Oklahoma’s win over Texas at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday was epic in several aspects. First, it gave the Sooners their first conference win and evened the season record to 2-2. Beyond that, we saw special teams finally work in Oklahoma’s favor, the rushing attack get going despite the absence of Seth McGowan, and young players make a difference on the defensive side of the ball.
Here are a few things that you may not have noticed about Oklahoma’s four-overtime thriller in Dallas.
Game Notes
• This was the second Oklahoma-Texas game to be decided in overtime (the Sooners won 30-27 in 1996 in single-overtime).
• The total of 98 combined points surpassed the 2018 Red River Showdown as the highest-scoring game in series history.
• This was the third time a game involving at least one Big 12 team went to four overtimes, and the first since 2011 (Kansas State defeated Texas A&M 53-50 on Nov. 12, 2011).
• Oklahoma is now 7-3 in overtime games and 3-1 in contests that have gone at least two overtimes. This was OU’s first-ever game with more than two overtimes.
• The Sooners have won nine of their last 12 meetings against Texas. The only other period Oklahoma won at least nine Red River matchups in a 12-or-fewer-game span was in the 1940s and 50s when the Sooners won nine out of 10 meetings from 1948-57.
• Since 2000, Oklahoma has lost its game immediately prior to the Red River Showdown four times and has beaten the Longhorns on all four occasions (28-21 in 2007, 31-26 in 2014, 29-24 in 2017 and 53-45 on Saturday).
• Lincoln Riley is just the second head coach in Oklahoma history to win at least four of his first five games against Texas. Bob Stoops went 4-1 in his first five games vs. the Longhorns (1999-03).
• Oklahoma improved to 16-0 all-time against Texas when leading by 14 points after three quarters.
• The Sooners defense recorded six sacks and 10 tackles for loss on Saturday (and was credited with seven QB hurries). Counting the 2019 Red River Showdown (nine sacks, 15 TFLs), Oklahoma has totaled 15 sacks and 25 TFLs in their last two games against Texas.
• OU’s 15 combined sacks over the 2019 and ’20 meetings with Texas are its most ever in consecutive games against the Longhorns (previous high was 11 [3 sacks in 2010; 8 in 2011). This is the first time the Sooners have ever recorded at least six sacks in consecutive games vs. Texas.
• OU had four rushes of at least 20 yards in the game, including a season-long 26-yarder by T.J. Pledger. Entering the game, the Sooners had only two rushes of at least 20 yards this season.
Brian Asamoah
Forced a fumble on Texas’ first possession. It was his first career forced fumble. He finished the game with a career-high nine tackles (four solo, five assists) and a half-sack.
Tre Brown
His game-sealing interception, in the fourth overtime, was just the second of his second career. He finished with six total tackles (four solo).
Pat Fields
Tallied a team-best 12 tackles (six solo), which was a personal career high and a season high for an OU defensive player. He had 10 tackles this season entering the game.
Marcus Major
Scored his first career touchdown on a 7-yard run in the second quarter. Finished with a career-high 43 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Marvin Mims
Notched his team-leading fourth touchdown reception of the season on a 30-yard pass from QB Spencer Rattler in the first quarter. Finished with four receptions for 52 yards.
Theo Wease
Caught a team-high eight passes for 56 yards. He entered the game with seven receptions this season and 15 for his career.
Woodi Washington
Intercepted a Sam Ehlinger pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter. It was his first career interception, and Oklahoma’s second interception of the season.
T.J. Pledger
Scored his first touchdown of the season on a 2-yard rush in the third quarter, and added a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter. He entered the game with one career rushing TD. Led the Sooners with a career-high 131 rushing yards on 22 carries (6.0 average), an OU season high.
Spencer Rattler
• Became just the third OU quarterback to beat Texas as a freshman starter, joining Justin Fuente in 1996 and Sam Bradford in 2007. Like Rattler, Fuente and Bradford were redshirt freshmen. Rattler is also just the sixth Sooner freshman QB to start vs. Texas.
• Completed 23 of 35 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He also rushed 14 times for 51 yards and a touchdown in the second overtime period.
David Ugwoegbu
• Blocked a second-quarter Texas punt and recovered it at the UT 5 yard line. It was his first career blocked punt, and OU’s first blocked kick of the season.
• Finished with a career-high 2.0 sacks.
Perrion Winfrey
Blocked Texas’ field goal attempt in the third overtime period. It was Oklahoma’s first blocked field goal since 2015 (Devante Bond vs. Tulsa).
Woodi Washington
Intercepted a Sam Ehlinger pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter. It was his first career interception, and Oklahoma’s second interception of the season.
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