Tag: kennedy brooks

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Sooners 55-48 win over the Longhorns

What stood out in the Oklahoma Sooners’ improbable win over the Texas Longhorns in this week’s version of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The 2021 Red River Showdown did not disappoint in terms of drama and excitement. The Texas Longhorns were in complete control of the football game through the first 30 minutes. Still, they didn’t do enough to ensure victory as the Oklahoma Sooners stormed back from 18 down at halftime to win a thrilling meeting between the two bitter rivals.

There was a lot to like from the Oklahoma Sooners performance on Saturday and a lot they need to improve upon.

The most important thing that will happen this week will be what happens at quarterback. And with that, let’s take a look at this week’s version of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners 55-48 win over the Texas Longhorns.

The Good: Lincoln Riley’s Decision

It’s never an easy thing to replace your starting quarterback. Given that Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley was in the same situation with quarterback Spencer Rattler a year ago probably made the decision even more difficult.

In hindsight, it proved to be the right decision, and it remained the right decision as Riley stuck with true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams. Spencer Rattler didn’t have it on Saturday, and there have been few games in 2021 in which he has.

Two more turnovers bring Rattler’s total to seven in six games. And as much as it was about the turnovers, it was about the time of the game in which they took place.

The Sooners were down just 14-7 after the offense scored, and the defense forced a three and out. Oklahoma was driving, and a miscommunication between Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner led to the interception. Texas would go on to score on the ensuing drive.

A little bit later in the game, with the score 28-17, on the first play from scrimmage after the Sooners’ defense forced a punt, Rattler attempted to avoid pressure and after running into his offensive lineman had the ball ripped out by Ben Davis and recovered by Demarvion Overshown.

Again, Texas took the turnover and drove for a touchdown to make it 35-17.

Twice Oklahoma had a chance to either tie or take a big bite out of the Longhorns’ lead, and both times Spencer Rattler turned the ball over.

Caleb Williams helped spark the Oklahoma Sooners offense, who then outscored the Longhorns 38-13 the rest of the way.

While Lincoln Riley hasn’t indicated what he would do at quarterback, the Oklahoma offense just looked differently with Williams at the helm.

With the in-game move, Lincoln Riley showed that he’s not above removing his starting quarterback or any other player if they’re not performing well. He did it last year and proved it again this year. And it was the right move. Regardless of how the game turned out, it would have been the right call to sit him down for a bit. Unlike last year with Tanner Mordecai, however, Caleb Williams wasn’t giving the job back.

Up Next: The Bad

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How did CBS Sports grade the Oklahoma Sooners’ Red River Showdown win?

Oklahoma’s win over the Longhorns was an improbable comeback story for the ages, but how did CBS Sports grade their performance vs. UT?

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In the Oklahoma Sooners win over the Texas Longhorns, OU didn’t get their first lead of the game until 7:10 remaining in the fourth quarter. They battled back from a 28-7 first-quarter deficit to win a game that they had no reasonable shot at winning. And it all started with “The Decision.”

As the Sooners were driving to turn OU-Texas back into a one-score game, something it hadn’t been since the opening minutes of the game, Spencer Rattler fumbled the ball for his second turnover of the day. Lincoln Riley inserted Caleb Williams and though it might have been a slow start, what transpired in the second half was nothing short of sports miraculous.

The Sooners outscored the Texas Longhorns 35-10 in the second half to complete the improbable comeback. For their efforts in winning the Red River Showdown, Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports gave the Sooners an A- in his week six report card.

Here’s what he had to say.

Caleb Williams came off of the pine like Jonathan Moxson in “Varsity Blues” to lead the Sooners to a wild, 21-point comeback win in a shootout in the Red River Showdown. That’s the bright side. The defense gave up 516 yards to the Longhorns. That can’t continue if the Sooners intend to win the national title.

It was a wild game that provided every twist and turn one could imagine in a college football game. This game will be prominently featured in Oklahoma highlight reels for years to come, while the Texas Longhorns will work to forget the epic collapse.

