Oklahoma Football: 30 Best Games in School History
By Chip Rouse
Dec 6, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs the ball against Oklahoma State Cowboys safety Jordan Sterns (13) during the first quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec. 7, 2013 – Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma State 24
Some who closely follow Oklahoma football consider this to be the best game in the over 100-year-old Bedlam Series in football between the Sooners and their in-state rivals.
Oklahoma State had a lot on the line on this bitterly cold December day, while the underdog Sooners were basically playing for pride and, of course, bragging rights. With a victory, the Cowboys would claim their second Big 12 title in three seasons.
OSU drew first blood with a touchdown a little more than halfway through the opening quarter. The Sooners drew even, with time running down in the first quarter, when Jalen Saunders returned and Oklahoma State punt 64 yards for a touchdown.
The Cowboys regained the lead on a second-quarter field goal by Ben Grogan, Just before the half, Michael Hunnicutt tied the game for Oklahoma with a 21-yard field goal.
Backup quarterback Kendal Thompson began the second half for the Sooners, replacing starter Trevor Knight, who had suffered a separated left shoulder late in the first half. On Oklahoma’s first play of the second half, however, Thompson threw a deep ball that was intercepted at the Cowboys’ 26-yard line. That proved to be a costly turnover for OU as Oklahoma State mounted an 82-yard touchdown drive to regain the lead at 17-10.
Oklahoma converted a fake field-goal attempt into an 8-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to even things up for a third time in the game. The Sooners took their first lead in the game on a 39-yard field goal by Hunnicutt. The two teams exchanged scoreless possessions before Oklahoma State drove the length of the field to score what appeared to be the winning touchdown with under two minutes remaining.
That’s when Blake Bell, who was OU’s third quarterback option for this game, orchestrated one of the most dramatic drives of the season, marching the Sooners 66 yards and finishing it off with a 7-yard scoring pass to give OU a 27-24 advantage with 19 seconds left on the game clock. Several plays before the winning TD toss, Bell had thrown what looked to be an interception, but the OSU defender was unable to secure the ball.
The final points in the game came when Eric Strike of Oklahoma scooped up a fumble on a desperation lateral sequence by the Cowboys and ran it in for a meaningless touchdown to end the game. The win gave the Sooners another 10-win season and their 10th victory in the last 11 games over their in-state Bedlam rivals.
Next: Jan. 2, 2014 - Oklahoma 45, Alabama 31