Either team would tell you that it was not the prettiest of games played at the Cotton Bowl throughout the years, as undefeated Oklahoma hands Texas their second loss of the season 34-27.
Jalen Hurts led the way for the Sooners as he accounted for 366 total yards including 131 on the ground, the most ever by an Oklahoma quarterback against Texas.
“There’s a lot to learn from this one, it wasn’t our best effort,” Hurts said postgame. “I think this team showed a lot of perseverance and overcame a lot of adversity.”
CeeDee Lamb was the difference maker for the Sooners as he hauled in 10 catches for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns.
For Texas, it was a struggle getting things going on the offensive side of the ball in the first half as the Longhorns failed to punch it in the end zone before the break for the first time since November 2016. Texas still hung around courtesy of a great defensive first half that kept the score at 10-3
“It was a one-score game against a top-five team in the country that we had held to ten points in a half,” Herman said. “I thought the offensive staff had some adjustments at halftime, and you know, we came out and scored 24 points in the second half.”
In the second half, the Longhorn offense seemed to find its stride after big plays by true freshman Roschon Johnson helped Texas tie it up at 10 midway through the third quarter. Johnson finished with 95 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground on only 8 attempts.
“My mindset was like every other week, just taking it day-by-day,” Johnson said postgame. “When I got my opportunities, I feel like I took advantage of them for the most part, but there’s always something extra you can do to help the team.”
In the fourth quarter, Oklahoma was able to pull away after a Hurts touchdown with 4:19 left made it a two-score game and seemingly put the nail in the coffin for the Sooners.
The lingering issue throughout the day for the Longhorns was Oklahoma’s swarming pass rush, as Sam Ehlinger was sacked for a Texas school-record tying nine times.
“I think every time you see sack numbers, everybody wants to blame the offensive line, but you know, I said before, it’s on everybody,” Tom Herman said postgame. “It’s on the play caller and the protection that’s called, it’s on the receivers to get open at the right time, it’s on the quarterback to deliver the ball.”
Texas falls to 4-2 (2-1) as they will look to bounce back next week against Kansas at home. Oklahoma improves to 6-0 (3-0) as they host West Virginia next Saturday.
GAME NOTES:
- Jeffrey McCulloch suffered a dislocated shoulder in the third quarter and did not return.
- Collin Johnson was knocked out in the fourth quarter after a helmet-to-helmet contact play, his status is undetermined.
- Chris Brown suffered a fractured forearm. Malcolm Roach was ejected in the third quarter for a targeting penalty and will miss the first half of the Kansas game.