As the Sooners get set to face the TCU Horned Frogs, they have some things to clean up on both sides of the football. The first thing they’ll need to figure out is who starts for them at quarterback. While that won’t be easy news to deliver, it should be a fairly straightforward decision for Lincoln Riley and his coaching staff based on how Saturday went.

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3 Stars: Which Sooners shined brightest “deep in the heart of Texas?”

There were a litany of stand-out performances on Saturday for the Sooners, but which stars shined brightest “deep in the heart of Texas?”

If there was ever a game where individual performances reigned supreme, it was the 2021 edition of the Red River Showdown. The Sooners won an all-time classic in dramatic fashion over the Texas Longhorns 55-48. The ups and downs of the game were enough to make the most relaxed person stressed out. When the dust cleared, however, it was the Sooners who were on top.

For the Sooners, it was a team effort. However, several players rose to the occasion in the biggest game of the year (to date).

Third Star: Marvin Mims, Wide Receiver

Mims came into this season looking to cement himself as one of the nation’s best receivers. The first game against Tulane provided that glimpse of what he could be, but as the offense faltered and defenses started playing Oklahoma differently, his production declined.

Last week against Kansas State, Mims came up big with four catches for 96 yards. If that was him softly reminding us he was still capable, Saturday’s effort against Texas was him yelling at the nation, “I’m still that guy!”

Mims made play after play and had two huge catches down the field to help out his true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams. That doesn’t even include his touchdown catch that came after Williams fumbled a shotgun snap in the red zone.

Mims is the undisputed WR1 on this team, and he’s very much back to making explosive plays, which the Oklahoma offense has lacked in 2021.

Up Next: A Star Descends on the Cotton Bowl

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Best Social Media Reactions from OU’s 55-48 win over Texas

Take a look back at the Sooners thrilling win over the Longhorns with some of the best social media reactions from the Red River Showdown.

It was a thrilling game with loads of ups and downs as the Oklahoma Sooners rallied from as many as 21 points down to beat the Texas Longhorns in the 117th matchup between the bitter rivals.

The game was full of highlights on both sides as Texas’ Casey Thompson, Bijan Robinson, and Xavier Worthy put on a show against an Oklahoma Sooners defense that struggled in the first half before settling in and getting stops in the second half.

After a couple of costly turnovers for the Sooners, Spencer Rattler gave way to Caleb Williams, and the true freshman helped the Sooners outscore Texas 38-13 the rest of the way. Kennedy Brooks had a fantastic game, rushing for more than 200 yards, and Marvin Mims was “marvelous” as he torched the Longhorns for some big plays of his own.

It was as emotional a trip as any Red River Showdown and a game that will live on in the minds of those who played in it and those who witnessed it forever.

Let’s look back at some of the best social media reactions to the Sooners come from behind win as we continue our look back. Also, make sure you take a look at our seven takeaways from the Sooners win.

7 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners thrilling win over the Texas Longhorns

7 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners incredible come from behind win over the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown.

That was one thrilling ride. Much like the Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas, this game had so many ups and downs, twists and turns, that it left your body tense and your head aching from the ride.

The Oklahoma Sooners came back from a 38-17 first-half deficit to outscore the Texas Longhorns 38-10 in the second half to complete the improbable comeback. This game will go down as one of the best in the history of the rivalry.

As we continue to go over some of the great moments from the Sooners 55-48 win over the Texas Longhorns, here are 7 takeaways from Oklahoma’s win in the Red River Showdown that will live on as an instant classic.

No turning back, Caleb Williams should start for the Oklahoma Sooners moving forward

After leading the epic comeback in the Red River Showdown, freshman Caleb Williams should remain the starter for the Oklahoma Sooners.

After a terrible start to the game that saw the Oklahoma Sooners fall behind the Texas Longhorns 28-7, the Sooners worked their way back to a 28-17 deficit and had the ball first and 10 at the Texas 44 yard-line. With roughly eight minutes to go in the second half, the Sooners had a chance to bring the Red River Showdown back to a one-score game.

