We gave them momentum. And in the second half, we just played very poor football” — Lincoln Riley
The absence of an experienced QB to pull wins out of scoring fests appears to be the Sooners’ Achilles heel this year.
That was evident on Saturday, when turnovers and penalties combined with a second-half collapse of Oklahoma’s defense gave Kansas State a 38-35 upset in Norman.
Redshirt freshman QB Spencer Rattler threw three interceptions, the last one a game killer in the closing seconds of the game on a final drive that Oklahoma needed to avoid its first loss at home since 2017 to Iowa State.
But it was the Oklahoma defense, which gave up 31 second half points, that put at risk what was appearing early would be a win for the No. 3 Sooners.
“The first half was dominant. I was thinking, ‘I don’t know how this game is even this close right now.’ We gave them momentum. And in the second half, we just played very poor football,” Lincoln Riley said.
“There were some bad calls by me. Sometimes we had guys open that we missed ’em or we didn’t have quite the protection. … poor job by me and not putting our guys in position to make enough plays.”
Oklahoma had won 53 straight games when leading at the beginning of the fourth quarter before this game. The game marks the first time in school history the Wildcats have beaten a top-three team in the Associated Press poll away from home.
The loss overshadowed a career high game by Bob Stoops’ son, Drake, who lead OU receivers with three receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown, his first career score.
K-State seems to have Oklahoma’s number. The Wildcats upset the then No. 5 Sooners last year 48-41 in Manhattan — a game that also saw a failing defense allow a seemingly less talented squad to pull out an upset.
Oklahoma led 21-7 at halftime. And the defense had only given up 98 yards to Kansas State’s offense.
The tide began to turn in the third quarter for Kansas State when freshman Deuce Vaughn ripped the Sooners secondary for a 77-yard reception that set up a QB Skylar Thompson score from the goal line. The three-play drive was the first embarrassment for the Oklahoma defense in this young season. It would not be the last in this game.
Meanwhile, K-State’s defense jarred the ball free from freshman OU RB Seth McGowan, which set up a K-State score cutting the Sooners’ lead to 35-28 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Kansas State later blocked an OU punt, which lead to short field scoring drive to allow the Wildcats to tie the game. Running back Deuce Vaughn scored on a 38-yard run. After K-State stopped the Oklahoma offense on the next series, the Wildcats got a 50-yard field goal for the points that decided the game.
“You have to be awfully deaf to not learn from this one.” — Alex Grinch
“You have to be awfully deaf to not learn from this one.” — Alex Grinch
Although Oklahoma gave up four turnovers, Kansas State had none.
OU Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch said the absence of takeaways continues to frustrate him.
“They win you ball games and lose you ball games and I’m not getting the job done,” Grinch said.
“You have to be awfully deaf to not learn from this one.”
Rattler had 387 yards passing, with four touchdowns and three interceptions on 30 of 41 passes. But, Rattlers struggled in the fourth quarter as pass protection became an issue for the offensive line and K-State’s man-to-man defense stymied receivers from getting open.
Freshman receivers Marvin Mims had two touchdowns on five receptions for 31 yards.
“We’re very disappointed, but the resolve is very strong,” Riley said. “We know how to respond to a loss around here, and we’ll do it, and it’s going to take every single one of us.”
Oklahoma plays Iowa State next week in Ames. The Cyclones came close to upsetting the Sooners in Norman last year before falling 42-41.
Box Score
Photo credit: Kyle Phillips/Norman Transcript
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