The Oklahoma Sooners needed a win in the worst way after three losses to open Big 12 play, dashing hopes of returning to the Big 12 title game after missing out in 2021. Not only did they get a win, but they put on a resounding offensive performance.
Oklahoma gained 700 total yards, including more than 400 through the air and what would have been 300 yards rushing were it not for victory formation kneel-downs at the end of the game.
Of course, we’re not complaining.
From the word go, Dillon Gabriel and the Sooners’ offense was rolling. They scored a touchdown on their opening possession for the first time since week one. The only time Kansas was able to stop the Sooners were on mental miscues by Oklahoma.
Dillon Gabriel fumbled on an option play when he had trouble with the pitch-fake. He had another fumble in the second half, where it looked like his hand might have hit running back Jovantae Barnes on an attempted pass. Then there was Gabriel’s first interception of the season, where it looked like the receiver stopped short on the slant route allowing the Kansas defender to step in front of the ball.
Other than the three turnovers, which were more about Oklahoma making mistakes than Kansas making plays, the Sooners were only forced to punt one time. The only other stop the Jayhawks made was at the goalline at the end of the first half when clock mismanagement left little time for the Sooners to have more opportunities to punch the ball in just before halftime.
Other than that, it was a dominating offensive performance, which earned the Sooners inclusion among USA TODAY Sports Paul Myerberg’s winners from week seven.
The Sooners rebounded from three consecutive losses to open Big 12 play by outscoring No. 20 Kansas 52-42. On the positive end, the win included a big step forward on offense behind a healthy quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who threw for 403 yards, and puts Oklahoma on firmer postseason footing under first-year coach Brent Venables. There are still big issues on defense, however, as the Sooners gave up 6.9 yards per play and more than 40 points for the fourth game in a row. But for now, the crisis in Norman is averted. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports
The offense was a lot of fun to watch. It moved up and down the field with little resistance. Other than a stretch in the first half, the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense didn’t provide much resistance either.
That was a strong Kansas offense that the Sooners were playing, and overall they played well enough to get the win, but there are still issues in run defense and a lack of pressure that can get much better.
However, with an offensive performance like that one, the Sooners still have a shot to win the remaining games on their schedule.
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