Jalil Farooq – Page 14 – Syndication Server

Report Card: Young linemen, running backs stood out for the Sooners

With the final report card of the year, the Sooners’ young offensive linemen and running backs offer hope for the future.

Just like that, season 128 of Oklahoma football is done. By record, they were the worst Oklahoma team since 1998, finishing under .500 (6-7) on the season. However, after the Sooners’ performance against the No. 13 Seminoles, it’s hard to suggest they were as bad as that 1998 team.

Their performance against a good Florida State team offered hope. It provided encouraging signs as we head into the offseason.

Before doing so, we take a look at each position group and grade Oklahoma’s performance from the 35-32 loss to the Seminoles in the Cheez-It Bowl.

Pass protection and pass defense struggle as Sooners fall 35-32 to Florida State

Despite a strong first half showing from the defense, the Oklahoma Sooners allowed 24 second half points and fall 35-32 to Florida State.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Florida State Seminoles played a fantastic game in the Cheez-It Bowl, but the Sooners couldn’t get enough stops in the second half to avoid their first losing season since 1998.

Oklahoma came out with a clear game plan to run the football with their true freshmen [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] leading the way. It was an effective plan as the Sooners jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first half, and took a 17-11 lead into halftime.

Despite a running game that produced 260 yards on 59 attempts, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, the Sooners’ offensive line struggled to keep [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] clean throughout, allowing seven sacks. The most costly pressures came on the Sooners’ final drive.

After going down 35-32 on a go-ahead field goal from Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, the Sooners got the ball back with about a minute to play. However, their final drive was foiled by a false start penalty on Drake Stoops that pushed the Sooners from 2nd and 1 with about 38 seconds to play to 2nd and 6 with 28 seconds remaining after the ten-second runoff. Gabriel overthrew Brayden Willis on a downfield throw before hitting Gavin Sawchuk in the flat for a few yards. On the next play, Gabriel dropped back to pass and had no time to allow the play to develop. The Sooners’ offensive line folded, and the final seconds ticked off the clock.

Missing four starters along the offensive line, the Sooners’ passing game was unable to find much of a rhythm because of the Florida State pass rush. Gabriel hit a few deep balls to [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] and got Oklahoma on the board with a touchdown throw to [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] to get the Sooners on the board.

Oklahoma’s defense played well in the first half, keeping the top-20 Seminoles offense mostly in check and coming up with huge fourth-down stops. The second half was a different story, though, as [autotag]Jordan Travis[/autotag] and Florida State began to hit chunk plays down the field in the passing game.

The Seminoles scored 24 second-half points, and the Sooners dropped another close game in a season where they weren’t very good in one-score games.

Coming into the game as double-digit underdogs against a top-15 team in the country, the Sooners received fantastic performances from Barnes and Sawchuk. Both running backs went over 100 yards rushing in the game to help lead the Sooners’ offense. Sawchuk suffered a costly fumble in the second half that led to Florida State points. It was an unfortunate moment for the former four-star running back, but one he’ll learn from moving forward.

Gabriel wasn’t very efficient in the game, but he didn’t have much time to sit back and scan the field. The Sooners’ quarterback was 14 of 24 for 243 yards and a touchdown. He also had 24 yards on 13 carries, including seven sacks. Marvin Mims led the Sooners in receiving with two catches for 77 yards, and Jalil Farooq had a solid game with four receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown. Farooq also had two carries for 14 yards to continue to cement himself as the Sooners’ dual-threat receiver heading into 2023.

Many of the problems that the Sooners dealt with on the defensive side of the ball reared their ugly head in the loss. The defense couldn’t sustain their level of play for four quarters. Tackling was an issue at times, and Oklahoma couldn’t get the necessary stops in crunch time.

Falling to 6-7, the Sooners still go into the offseason with positive momentum after securing the No. 5 recruiting class as of the early signing period. What cost Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl were the same things that were going to be question marks this offseason anyway. Despite that, it’s still another disappointing loss in what’s been a disappointing first season for Brent Venables with the Oklahoma Sooners.

As Venables and his coaching staff go into the offseason, improving the defense will be priority number one for the program. They’ve made nice additions in the transfer portal and in the recruiting class, but those additions have to raise the overall talent and depth on the roster to help the Sooners play complete games in 2023.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

‘He’s told the coaches he’s going to return’: Bob Stoops says Drake Stoops will return in 2023

Drake Stoops set to return to the Oklahoma Sooners for 2023.

