Oklahoma’s 27-14 win over Baylor on Saturday night locked the Sooners and Cyclones in for the conference championship game but it also ended a long-standing streak for OU as well as set Lincoln Riley up for a major achievement of greatness.
With his 43rd win as Oklahoma’s head coach Riley tied the record for most wins in the first four seasons of an OU heading coaching career. He is now 43-8 (.843), matching the number of wins by Bob Stoops (43-9) in his first four seasons at OU (1999-2002). With the potential of three more wins on the season Lincoln Riley is set up to do something that no other coach in program history has accomplished.
On a little less of an encouraging note Oklahoma’s offense saw a couple of streaks come to an end on Saturday night.
The Sooners gained 264 yards of total offense, its fewest total yards since 2014 (232 vs. Texas) and the lowest total of the Riley era (previous low was 278 yards against Texas in 2015).
Another offensive streak that ended was Oklahoma scoring at least four touchdowns or more. Going into Saturday night the Sooners had at least 28 points in a school-record 60 consecutive contests.
On the bright side, OU has scored at least 27 points in a school-record 61 consecutive games.
Game Notes
• OU held Baylor to just 25 rushing yards on 26 attempts (0.96 yards per rush). It was the fewest rushing yards by an opponent since the Sooners held Kansas to 19 rushing yards in 2014. OU entered the game ranked ninth nationally by allowing 96.0 rushing yards per game (3.2 per carry), which ranked ninth nationally entering the day.
• This was the fourth game this season in which the OU defense recorded two interceptions (also vs. Texas, Texas Tech and Kansas).
• The Sooners tallied three sacks and eight tackles for loss in the game (with four more QB hurries). Over its last six games, the OU defense has totaled 27 sacks and 54 tackles for loss (averages of 4.5 sacks and 9.0 TFLs per game).
• Oklahoma registered eight pass breakups, its most since 2018 vs. West Virginia. OU finished with 10 passes defended (eight PBUs plus two interceptions), its most since 2017 vs. Oklahoma State.
• OU has won the time of possession battles in eight of its nine games this season (30:10 to 29:50 tonight). The Sooners entered the day ranked ninth nationally (among teams that have played more than three times) in time of possession.
• Oklahoma led 3-0 after the first quarter and has outscored opponents 127-17 in the opening period this season. The Sooners have limited the nine opponents to 531 total yards on 140 plays (3.8 average) in the opening 15 minutes.
• Before Saturday night, the last time Oklahoma held a Big 12 opponent scoreless in the first half was in 2015 at Kansas State (55-0 OU victory).
Gabe Brkic
• Made field goals of 20 and 50 yards, and converted all three of his PAT attempts in the game.
• He is now 16 for 21 on field goal attempts and 40 for 40 on PATs this season. He is 33 of 38 on field goals and 92 of 92 on PATs in his career.
• His 33 career made field goals tie Uwe von Schamann for 10th all-time at OU (von Schamann was 33 for 51 in his career).
D.J. Graham
• Notched his first career interception in the third quarter and returned it 22 yards.
• Finished with three tackles (all solo), including one tackle for loss. He has tallied at least three tackles in each of the last four games.
Bryan Mead
• Tallied a career-high seven total tackles (tied for team high with Delarrin Turner-Yell), including four solo stops. His previous career high was four tackles, which he had made three times (most recently vs. Kansas).
Tre Norwood
• Recorded his team-leading third interception of the season and returned it 34 yards in the second quarter. It was his fourth career interception.
Rhamondre Stevenson
• Scored his team-leading sixth rushing touchdown of the season on a 3 yard run in the second quarter. Finished the game with 50 yards on 15 carries and added 48 receiving yards on five catches.
Isaiah Thomas
• Notched career highs of 2.5 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss (for a total of 21 lost yards) and added a QB hurry. He now leads the team with 8.0 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.
• Tallied a career-high six total tackles (four solo, two assists) in the game.
Brayden Willis
• Scored his first touchdown of the season on an 8-yard reception in the fourth quarter. It was his fourth-career TD reception.
• Finished with season highs of three receptions and 30 yards.
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