Oklahoma makes College Football Playoff case by beating Texas for Big 12 title with defense
It is hard to believe we’re saying this,
but Oklahoma’s final argument for the College Football Playoff was made
in part by its defense.
Yeah, the
Sooners’ offense did what it does – including a grinding drive for the
clinching score. The highlights will be Kyler Murray doing what he does,
or maybe tight end Grant Calcaterra’s one-handed touchdown catch with
two minutes left. But that came after a sack-safety that had
dramatically altered momentum, allowing the offense to forge a two-score
lead. And the Sooners finished Texas off with an interception to win
their fourth consecutive Big 12 championship.
No
one is going to suggest the Sooners’ defense is much more than
substandard; but against Texas, they were better than they’d been for
most of the season.
“This team is still getting
better,” Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said. “Our defense is playing
better and better. Our best ball is still ahead of us.”
Here are takeaways from No. 5 Oklahoma’s 39-27 win against No. 9 Texas:
-
The matchup was exactly what the Big 12 envisioned when it restarted
its conference championship game: Its two perennial heavyweights
slugging it out (and in a full stadium: the attendance of 83,114 was not
only a record for a Big 12 championship, but for any conference
championship game).
Despite the loss, Texas would
play in the Sugar Bowl if Oklahoma gets into the playoff, giving the Big
12 two New Year’s Six bowl berths.
Can you imagine
Lincoln Riley and Tom Herman hooking it up in rematches over the next
few years – especially if the Longhorns continue their upward trajectory
to the point where the championship game becomes a de facto
quarterfinal, with implications for both squads? It’s a delicious
thought.
- Kyler Murray was
superb again, finishing a Heisman campaign with a strong statement.
Murray was 25-of-34 for 379 yards and three touchdowns (418 total
yards), connecting with 10 different receivers.
As
usual, there were several jaw-dropping moments. This time they mostly
came through the air. It might get overlooked in the highlights, but
Murray’s short touchdown pass to tight end Calcaterra was something
special: a flat-footed, sidearm dart on target. It resembled nothing so
much as a shortstop coming up and firing a snap throw to first base
(which probably shouldn’t surprise anyone, considering Murray’s other
sport).
By now we’re used to the playmaking. But
for Murray, locked in a Heisman race with Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, it
was an impressive finish.
-
When defensive backs Parnell Motley and Tre Norwood combined for a
deflection and interception, respectively, that extinguished Texas’ last
shot, it was a startling development, no?
But it
was only one of several critical plays made by the Sooners’ defense, and
it was more than that: Not counting the end of the first half, Texas
had 10 possessions and scored on only four (we know – but considering
the first 12 games). More significant: Oklahoma held Texas to 88 yards
rushing on 32 attempts, a 2.8-yard average.
And in the fourth quarter, Texas’ three possessions ended punt, safety, interception. The latter two plays were huge.
Just
after Texas had forced a fumble near the goal line that felt like a
huge momentum swing, Tre Brown blasted Sam Ehlinger for a safety and a
five-point lead with 8:27 left. Then Motley and Norwood clinched victory
with the interception with 51 seconds left.
Oklahoma’s
ability to make at least occasional stops and come up with big plays
might have actually been a carryover from the week before. West Virginia
piled up 56 points and 704 yards, but the Sooners came up with several
stops and – much more important – two defensive touchdowns.
Let’s
float a contrary notion: It’s just possible the Sooners’ defense played
better against the Mountaineers than we all thought – than it had all
season – but it was camouflaged by the stress imposed by the best
offense Oklahoma had faced all season. Regardless, the Sooners had a lot
more success in slowing Texas than in their first meeting – and more
success than they’ve had against most opponents.
-
Texas limited Oklahoma’s running game. The Sooners averaged 264.3
rushing yards during the regular season, providing balance and making
the passing game even more devastating (five times Oklahoma rushed and
passed for at least 300 yards). But in the first half Oklahoma had 53
yards on 17 carries; it finished with 129 yards on 40 attempts (3.2-yard
average).
courtesy
https://www.usatoday.com/
