Oklahoma football: 8 moments that got Kyler to New York

35-yard touchdown pass to Ceedee Lamb vs. UCLA

Murray had already put together a fantastic game against UCLA, up 35-7 in the fourth quarter on the Bruins facing a third-and-10, but he provided an exclamation point on a perfect floating pass in the end zone to Ceedee Lamb. The Bruins did everything  right on defense, putting double coverage on the Sooners’ standout receiver, but it was no match for Murray and Lamb’s skill. The ball floated above two defenders before Lamb snatched it out of the sky for a touchdown. The score made it 42-7 and made an Oklahoma win all but academic.

What it meant: Murray had already flashed on the ground and made some clutch throws through the first seven quarters of the season, but it was this play that showed he could be undefendable through the air.

33-yard touchdown run vs. Army

In a game when every possession mattered, the Sooners’ star quarterback had to be at his best. Luckily for Oklahoma fans, Kyler Murray was just that. On first-and-10 from the Army 33-yard line Murray dropped back to pass, scanned the field and saw nobody open. Rather than throw the ball away or force something that wasn’t there he elected to pick up some real estate on the ground. Even though Army was playing zone and spying on Murray, they had no chance of catching the former five-star high school quarterback once he reached top speed. He split two defenders and outran a third player with an angle on him on the way to go-ahead touchdown.

What it meant: As we said before it was a day when every possession mattered for Oklahoma. The Sooners needed every yard, every point and a little luck to survive the ultra-tough Army team in a 28-21 win on a Norman Saturday night. Without Murray’s big plays there’s a good chance the Sooners don’t get the win, which very well may have sent the entire season careening off a cliff.