There’s been speculation about [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag]’ intentions for the 2023 season, but that has been put to bed ahead of the Oklahoma Sooners’ matchup with the Florida State Seminoles. On an episode of Bob Stoops on the former Oklahoma head coach’s YouTube channel, Stoops was asked if Drake would be returning for another season in Norman.

Stoops said, “Yeah, he’s told the coaches that he’s going to return for his next year and take his COVID year and work on some particular things that he feels he can be better at. At this point, that’s where it’s at, and he’s set to play another year.”

That’s a massive boost for an Oklahoma wide receiver group that is in a period of flux. Questions remain about whether star wideout [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] will return for his senior season or make the jump and head to the NFL draft. Additionally, the Sooners have had three receivers enter the transfer portal. [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag] was the most notable loss, as he was a contributor in his time in Norman.

Stoops’ return adds stability and ensures the Sooners will have at least two starting returners in Stoops and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] if Mims does head to the NFL. In 2022, Stoops has tallied 37 catches for 366 yards and three touchdowns. He’s a big-time third-down target out of the slot because of his work in the intermediate areas of the field. That’s going to be a big help next year for whoever is under center in Norman.

Stoops is a veteran leader and presence in the locker room. His experience will be invaluable to younger receivers like Farooq, [autotag]LV Bunkley-Shelton[/autotag], [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag], [autotag]Gavin Freeman[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], [autotag]Nicholas Anderson[/autotag], and incoming receivers like four-star signees [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] and [autotag]Keyon Brown[/autotag].

[listicle id=77801]

[listicle id=77790]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

NIL matters, but Oklahoma Sooners offering so much more

In a world where NIL has become the focal point of college recruiting, it’s easy to forget that football is a developmental game. Few have done it better than Brent Venables.

Football is a developmental game. And despite a 6-6 season, Oklahoma has shown they’re a program that can bring out the best in their players. As name, image, and likeness have taken over in college football, too often, the simple things in recruiting get overlooked. Coaching fit, player development, opportunity, and program accolades still matter.

Whether it’s the long track record of defensive stalwarts Brent Venables and Todd Bates have developed. Or the number of players Bill Bedenbaugh’s helped get to the NFL, the Oklahoma Sooners have a group of coaches that can recruit and that can develop talent.

In 2022, several Sooners had career-best seasons. Marvin Mims had his first 1,000-yard season. Other than some drops which could have led to points, Mims was a terror for opposing defenses. He took his game to another level in his third season in Norman. It’s possible he’s a top-100 pick in the 2022 NFL draft were he to declare.

Jalil Farooq, who took over as a starter in the Sooners wide receiver room, became a do-it-all option for Jeff Lebby. While he struggled with drops at different points in 2022, his ability with the ball in his hands on jet sweeps and the wide receiver screen proved valuable. Farooq began to show off his ability as a kick returner as well when Billy Bowman went down and led the team in average per return.

Taking advantage of a full-time role at tight end. Brayden Willis had a breakout year. His 2022 season will undoubtedly lead to a draft selection in April’s NFL draft. Willis came into the season known for his standout blocking ability, but he displayed that he could be a pass-catching threat as well, leading the Sooners with seven touchdowns.

Eric Gray, who was underutilized in 2021, had a huge season and was arguably the offense’s best player throughout the course of 2022. He was one of the best running backs in the nation and earned All-Big 12 second-team honors.

Oklahoma’s offensive line, which felt like a question mark coming into the season, had another really strong season under Bedenbaugh. It will likely see three of its 2022 starters selected in the 2023 NFL draft. Anton Harrison, Wanya Morris, and Chris Murray should each hear their name called at some point in the three-day festivities. Additionally, the development of Tyler Guyton, who was forced into action due to injuries to Morris and Harrison, played really well in the first extended playing time in his career.

On the defensive side, no player showed their ability to improve throughout the course of the season like Danny Stutsman. As Oklahoma’s defensive MVP, Stutsman led the Big 12 in tackles and had three interceptions for the Sooners. His play down the stretch helped spark the Sooners defense. There’s still room for improvement for Stutsman and the rest of the defense, but depth is more of an issue there than anything. On numerous occasions Stutsman and the linebacker crew were playing 90+ snaps a game.

Billy Bowman, another first-year starter, played really well in stretches for the Sooners defense. His ability to support in coverage and in the run game was a bright spot at times.