Then Spencer Rattler drops back to pass, attempts to escape pressure, and on contact has the ball stripped away for his second turnover of the day.

On the Longhorns’ ensuing drive, they went three plays, 55 yards, and another Casey Thompson touchdown that extended the lead to 18 points.

With that, Lincoln Riley turned to his true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams and never looked back.

Williams proceeded to lead the Sooners on a field goal drive after the Longhorns’ touchdown to make it 35-20 to end the half.

The Sooners defense would hold Texas to a field goal to end the first half. It was in the second half that Caleb Williams went to work.

After punting on their first drive to start the second half, Williams and the Sooners scored on six of their final seven drives for 35 points in the second half. It took poise and playmaking to will the Oklahoma Sooners back into this game, and Williams provided the spark that led to that.

In the second half, Caleb Williams was 10 of 14 for 180 yards and two touchdowns. As crucial as the stat line was, his presence provided a much-needed lift for the Oklahoma Sooners in their epic comeback win.

The running threat that Williams regularly put on display gave the Texas Longhorns one more thing to think about, and his willingness to allow his receivers to make a play was the difference in the game. In particular, throws down the field to Marvin Mims, one of which was a touchdown, changed the complexion of the Oklahoma Sooners offense and gave them a big-play element that they haven’t had in 2021.

Williams’ running threat also took some of the pressure off of a running game that had been good but wasn’t nearly as efficient before the Freshman entered the contest. As the Longhorns had to key in on Williams, Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray had much more room to run, and the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line had more time to develop their blocks as Williams held the linebackers at the mesh point.

With Caleb Williams at quarterback, Kennedy Brooks carried the ball 15 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Brooks had just 62 yards on 12 carries in the first half, and that’s a vast difference.

The Oklahoma Sooners just looked different with Williams in the game. They were more confident and more effective as the Sooners overcame deficits of 21 points and 18 points in the first half to win one of the best games in the 117 matchups between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma.

At this point, Lincoln Riley has to continue riding Caleb Williams. His talent was on full display in the epic Red River Showdown win over the Longhorns. He showed a poise, leadership, and decision-making ability far beyond his years as he guided the Sooners to one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the program.

Spencer Rattler’s played some good football for the Oklahoma Sooners. As up and down as the 2021 season has been, that’s the reality. At the same time, the 2021 Oklahoma Sooners are better with Caleb Williams at quarterback. If their ultimate goal is to win a national championship, Caleb Williams gives this team their best chance.

They showed on Saturday that they’re a better team with Caleb Williams at quarterback, and as they continue to press on with TCU next week, Williams should remain the starter. Now that the move has been made and the team had a lot of success with Williams under center, Lincoln Riley and the Sooners’ offensive coaching staff can’t look back. Caleb Williams should be the Sooners’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2021 season.

Oklahoma’s radio team had the most hype call of Kennedy Brooks’ 33-yard game winning TD

“Kennedy Brooks! He just won! He just won the game!”

Oklahoma and Texas gave us one of the best college football games of the year on Saturday in an instant classic.

The Sooners were able to complete a 21-point comeback to stun the Longhorns after Kennedy Brooks ran for a 33-yard touchdown on a play that was originally supposed to set Oklahoma up for a field goal attempt! All of that, of course, came after the Sooners benched starting quarterback Spencer Rattler for Caleb Williams in the second quarter.

Saturday’s game was an absolute all-timer, from Oklahoma’s ability to get back into the game and Texas’ legendary fumbling of a 21-point lead. Brooks’ final run which capped off the comeback was just the delicious icing on the already stellar cake for this Red River Showdown.

With great plays comes even better radio calls, as Oklahoma radio’s call of Brooks’ run is also up there as one of the most hype ones we’ve heard.

As for the other side of the coin, here is the call from Texas’ side of things, which is considerably less enthusiastic.

Oh, and for good measure, have the Russian call of the final touchdown!

So good.

