This was a game of missed opportunities.
A strategy change toward running the ball gave Oklahoma some hope in the second half, but the fourth quarter jinx that has plagued the Sooners all season returned for a 33-19 loss to Texas A&M.
The Aggies won over the Sooners for the first time since 2002. Oklahoma drops to 7-2 overall and 3-2 in conference.
The Sooners dug a hole to crawl out of in the first half, starting out the game with a safety caused by a high snap over Landry Jones’ head and then trailing 12-0 at halftime.
“We started off the game in a horrible way,” Coach Bob Stoops said after the game.
It didn’t get much better afterward.
Five of Oklahoma’s seven first-half drives were killed by poor decisions or play by sophomore QB Landry Jones, who was harassed by the Aggie pass rush all night.
On several occasions Jones ran out of the pocket and directly into the pass rush. He also passed incomplete when he could have run for first downs. Another drive was killed by Jones throwing an interception. He missed a wide open Kenny Stills on a pass that would have scored in the first quarter.
Then, Oklahoma coaches went to a running game in the second half. The move proved helpful, netting 17 Sooner points in the third quarter.
But then a huge momentum shift occurred when Coach Bob Stoops, his Sooners down 19-17, chose to fake a field goal rather than rely upon placekicker Pat O’Hara. John Nimmo’s perfect pass to the end zone was dropped by TE James Hannah.
Texas A&M responded with a 64 yard touchdown pass from QB Ryan Tannehill to to Ryan Swope, putting the Aggies up 33-17 with 8:00 remaining in the game.
Oklahoma had great field position for much of the second half. DeMarco Murray played well and so did Ryan Broyles. But errors by Jones and dropped passes by receivers Stills and Hannah kept the Sooners offense from answering Aggies scores.
Pat O’Hara got a chance to kick a 36 yard field goal later, but missed badly.
And, the Sooners had the opportunity to get back in the game late — with two possessions inside the Aggie five yard line.
On each occasion the Sooner coaches inexplicably chose to run the ball four times in a row. Each time the Aggie defense stuffed them.
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