Along the defensive front, Ethan Downs closed the season strong for the Oklahoma Sooners, which is encouraging heading into his junior season in Norman. Like Stutsman and Bowman, this was Downs first year as a starter. Like Stutsman and Bowman, there was a lot of good to build off of. Downs led the Sooners with 13.5 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks on the season. But it was how he closed the regular season that provides the optimism for 2023. Downs recorded six tackles for loss and two sacks in the final three games. Oklahoma will need him to continue that upward trajectory over the offseason to help improve the Sooners pass rush.

As we looked at when Brent Venables was hired, he’s had a ton of success getting defensive players selected in the top 100 of the draft. During his time as a defensive coordinator at Oklahoma and Clemson, Venables has had 32 players taken in the top 100 of the NFL draft. And he and his coaching staff will continue to do that with the Oklahoma Sooners in the future.

Development is the name of the game. While name, image, and likeness is a part of the college game now, for better or worse, there’s more to Oklahoma than the cash they can put in a prospect’s pockets through a NIL deal. The Crimson and Cream Collective is making headway on the NIL landscape, but the allure to coming to Oklahoma goes far beyond the bank accounts.

If NIL is the priority, perhaps Oklahoma isn’t the best fit for a kid. But if they have grander plans, like playing on Sundays, then they could do far worse than spending their collegiate career in Norman.

[vertical-gallery id=49586]

Oklahoma Sooners attempting to solidify the WR position through the transfer portal

The Oklahoma Sooners have made it clear that they need help at the wide receiver position through their transfer portal targets.

It’s been quite noticeable that the Oklahoma Sooners have been targeting wide receivers in the transfer portal. They’ve offered Ra Ra Thomas (Auburn), Dante Cephas (Kent State), Tre Harris (Louisiana Tech), Dorian Singer (Arizona) and Xavier Guillory (Idaho State).

It’s clear the Oklahoma Sooners believe they need to add one or more wide receivers to the depth chart.

Though there hasn’t been any indication from [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] regarding his future, there’s a chance he could return to the Oklahoma Sooners for his senior season. He’s playing in the Cheez-It Bowl against Florida State, but after his first 1,000-yard season, he could determine he’s ready to make the leap to the NFL. At the same time, duplicating that production in 2023 could put him in an even better standing among NFL scouts and general managers for 2024.

As things stand, [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag] and [autotag]LV Bunkley-Shelton[/autotag] are the most experienced wide receivers on the roster if Mims were to depart for the NFL. None of those guys has been a lead wide receiver or has the production to match what Mims did in 2022. Farooq has flashed the ability, but he’s also had some head-scratching performances in his first full season as a starter.

Stoops is a good wide receiver, but not necessarily someone that will earn 100-plus targets. Hester and Bunkley-Shelton barely saw the field in 2022.

Then there’s [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] and [autotag]Nicholas Anderson[/autotag], two highly regarded wide receivers from the 2022 recruiting class. They didn’t see the field much either: Gibson saw 92 snaps in six games and Anderson 11 snaps in three games. Gibson had five targets but caught just one. Anderson didn’t see a pass come his way.

So when it comes down to it, Farooq and Stoops, if he returns for one more year, are the only receivers that Oklahoma can feel good about going into the 2023 offseason. Gibson and Anderson may emerge as lead wide receivers in the Sooners’ offense, but is the coaching staff at a point where they feel like they can rely upon them for 50 or more targets in 2023?

With the offers they’ve put out there, it appears the Sooners coaching staff wants to create competition at the position and see who emerges with a starting role in September.

If Marvin Mims returns, the Sooners will have one of the best wide receivers and wide receiver groups in the Big 12. If he jets off to the NFL, they’ll be left with a question mark at the position. They’re trying to make sure they have multiple answers to the problem at wide receiver moving forward.

[listicle id=76629]

[listicle id=77037]

Highest Graded Oklahoma Sooners in 2022 according to Pro Football Focus

Who graded out as the best Oklahoma Sooners across several categories according to Pro Football Focus in 2022?

The 2022 season came to a screeching halt for the Oklahoma Sooners. After jumping out to a 17-0 lead and leading by 18 in the second quarter, the Sooners were unable to hold off the Red Raiders before halftime as Texas Tech brought the score to 24-23.

The 51-48 loss to Texas Tech was characteristic of much of the 2022 season. Oklahoma was good enough to win but was unable to make the plays necessary to win the game. Like the Baylor, West Virginia, and Kansas State games before them, when the Sooners needed a play, they weren’t able to make it.

With the regular season over, let’s take a look at how the Oklahoma Sooners graded out across 11 categories with Pro Football Focus. Then take a look at how the Sooners graded out in their loss to the Red Raiders from contributor Bryant Crews.