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Kennedy Brooks runs wild in Oklahoma’s epic Red River comeback vs. Texas

Oklahoma’s incredible comeback win over Texas was an instant classic, and Sooners running back Kennedy Brooks stole the show

If there’s one game every year that’s a strong bet to be the most entertaining of the college football season, the Red River Showdown between Oklahoma and Texas can make as strong a case as any.

Saturday’s installment was further proof, as Oklahoma overcame a 21-point deficit to complete an epic 55-48 comeback win over the Longhorns.

While the biggest story of the day was the benching of Oklahoma starting quarterback Spencer Rattler, Sooners running back Kennedy Brooks stole the show for all the right reasons.

Brooks finished off an incredible performance with a game-winning 33-yard touchdown run in the final seconds, finishing the day with 217 yards and two touchdowns on just 25 carries.

The 2022 NFL draft class might be every bit as wide open at running back as it is at quarterback, and Brooks’ performance Saturday reminded pro scouts what he’s capable of on the biggest stage.

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Oklahoma staggers Texas on Kennedy Brooks TD with 3 seconds left in Red River Rivalry

Oklahoma’s Kennedy Brooks scores the game-winning TD in the final seconds against Texas

The Oklahoma Sooners appeared to be trying to get in position for a game-winning field goal against Texas at the Cotton Bowl in the Red River Rivalry.

Kennedy Brooks was not going to leave the Sooners’ fate to the foot of a kicker.

With the game tied at 48-48 and seconds remaining, Brooks took off and scored on a 33-yard touchdown run. There were 3 seconds left and soon after OU had a 55-48 victory and its fourth win in a row over the Longhorns in the classic rivalry.

Oklahoma trailed at one point 28-7 and scored 35 points in the second half.

Lincoln Riley benched an inconsistent Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams came in to lead the incredible comeback in the highest-scoring game in the history of the rivalry.

Brooks had 217 rushing yards and a pair of touchdown runs.

What does Marcus Major’s return mean for the Oklahoma Sooners?

With reports that Marcus Major has been deemed eligible by the NCAA, what does his return mean for the Oklahoma Sooners?

Earlier Friday afternoon, the Oklahoma Sooners received some major (pun intended) news. Running back Marcus Major was deemed eligible to return to the Oklahoma Sooners after being cleared by the NCAA. It’s a pretty significant development for the Oklahoma Sooners. They’ve made it through five games so far without any significant injuries to the two scholarship running backs on the roster in Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray.

Major spent all winter, spring, and summer preparing for what was going to be a big opportunity to join a consistent rotation of backs and was ruled ineligible weeks before the team broke fall camp.

What does Major being back mean for the Sooners this season? First and foremost, it gives them depth at a position of serious need. Running backs take beatings like no other position in the sport of football, and as a result, injuries are much more likely. Having Major gives Oklahoma a bit of an opportunity to keep their backs fresh and lessen the likelihood of injury.

His return also allows the head coach and play-caller Lincoln Riley to take the proverbial bubble wrap off Gray and Brooks. The Sooners didn’t go full Air Raid, but at times (see: West Virginia), they tilted too far to the pass in terms of balance. Riley has had an almost perfect split in run:pass ratio since arriving in Norman, and this year at times, he’s had to abandon that.

Some of that was because of the offensive line play, some of that was a personal decision, and some of it had to do with the fact he really can’t run the ball when you have two scholarship running backs. Riley and running back coach DeMarco Murray offered votes of confidence in walk-ons Todd Hudson and Jaden Knowles but having another scholarship running back serves as a buffer.

Look for an uptick in the usage of Riley using 20 (2 RBs, 0 TEs) and 21 personnel (2 RBs, 0 TEs).

Though he’s been reportedly practicing with the team, It’s uncertain how much Marcus Major will factor into the game plan against the Texas Longhorns. However, as the season rolls on, look for Major to slot right into the rotation and try and build off his Cotton Bowl performance, where he had nine carries for 110 yards and a touchdown.

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