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The season hasn’t slipped away from Oklahoma, just yet, but things are definitely trending in the wrong direction. Injuries, questionable play calling, bad luck, and seemingly biased officiating have all contributed to a two-game slide for the Sooners. Two weeks ago the Sooners stated the weekend as the top team in the Big 12, primed for a conference title berth and in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Now, they’re in a four-way tie for third place in the conference. The playoffs are gone for the Sooners but Big 12 title hopes are still alive. They’ll need some help though, as Texas and Oklahoma State currently sit in the driver’s seat to meet up in Arlington next month.
- Oklahoma State has clearly improved this season. We knew that coming into the game, and they proved it on the field Saturday afternoon. There were so many factors that contributed to this loss, but you have to give O-State credit for their team improvement. This wasn’t even close to being the same team that was run off the field by South Alabama back in September.
- Losing Andrel Anthony broke Oklahoma’s offense. Look, I get the criticism of Jeff Lebby, and I agree with it but probably not for the same reason as most of Sooner Nation. Anthony’s deep threat ability allowed Lebby so many options, but since the speedster when down against Texas the offense hasn’t worked. Yeah, play-calling is questionable but so has execution. The Sooners have turned the ball over six times in the last two games! It’s Lebby’s job to fix it, and it’s unfathomable that this far into the season there hasn’t been a solution. Anthony went down on October 7th and nearly a month later there isn’t a solution. To me, that’s worse than the plays that are being called.
- Danny Stutsman’s absence looms large! Kip Lewis was really good on Saturday, leading the team with 15 tackles. However, the leadership and confidence that Stutsman brings to the field hasn’t been replicated.
- Reggie Pearson returning for the second half was massive! It makes you wonder how the game may have been different had he been eligible for all four quarters.
- I still don’t understand the running back situation. This was the version of Gavin Sawchuk that we’ve been waiting for. He averaged 8.5 yards per carry, but it seemed as if the Sooners moved away from him in the second half.
- The defensive pass interference no-call’s are beyond petty. It’s reached the state of embarrassment. The Big 12 has lost it’s credibility and has reached a new level of pathetic.
- Two week’s in a row! Last week it was Ethan Downs getting a late interception against Kansas. This week it was Billy Bowman against Oklahoma State. Both of those should have been able to seal a victory. Neither one of them did.
- Mike Gundy finally won a coaching battle against Oklahoma. This is painful to type but the Sooners were outcoached in many aspects of the game on Saturday. That’s not typical for a Mike Gundy in a Bedlam game.
- The Sooners beat themselves. I know that I started with giving OSU credit for improvement, but now let’s have an honest conversation. The Cowboys had little to nothing to do with bad play calling, turnovers, officiating issues, and poor execution. Those were all on Oklahoma! Fix just half of those and the Sooners are walking off that field with a win.
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