Report Card: Sooners defense can’t hold up in finale vs. Texas Tech

Oklahoma’s defense was unable to get stops at the end as the Sooners fell 51-48 to Texas Tech. From @thatmanbryant

With an opportunity to solidify themselves above .500, Oklahoma traveled to Lubbock, Texas to take on the Texas Tech Raiders. Texas Tech took the first couple of punches from the Sooners on the chin before fighting their way back into the game. The game would eventually go to overtime, where a missed Zach Schmit field goal would lead to Texas Tech kicking the game-winner for a 51-48 victory to leave the Sooners at 6-6 for the regular season.

It was far from a horrible performance for the team as a whole, but it followed a similar script we’ve seen too many times this year. Oklahoma came out on fire before they eased up and let the other team back in the game.

The offense did a magnificent job from the opening snap, while the defense and special teams left a bit to be desired.

Here’s our report card from the Sooners’ loss to Texas Tech.

[lawrence-related id=76324]

Oklahoma Sooners fall 51-48 in OT to Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Oklahoma Sooners lost to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in overtime on a field goal from Trey Wolff. From @bendackiw

The long, neverending nightmare that is the 2022 season for the Oklahoma Sooners got a little worse in the final game of the regular season. The Sooners lost to the Texas Tech Red Raiders 51-48 after leading 14-0 in the first quarter and 24-6 in the second.

In the final seconds of regulation, Texas Tech lined up for the game-tying field goal. Brent Venables decided to ice the Texas Tech kicker. Venables called his timeout, but Texas Tech snapped the ball. The play proceeded as normal. OU blocked the kick.

No matter.

Since Venables called timeout, the play didn’t count. Trey Wolff did not miss his second attempt. After Oklahoma kicker Zach Schmitt missed his field goal on the opening possession of overtime and Wolff hit his attempt to give the Red Raiders their first win against OU in a decade.

There were over 1200 yards of total offense in this game. Jeff Lebby, for the most part, called an excellent game, and Dillon Gabriel looked phenomenal. The southpaw had a career-high six touchdowns on the night. Gabriel threw for 449 yards and six touchdowns.

Texas Tech’s secondary could not defend the deep ball, and Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, and Jalil Farooq all took advantage. The Sooners’ talented trio of pass-catchers each burned the Red Raiders downfield. Mims finished a yard shy of setting a new career-high in yards with his five-catch, 162-yard first-half outburst. After a dominant performance in the first 30 minutes, Mims didn’t have a reception in the second half. Wease stepped up to set a new career-high in yards with 123 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. Brayden Willis got in on the action as well, with seven receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown.

But the strong offensive performance was let down by another poor performance from the Oklahoma Sooners defense.

After last week’s phenomenal effort against Oklahoma State, the defense looked dreadful. There always seemed to be one Texas Tech receiver open downfield. Down the stretch in the fourth quarter, the pass rush got no push. Another quarterback that started the season as a backup sliced and diced the OU defense.

This time, it was Tyler Shough’s turn. Shough threw for 436 yards and two touchdowns and added 44 yards rushing, taking advantage of wide-open space in the scramble drill to kill Oklahoma’s defense. Texas Tech gained 599 total yards and converted 7 of 17 third downs and both of their fourth down attempts.

It was just an incredibly frustrating and, quite frankly, deserved loss. The Sooners did not deserve to win this game. They had their chance to bury Tech, much like they could have buried Oklahoma State, and they couldn’t.

OU will finish the season 6-6 and 8th in the Big 12.

[listicle id=76260]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=none image=https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Oklahoma Sooners at Texas Tech Red Raiders: Stream, injury report, broadcast info

Trying to figure out where to find the game on Saturday? Here’s how to watch, stream or listen to Oklahoma at Texas Tech. From @john9williams

Oklahoma (6-5, 3-5 Big 12) will face Texas Tech (6-5, 4-4) on Saturday night in Lubbock, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

Heading into last weekend, both the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Tech were still in search of the win to get them to bowl eligibility. For both teams, it’s been a roller coaster of a season with their first-year head coaches, though Oklahoma’s struggles have been more the surprise.

Joey McGuire has Texas Tech bowl eligible for the second-straight season. It’s the first time since 2012-2013 that the Red Raiders have gone to a bowl game in back-to-back seasons.

The big storyline facing the Red Raiders is the loss of Tyree Wilson for the season. Their star edge rusher was in the midst of a fantastic year with 61 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Texas Tech’s defense has had some issues in 2022, losing their best player creates a hole along the defensive front, particularly in the pass rush.

