A tenacious Baylor defense stymied the Oklahoma offense all night.
But for perhaps the first time this season it was the Sooners defense that stepped up to keep OU ahead in the game, and secured not only a 27-14 win, but a berth in the Big 12 Championship game on December 19.
The Oklahoma defense has held opponents to 14 points or less in the last three games.
After an 0-2 start for the season, when it seemed unlikely they would wind up at AT&T Stadium at the end of the season, the Sooners return to the championship game to seek revenge against Iowa State.
Oklahoma has played in the title game 12 times and lost only once.
However, Oklahoma Coach Lincoln Riley wasn’t satisfied with the performance Saturday night..
“I think our guys weren’t coached worth a damn this week, to be completely honest,” he said in his post-game press conference.
“We had a lot of mental errors and a lot of bad play calls,” he said.
He praised the defense for not giving up big plays, considering Baylor threw 56 passes.
QB Spencer Rattler completed 20 of 28 passes for 193 yards and one interception. The Sooners were held to only 76 yards rushing.
Oklahoma lead 10-0 at the half, buoyed by a strong defense that helped the Sooners win the field position battle.
QB Spencer Rattler threw an interception in the first half — or, what would best be described as a batted missed catch by Rhamondre Stevenson.
Stevenson later made up for it, scoring on 3-yard run with just 1:04 left in the second quarter, giving the Sooners a two-score lead.
Earlier in the second quarter Tre Norwood intercepted a Charlie Brewer pass, setting up what fans hoped would be a drive that would get the Sooners’ offense in gear.
But, instead, Oklahoma went three and out and punted back to Baylor.
Still the Sooners maintained the momentum, with the Sooners defense kicked into high gear, shutting down the Bears’ offense. Defensive tackle Isaiah Thomas sacked Brewer for a 7 yard loss.
At the half the game was a definite defensive clash. Baylor lead offenses with 110 yards to Oklahoma’s 99.
Remarkably, the defensive show occurred without secondary defenders Pat Fields, Justin Broiles, Woodi Washington and Brandon Radley-Hiles.
Oklahoma moved Robert Barnes, who had been moved to linebacker before the season, back to safety.
The Sooners scored on their first possession of the second half, ending a 52-yard drive on a Rattler scramble then pass to Theo Wease.
And on the next series, it appeared the Sooners defense had held the Bears with a massive sack of Brewer. That was negated by an off sides penalty, allowing Brewer to then throw a 25 yard TD pass Tyquan Thornton for the Bears’ first score.
Oklahoma followed with a 50 yard field goal from sure footed Gabe Brkic, giving the Sooners a 20-7 lead early in the fourth.
A lucky tipped 8-yard pass then catch by Brayden Willis for a touchdown sealed the game with 5:17 left in the fourth.
Baylor scored a meaningless touchdown on a Brewer run with :59 left in the game.
Theo Wease had his best game of the season, grabbing five passes for 66 yards.
The low-scoring game ended OU’s 60-game streak of scoring 28 or more points.
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