DALLAS — After a misfire against No. 1 Texas on Saturday, the University of Oklahoma left the Cotton Bowl still looking for answers to its offensive struggles.
The Sooners entered the game as a two-touchdown underdog, but there were early signs that they could pull off an unexpected upset. Billy Bowman Jr. picked off a Quinn Ewers pass on the first drive of the game, similar to what Gentry Williams did against the Longhorns last season.
The Sooners offense moved the ball just outside the red zone and then attempted a field goal, but missed.
Tyler Keltner had another chance late in the first quarter, making the Sooners the first team to lead the Longhorns all season.
Texas scored 34 points unanswered and suffered its second loss of the season to Oklahoma, 34-3.
“We just couldn’t maintain some of the momentum in the first quarter,” OU head coach Brent Venables said. “I think we got off to a great start in terms of defense, interceptions, but when you play against real teams, the margin of error is very small.”
The Sooners did not reach 200 yards of total offense until the fourth quarter, when the Longhorns led by at least three points. It was the second time in the past three meetings against Texas that the Sooners failed to get into the end zone.
Ewers scored the first touchdown of the game with a 7-yard pass to Gunnar Helm, but a fumble by Michael Hawkins Jr. gave the Longhorns back the ball in great field position. The Sooners fumbled again on their next possession, giving the Longhorns a 21-3 lead.
Hawkins was unable to complete his ninth pass early in the fourth quarter. This number is significant because it was the number of complete games in the Sooners’ 49-0 loss to Texas in 2022.
The true freshman completed 11 passes for 148 yards in the fourth quarter, finishing 19-30. The quarterback was sacked five times on three rushes.
“Obviously (the offense) hasn’t been very good this season,” Venables said. “We have to improve everywhere. I like the leadership, the will and the hungry spirit of this team. Again, we have to help everyone. We continue to help them and We have to make sure we know what to do on every play and play in a competitive manner no matter who we’re playing.”
On the other side of the ball, the Sooners gave up 406 yards of total offense and 5.9 yards per carry.
Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner had 13 carries for 118 yards and one touchdown. Ewers shook off an early interception and completed 20 of 29 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown.
The Sooners struggled with missed tackles and allowed four runs of 10 yards or more, including three runs of 25 yards or more.
“We just gift-wrapped it, like we gave them a chance,” Bowman said of the second quarter. “Defensively, we’re better than that…We give full responsibility, especially to myself and Danny (Stutsman), but at the end of the day, we left it up to them.”
The Sooners’ leading rusher was Giovante Barnes, who gained 38 yards on 14 carries. The Longhorns had 11 tackles for a loss and the Sooners lost 42 yards of offense.
Despite trailing 21-3 at the half, the Sooners had a chance to get possession and get back into the game at the start of the third quarter. They quickly got a first down, but couldn’t get any more and were forced to punt.
The first three drives of the second half all ended in punts, and none exceeded 19 yards.
The Sooners’ longest drive of the day came late in the fourth quarter. On the final play of the game, Texas set up a stand on its own goal line to keep Oklahoma out of the end zone.
“What happened today is a deep wound and hurt because we invested a lot of money and nobody planned for it,” Venables said. “But you have to move on, and you have to learn from it, grow from it, dust yourself off and get back on track.”
