Any way you can in college football you try to win football games. Such was the case Saturday in the Red River War as OU hung on to the very last play of the game to prevail 29-24. OU improves to 5-1 and keeps its post season playoff hopes alive.
It was a good week for OU as Clemson, Auburn, Wasinhgton and Washington State all fell from the ranks of the unbeaten. OU climbed back into the No. 9 spot in the Sunday AP poll. Interestingly, Ohio State, which lost 31-16 to OU in Columbus, is No. 6 in this week’s poll. Doesn’t matter. If OU runs the table with a road win over Ohio State in hand it’s hard to imagine the committee not including the Sooners in the four team playoff.
OU did blow another first half lead, but in this one when they had to they made every winning play on both sides of the ball in the final seven minutes of the game. I think it’s a good sign for OU as a team as they head towards the final half of the regular season.
The Sooners have to quit killing themselves with fifteen yard penalties though if they want to run the table and get to the playoff. Undisciplined teams don’t advance.
This is a good win for OU. Anytime you beat Texas in Dallas it’s a good win not only for your record, but for your recruiting brand as well.
Defense played solid. Offense was brilliant in spots. Running game gashed the Longhorns at times, and kicker Austin Siebert had a good game minus the one short kick-off which got the Longhorns going after trailing 20-0.
Lots of positives to build on for head coach Lincoln Riley, who did in his first game against Texas which Wilkinson and Stoops failed to do in their first games in this storied series….namely, to beat the Longhorns.
OU is at K State next Saturday and the lesson should have been learned in the loss to Iowa State. That being, you can’t just show up and expect someone to gift wrap you a win in a Power 5 conference game.
It doesn’t matter how you win, just win.