cutting inside. Easy interception for Texas on the timing route, ‘Horns with the ball and a chance near midfield to extend the lead. Doubt Sarkisian will be punting here unless its fourth and forever.
— RC
11:41 a.m.
Oklahoma cannot get this figured out on Special Teams. Drake Stoops blows up Marvin Mims and the Sooners get lucky that the punt bounded off a Texas player first. Yet after all of that, OU will the ball back and a chance to tie the game up.
— RC
11:40 a.m.
Sooner defense gets a stop. Good pressure on Casey Thompson from multiple defenders twice on that drive.
— JH
11:38 a.m.
Savvy, veteran move by Brian Asamoah right there. If you freak out enough pre-snap, maybe the ref will call the false start. Texas starting behind the chains — exactly the start the defense needs.
— RC
11:35 a.m.
Great answer by the Sooners. Down 14-0 after three Texas snaps, Spencer Rattler executes a play-action rollout for the touchdown. Designed to throw to Jeremiah Hall, but he was covered, so Rattler cut it up and dove across the goal line.
Sooners might be back in business, but is the defense up for this?
— JH
11:34 a.m.
For as bad as that start was from Oklahoma, that was one heck of a drive from Spencer Rattler. Took a few punches from the Longhorns, but stepped up and made a huge third down throw to Mike Woods to keep the chains moving. The momentum swings in this game are unlike any other, takes a mature quarterback to stand in there and just run the offense when the team falls behind by 14 points before anyone can even blink. Now let’s see if the defense can hit the reset button and tackle.
— RC
11:33 a.m.
Texas trainers are helping defensive end Jacoby Jones to the locker room.
— RC
11:27 a.m.
Might want to check Kennedy Brooks for foreign substance on his jersey. Just popped a 15-yard run and broke about nine tackles on his way.
New rushing threat Jeremiah Hall gets the handoff on the next carry, and Rattler finds Mims for a 13-yard slant to set up a red-zone situation.
— JH
11:26 a.m.
Jumping on to Hoov's update below, the Cotton Bowl PA blasted
"What Does the Fox Say" during the replay review. Johnny on the spot.
-- RC
11:25 a.m.
During the replay review to judge Mike Woods’ sideline catch (confirmed, giving the Sooners their first positive play of the day, a 29-yard gain), a fox ran on the field and back into the stands.
Gonna be that kind of day.
— JH
11:22 a.m.
I’m just gonna say it.
Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown might get arrested today. He’s playing like a wild man.
— JH
11:18 a.m.
What an embarrassing start for Oklahoma. Casey Thompson should have hit the wide open Wiley for Texas to have two touchdowns on two offensive plays. This was not what Lincoln Riley had in mind when he wanted to get more possessions for the offense. Spencer Rattler getting the ball for the second time with less than two minutes run off the clock. OU needs this TV timeout to regroup. All gas no brakes so far in the Cotton Bowl.
— RC
11:17 a.m.
Two plays later, Bijan Robinson powers in easily from the 2-yard line to give Texas a 14-0 lead.
There’s not even two minutes gone from this one yet.
Sooners got some serious work to do.
— JH
11:15 a.m.
This game has the makings of a significant blowout. After going 75 for a touchdown on their first offensive play, Texas forces an Oklahoma 3-and-out, the blocks a punt. Longhorns take over a t the OU 2-yard line.
Never seen a Lincoln Riley team this unprepared to play a football game.
— JH
11:15 a.m.
Before we get to the offensive starters, Eric Gray is out on kickoff duty. No doubt a benefit of having Marcus Major back.
Here are the offensive starters:
Harrison - Hayes - Raym - Murray - Robinson
Woods - Haselwood - Mims
Willis - Rattler - Brooks
— RC
11:11 a.m.
Well that was fast. Freshman wideout Xavier Worthy takes a screen pass and goes 75 yards for a touchdown on Texas’ first offensive snap. Broke one tackle, but coverage was nonexistent.
Guess some players on the Oklahoma defense didn’t really believe in practice this week?
— JH
11:11 a.m.
Here are OU’s defensive starters (not that it matters with how that first play went…)
Bonitto - Ellison - Winfrey - Thomas
Asamoah - White
Graham - Bowman - Fields - Turner-Yell - Davis
— RC
11:08 a.m.
Oklahoma calls tails, but Texas wins the toss and takes the ball. OU will kick off.
Really wanted to see if Lincoln Riley would take the football if he won the toss this time.
Big opening drive coming up for the Sooners defense.
— JH
11:04 a.m.
Lee Corso puts on the Longhorn headgear to a chorus of cheers from the Texas half of the stadium and it feels like this rivalry is truly back. The Texas fans are up for this one. That new coach smell hasn't worn off quite yet.
-- RC
Lincoln Riley ... Horns down?
BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK
10:40 a.m.
Marvin Mims may have outdone himself today. He always gives the ball a good chuck into the air once the Sooners meet a midfield before headed to the locker room, but today’s seemed to be the biggest throw he’s had all season.
— RC
10:25 a.m.
All the players are now on the field in full pads for stretching. Two defensive linemen — nose guard Isaiah Coe and tackle Jalen Redmond — are not suited up and will not play today.
— JH
10:15 a.m.
Starting safety Delarrin Turner-Yell is suited up and ready to rock today. OU defense lacking Criddell, Washington and Redmond for sure. Still haven't gotten eyes on Isaiah Coe ourselves.
-- RC
Caleb Williams pregame
BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK
10:02 a.m.
Not that there was any doubt… but defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey is dressed and warming up. He will be a go today.
— RC
9:56 a.m.
Linebacker Danny Stutsman is dressed and warming up with the linebackers. He has a massive brace on his left elbow, but he appears ready to give it a go. Corner Woodi Washington continues to be in street clothes, however.
— RC
9:51 a.m.
Nickel corner Jeremiah Criddell is here, but not dressed out. Looks like it'll be Billy Bowman and Justin Broiles yet again holding it down for the Sooners at nickel.
-- JC
Lincoln Riley and Steve Sarkisian
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
9:45 a.m.
Steve Sarkisian rolled up in perhaps the ugliest pair of pants I have ever seen. They appeared to be cream with a dark brown and burnt orange stripe down the outside of the leg. He may be infinitely better than Tom Herman, but he needs some fashion help down on the 40 acres.
— RC
9:33 a.m.
Oklahoma has taken the field for pregame warmups, and running back Marcus Major is warming up with the team.
Major has been ineligible all season but a source said he was able to make up work related to his academic schedule and made the trip to Dallas. It’s not known if he’ll be a part of the game plan in Saturday’s 11 a.m. game against Texas.
Major has been practicing with the team all season as part of the scout team.
— JH
