NORMAN – It was anything but pretty and raised more questions than it answered, but 13th-ranked OU escaped with a 16-12 victory over Houston at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Sooners offense was unable to show much consistency, managing only one drive. Fortunately for OU, the defense did just enough to help the Sooners win.
“We deserved to lose because we did everything we could to give someone a chance to win,” OU football coach Brent Venables said on the SEC Network immediately after the game.
Here are six quick takeaways from OU’s sloppy win:
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Gracen Halton saves Sooners’ offense
With 1:48 left, Houston got the ball back at their own 5-yard line and only needed a field goal to shock the Sooners.
Gracen Halton was not convinced.
The Sooners’ young defensive tackle tore through the Cougars’ offensive line like butter and intercepted Stacy Sneed in the end zone for a safety to extend OU’s lead to four points.
After an inspection, the piece remained.
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Thanks to a late penalty, the Sooners stay ahead
Facing fourth down and one attempt on their own 30-yard line, the Sooners offense stayed on the field to at least try to provoke a penalty.
The move was worth it.
Houston’s Brandon Mack jumped over the faceoff line and Sooners’ center Joshua Bates grabbed the ball and pulled the flag.
Jackson Arnold’s long pass was intercepted, but it didn’t matter as the penalty gave OU its first down.
The penalty with about five minutes left in the game didn’t result in a point, as the Sooners had to punt at some point, but it did allow them to bridge three more minutes before having to give the ball back.
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Robert Spears-Jennings convinces
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Sooners had to show a strong defensive performance.
The offense faltered and Houston had the upper hand.
Enter: Robert Spears-Jennings.
The OU safety perfectly recognized Donovan Smith’s pass on third-and-14 and jumped in front of the receiver to intercept the ball.
The interception was the first in Spears-Jennings’ career.
After two games, the Sooners have eight takeaways.
But even though Spears-Jennings’ selection gave OU the ball in prime position – the drive began at the Houston 32 – the Sooners were unable to take advantage.
OU gained a total of 4 yards on three plays and Tyler Keltner’s 45-yard field goal missed, leaving the Sooners’ lead at 14-12.
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Sooners’ OL problems continue
Branson Hickman and Geirean Hatchett, who started the season opener, both played but were not used against Houston because the Sooners were once again understaffed on the offensive line.
Joshua Bates made his first career start as center, while Jake Taylor made his first career start as right tackle.
But Taylor, who had missed the opening game due to injury, looked unwell from the start and had to go into the injury tent towards the end of the first half.
With Taylor out, Tarquin moved to the right side while redshirt freshman Logan Howland took over the left tackle position.
Regardless of who was there, the Sooners had problems on offense.
OU was outgained 318-249. It was the Sooners’ fewest offensive yards since 195 against Texas in 2022.
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Early turnover helps Sooners
For the second week in a row, the Sooners forced a turnover on their own punt.
After OU’s first drive of the game was ineffective, Luke Elzinga’s punt bounced near the sidelines in front of Houston punt returner Mekhi Mews.
Mews grabbed the ball but seemed unfazed as the ball flew past him. Sooners defender Jacobe Johnson also didn’t react when the ball appeared to go out of bounds.
But the ball remained in play, and Lewis Carter pounced on it while the referees signaled that it was the Sooners’ ball.
A replay was inconclusive, the decision stood and gave OU the ball at Houston’s 10-yard line.
The Sooners quickly took advantage when Jackson Arnold hit Brenen Thompson for a 10-yard touchdown to give OU a 7-0 lead.
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Woodi Washington has problems returning
After missing the opening game, Woodi Washington returned and started at cornerback.
But Washington had a rough day.
Washington was penalized twice for pass interference and had to defend at the start of a key third-down conversion by the Cougars.
On Houston’s first offensive series against Washington, pass interference was called against Josepp Manjack IV on first down from Houston’s 29-yard line.
Just a few plays later, Manjack caught a 21-yard pass on third and 1, finally helping the Cougars to a field goal.
Early in the third quarter, it looked like Washington had intercepted a pass, but as the pass came his way, Washington appeared to push off the receiver and was penalized for another pass interference.
One play later, Donovan Smith scored a 44-yard touchdown against Manjack to bring the Cougars up to 14-12.
