Grading Oklahoma's loss to Navy in Armed Forces Bowl

The Sooners failed their final test of 2024.

Oklahoma lost to Navy 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas. Michael Hawkins Jr. and Jake Taylor connected for a touchdown with six seconds left before Brent Venables chose to go for the two-point conversion and win instead of overtime. But Hawkins was sacked and Navy sealed the deal.

The loss dropped OU below .500 to finish the season at 6-7. It's the Sooners' second losing record in three years under Venables.

Now, grades are in from the Sooners' last test of the season.

First quarter: A

Like their name, the Sooners came out like they had a headstart in this one.

OU's offense got the ball twice in the first quarter and reached the end zone both possessions. The Sooners put the opening drive on Gavin Sawchuk's shoulders, and he finished it with a 21-yard TD run. It was Sawchuk's first TD of the season.

Next, Michael Hawkins Jr. got OU all it needed on basically one play. In one of the best offensive plays of OU's season, Hawkins scrambled until he hit Zion Kearney for a 56-yard TD that put OU ahead 14-0.

The Sooners took that 14-0 lead into the second quarter after the defense also did its part, forcing Navy to punt then holding the Midshipmen on fourth down.

Last three quarters: D

Then the rest of the game happened.

After reaching the end zone their first two possessions, the Sooners didn't put points on the board again until the last six seconds of the game. OU totaled 433 offensive yards, and 218 of those came during the first quarter or that final drive.

The defense gave up 21 unanswered points as OU squandered its 14-point lead.

The Sooners had the potential getting a blow out in the first quarter but lost instead.

Michael Hawkins Jr.: B

Michael Hawkins Jr. certainly didn't ace his fourth career start, but he was still exceptional.

Hawkins accounted for 308 total yards (247 passing, 61 rushing). He was also responsible for two of OU's three TDs while pulling off one of the best plays by a Sooner this season.

Hawkins was simply OU's leader on Friday for a unit that was 50% freshmen.

This performance could also be graded on a curve based on Hawkins' situation. He was a freshman making his fourth career start with nearly all of his weapons to throw to either injured or already off to somewhere else. And Navy's defense was basically at full strength.

Hawkins also went out there after getting the starting job then losing it, only for that guy to go to Auburn. And his next replacement is already on his way from Washington State through the transfer portal.

It wasn't perfect, and that shouldn't have been expected, but Hawkins' performance was satisfactory.

Armed Forces Bowl: A

From an unbiased view of a regular college football fan, the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday was why we love college football so much and will be missing it in February.

The matchup featured a blue blood program and a United States military academy in a meeting that had happened only once before. There was sure someone to root for or against no matter where your fandom lied.

The game had a comeback and came down to going for two and the win instead of settling for OT. The decision is certainly one that might frustrate OU fans now but had to have been a thrill for college football fans at home.

And all that happened in front of a soldout crowd, proving fans still care about bowl games.

Between transfers leaving early, NFL Draft prospects sitting out and even coaching changes, the Armed Forces Bowl was a reminder that bowl season is still a blast. So, now, Sooner Nation can enjoy another fan base's misery this bowl season.