The Sooners are dealing with their own injury issues, as Andrew Raym will miss the remainder of the year after having surgery. Robert Congel has filled in admirably in his absence, but the interior offensive line will be something to watch.

Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
TV Channel: FS1
Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)
Listen: Streaming on the Varsity App

Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech injury report:

Oklahoma

[autotag]T.D. Roof[/autotag], LB: Out for season (Elbow)

[autotag]Shane Whitter[/autotag], LB: Out for season (Shoulder)

[autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], S: Out (Leg)

Daniel Parker Jr., TE: Out Indefinitely (Suspension)

Texas Tech

[autotag]Behren Morton[/autotag], QB: Questionable (Ankle)

[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag], LB: Out Indefinitely (Undisclosed)

[autotag]Bryce Ramirez[/autotag], LB: Out Indefinitely (Leg)

[autotag]Bryce Robinson[/autotag], LB: Out Indefinitely (Leg)

[autotag]Cole Spencer[/autotag], OL: Out for Season (Knee)

[autotag]Mason Tharp[/autotag], TE: Questionable (Undisclosed)

[autotag]Tyree Wilson[/autotag], LB: Out for Season (Foot)

[lawrence-related id=75639]

Players to watch:

Oklahoma

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], QB: 62% for 2,476 yards, 18 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. 39 carries, 336 yards, and 5 touchdowns.*

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] WR: 47 receptions for 844 yards and 4 touchdowns.

[autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], TE: 28 receptions for 382 yards and 5 touchdowns.

[autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], RB: 165 carries for 1,113 yards, 10 touchdowns at 6.7 yards per carry. 28 receptions for 189 yards and 0 touchdowns.

[autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], WR: 29 receptions for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns. 12 carries for 113 yards, 0 touchdowns at 9.4 yards per carry. 12 kickoff returns for 275 yards at 22.9 yards per return.

[autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], WR: 31 receptions for 311 yards and 3 touchdowns.

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], LB: 100 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 4 passes defended.

[autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], LB: 8933 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.

[autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag], LB: 76 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended.

[autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], DE: 33 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 passes defended.

[autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag], DT: 20 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 passes defended.

Texas Tech

[autotag]Tyler Shough[/autotag], QB: 58% for 632 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions. 18 carries, 152 yards, and 2 rushing touchdowns.*

[autotag]Myles Price[/autotag], WR: 42 receptions for 424 yards and 2 touchdowns.

[autotag]Xavier White[/autotag], WR: 41 receptions for 557 yards and 3 touchdowns.

[autotag]Jerand Bradley[/autotag], WR: 35 receptions for 483 yards and 4 touchdowns.

[autotag]Tahj Brooks[/autotag], RB: 121575 carries for 575 yards, 7 touchdowns at 4.8 yards per carry.

[autotag]Sa’Roderick Thompson[/autotag], RB: 111 carries for 584 yards, 4 touchdowns at 5.3 yards per carry.

[autotag]Krishon Merriweather[/autotag], LB: 96 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.

[autotag]Kosi Eldridge[/autotag], LB: 68 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception.

Marquis Waters, S: 48 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 1 sack.

*Quarterback rushing numbers compiled from Pro Football Focus that doesn’t take away sack yardage from QB rushing totals.

[mm-video type=video id=01gjh429qnjngb5r51xa playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gjh429qnjngb5r51xa/01gjh429qnjngb5r51xa-a9b5c794fc580071576d626687a11d64.jpg]

[listicle id=76107]

[listicle id=76087]

Report Card: Oklahoma Sooners defense shines in Bedlam win on Senior Day

Oklahoma’s defense led the way in this week’s report card, while Oklahoma’s offense cooled off after a tremendous first quarter. From @thatmanbryant

In a game that didn’t have championship implications for the Sooners this year, a lot of other things were on the line for Oklahoma. Senior Day, over 20 prospects in the building, and the fact that in-state rival Oklahoma State was in the building. Oklahoma couldn’t take a loss, and they came out firing on all cylinders.

They won a 28-13 game that, for 15 minutes, looked like Oklahoma was going to put up 60 points on Oklahoma State. That wasn’t the case, but a win is a win, and Oklahoma handled its business.

With the win, they also became bowl eligible, an achievement considering how poorly Oklahoma has looked at times.

A Herculean effort from the Sooners’ defense is the biggest story of the day. Taking a big-picture approach, how did the rest of the team fare as we grade out the performance? Here’s a look at this week’s report card.