Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Critical mishaps, officiating miscalls Bedlam bombshells for Sooners

By Chip Rouse

Nov 4, 2023; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Jalil Farooq (3) can't hang on to the ball beside Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Korie Black (2) during a Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2023; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Jalil Farooq (3) can't hang on to the ball beside Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Korie Black (2) during a Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma football will be happy to get back home after back-to-back harrowing road contests that have left the Sooners searching for answers.

At a point in the season when the best teams separate themselves from the pack by continuing to get better as the season rolls along. Oklahoma is slipping backward instead of going forward.

On Saturday in a final Bedlam matchup with Oklahoma State it almost appeared that the Sooners not only were competing against the Cowboys, but against themselves and the officials as well.

Beating 23rd-ranked Oklahoma State was a tough enough task, but when you can’t get out of your own way on offense and the officials choose to pile on with some questionable calls that, ironically, are not subject to review, the forces against you are almost insurmountable.

Despite falling just short on the scoreboard at Oklahoma State, the Sooners rushing numbers, passing yardage and total offense were all better than the Cowboys. Unfortunately, several other vitally important numbers did not go in Oklahoma’s favor: turnovers, time of possession and penalties.

OU’s two losses are by a total of eight points, which in itself has some redeeming value, but the bottom line, as head coach Brent Venables has been reminding all season, is the Sooners are indeed better than a year ago, but they are still a work in progress.

Hear are some numbers that help tell the story of Bedlam CXVIII:

1 — The Oklahoma State touchdown on the Cowboys’ first possession on Saturday was the first TD given up by OU in the first quarter this season.

3 — The Sooners committed three turnovers for the second straight week after committing just five total through the first seven games. The three turnovers on Saturday led to 10 points.

5.5 — Oklahoma’s rushing yards per play against Oklahoma State, a season best.

12 for 134 — Career receptions in a game and receiving yardage for Drake Stoops on Saturday.

15 — In his first career start LB Kip Lewis had a season-high 15 tackles filling in for the injured Danny Stutsman.

28 — This year’s game was the first time Oklahoma had not scored at least 28 points in the last 12 meetings.

137 — Rushing yardage by OSU’s Ollie Gordon II, the nation’s leading rusher. Gordon was held to 4.2 yards per carry on Saturday after averaging 275 rushing yards the last two weekends and nearly 8.0 yards per carry.

492 to 480 — Oklahoma outgained Oklahoma State 492 to 480.

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