Oklahoma's biggest rivalry upsets of the 21st century in rare underdog situations

The Oklahoma Sooners are rarely counted out, especially in rivalry games, but in the unique instances they have been, they usually still found a way to surprise.

Between the Red River Rivalry, as well as the now dead Bedlam and Nebraska rivalry, these are the most memorable times during the 21st century that the Sooners entered a rivalry game as underdogs but still prevailed thanks to some Sooner Magic.

2023 Red River Rivalry vs. Texas

In what is Brent Venables' only Red River Rivalry victory so far in four years, the Sooners entered as one-touchdown underdogs in a top-15 matchup against the No. 3 Texas Longhorns, who everyone had deemed serious national title contenders after beating Alabama.

Most were also still unsure about the Sooners under Venables, especially with UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel at quarterback. But Gabriel led a legendary game-winning drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Nic Anderson with 15 seconds left to ultimately prevail 34-30.

It ended up being Texas' only loss of the regular season before falling to Washington in the CFP semifinal.

Read more: Where the Red River Rivalry ranks among the SEC's greatest rivalries

2013 Bedlam at Oklahoma State

It's rare for the Sooners to be underdogs, but basically unheard of for them not to be favored against Oklahoma State in lopsided Bedlam. In 2013, though, the Cowboys had emerged as a serious national threat and were just one win away from clinching the Big 12 title in front of their home crowd. That set OSU up as a 10-point favorite.

Odds were stacked against the Sooners even more after starting quarterback Trevor Knight was injured in the first half while trailing and Blake Bell was forced to step up as OU's third option at the position.

Whether it was Sooner Magic or Mike Gundy's inability to win Bedlam, Oklahoma still ended up prevailing as Bell led a game-winning drive that he capped with a seven-yard TD pass to Jalen Saunders with 19 seconds left. Eric Striker then put the final score at 33-24 with a fumble he recovered and took to the end zone as time expired.

The Cowboys were within reach of a BCS bowl game, but the Bedlam outcome ultimately propelled the Sooners instead to a victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl with Knight back in action. That was just the beginning of Oklahoma upsetting the Crimson Tide.

Read more: A Bedlam return could quietly emerge from CFP expansion chaos

2002 Red River Rivalry vs. Texas

Despite being the higher-ranked team at No. 2, the Sooners were actually as much as 7-point underdogs to the No. 3 Longhorns, who were defending Big 12 champions, going into the 2002 Red River Rivalry.

Bob Stoops ruled the Red River, though, as his defense overcame quarterback Nate Hybl's four interceptions with three of its own. Offensively, running back Quentin Griffin rushed for a career-high 248 yards and two total scores. That was enough for the Sooners to outlast Texas 35-24 as Stoops claimed his third Red River Rivalry win in a row.

2000 vs. Nebraska

There was only one way the No. 2 Sooners could be an underdog in 2000, and that was to play No. 1 Nebraska in what was the first 1-vs-2 matchup of the BCS era.

The Cornhuskers got out to an early 14-0 lead before the Sooners shut them down the rest of the way to win handedly, 31-14. That concluded Oklahoma's famous "Red October" that included top-10 victories over Texas, Kansas State and Nebraska. Obviously the rest is history as Stoops led the Sooners to a national title.

No. 2 defeating No. 1 doesn't seem like much of an upset on paper, but this was a turning point at Oklahoma as the Sooners proclaimed they were back to national dominance under Stoops and haven't went back ever since.

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