Oklahoma Sooners Survive, beat Kansas Jayhawks 35-23
Of all the ugly wins the Oklahoma Sooners have achieved in 2021, their 35-23 win over the Kansas Jayhawks was easily the ugliest. Kansas jumped on top of the Sooners with their first drive of the game, taking a 7-0 lead and that was the story for much of this game. In a game where they came in as 38 point underdogs, the Jayhawks went toe-to-toe with the No. 2 team in the country.
Oklahoma couldn’t do anything offensively or defensively for much of this game and the Jayhawks led the Sooners at halftime 10-0.
In the second half, the Sooners’ offense finally awakened as they outscored Kansas 35-13 to run get the win. But it was a much closer game than the score even indicates as the Jayhawks looked like they might pull off the upset.
The Sooners didn’t get their first lead of the game until there was 12:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. That on a Kennedy Brooks one-yard score.
Oklahma was then able to extend their lead to 28-17 after Caleb Williams 40 yard-touchdown run on fourth and 3. He’s making a habit of having big touchdown runs in critical moments of games.
In that moment, it felt like the Sooners were ready to take the game over, however the Kansas Jayhawks and Alex Grinch’s playcalling had other ideas. In prevent mode with just under eight minutes to play, the Oklahoma Sooners defense allowed Kansas to score in under two minutes to bring the score to 28 to 23.
The Sooners were able to blow up Kansas’ attempt at an end around to shut down the two point conversion and keep a five-point lead.
With the score 28-23, the Sooners then went on a 12 play, 75-yard drive that took 5:14 off the clock to put the game away with another Kennedy Brooks one-yard touchdown run.
Caleb Williams was 15 of 20 for 178 yards passing, two touchdowns, and an interception. Kennedy Brooks was held to 3.3 yards per carry, toting the ball 24 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Eric Gray led the way for the Sooners receiving corps with three receptions for 42 yards, and Jadon Haselwood and Jeremiah Hall added touchdowns for the Oklahoma Sooners.
The Kansas Jayhawks gave the Oklahoma Sooners all they could handle in a game that never should have been this close. The Sooners thought they could walk in and take the game without having to execute or play disciplined football. Kansas almost proved them wrong, keeping the game in upset alert until the very end.
The 8-0 Oklahoma Sooners next face the Texas Tech Red Raiders at home next Saturday at 2:30 p.m.. Kansas falls to 1-6 and will next travel to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater.
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