Oklahoma not good enough to overcome mistakes — official or otherwise
The Sooners were unable to overcome three turnovers, despite its defense making two 4th down stands and limiting a Heisman-candidate running back, and lost 27-24 to Oklahoma State in the last Bedlam matchup for the foreseeable future.
It was a disappointing end to the OU-OSU series, marring what has been a “comeback” tour for the Sooners.
The truth of this 2023 season is Oklahoma has made great improvement from a dismal 2022 season, but they are still a step away from competing for a conference championship or contending for a college football play off spot.
Most importantly, Oklahoma’s talent level across the board, leaves very little margin for error to allow them to shrug off key turnovers against a well-coached team like OSU.
Or to overcome two controversial pass interference calls (or no calls), one of which kept Drake Stoops from scoring what would would likely have been the winning touchdown in the last minute.
Or to overcome peculiar play selection that has offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby increasingly in the sights of critical fans.
As for Lebby, Oklahoma State sealed the win on Oklahoma’s fourth and five play that had Dillon Gabriel throwing to Stoops short of the line to gain.
“Ultimately, it was just a little short of the sticks, and that’s probably on me,” Lebby said after the game.
Of course Lebby didn’t throw an interception in the game. Gabriel did. He didn’t fumble or cause the center Andrew Raym to make two bad snaps.
But, you have to factor in Lebby’s decision making as part of the reason Oklahoma’s margin for error is very slim. In close games, a miscue here and there, and a bad play call at critical moments, can torpedo the chance for a win.
And that’s what happened at Bedlam in Stillwater.
OSU scored 10 points late off of Oklahoma turnovers.
“It’s really frustrating because we need to play complimentary football,” said guard McKade Mettauer.
“We need to capitalize when (the defense) is playing good,” he said.
Near the end, Stoops was pushed out of bounds of the end zone while attempting to complete a touchdown pass (he actually caught it, although it was clear he was out of bounds). The official did not make the pass interference call — what that was so obvious, even ABC’s official analyst called it pass interference.
Oklahoma cannot expect to get the calls this year in the Big 12. The refs aren’t giving them breaks, almost as if the league office is telling them what to do.
More importantly, its just another thing this team isn’t good enough to overcome.
“We’re not good enough to overcome those mistakes consistently, especially the turnovers,” Venables said.
The fact this was big game, critical to Oklahoma’s hopes of getting into the Big 12 championship game and possible playoff spot, and the fact it was the last of this longstanding rivalry (Oklahoma leads the series 92 to 20 since 1904), makes this loss particularly difficult for Sooners fans.
But, considering where Oklahoma was last year, the Sooners are still on track to having a very good year.
I had predicted a good season would be a nine-win season. I expected three losses — to Texas, Oklahoma State and another unnamed Big 12 opponent.
The Sooners beat Texas. Have lost to Kansas (the theretofore “unnamed” opponent). And have lost to OSU.
Oklahoma is still on track for a good season. Win out the last three games, and finish 10-2, and it will be a very good season as the Sooners step closer to competing in the SEC.
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