Getting slapped by this Venables coached Oklahoma team was always going to leave a mark. And leave a mark it did.
In the roaring sea of scarlet at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, the Cornhuskers stopped OU’s first drive and struck first. It certainly appeared as if they’d come to play. Unfortunately for them, they’d have to wait a couple of hours before striking again (in the 4th, with the backups).
Don’t Close Your Eyes
DE Reggie Grimes, who likely gives opposing QBs night terrors, came into the game with four of the Sooners’ nine sacks. He’d add to the collective pain before this one was over, though it didn’t amount to more sacks. The starters were pulled from the game in the 3rd, so there were only three quarters to collect stats.
He’s got Jets
Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel flashed his fleet-footedness early on with a 61-yard scramble into the endzone, which even included some bobbing and weaving. For the next score he dropped a perfect dime to Jalil Farooq.
https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1571172223888637958
The Oklahoma O-Line is Back in Place… Sort of
Oklahoma’s 6’6”, 305 lb. RT Wanya Morris missed the first two weeks due to grades. In the first two games, OU allowed five sacks. Considering who the opponents were, that was probably too many. Those teams (UTEP and Kent State) don’t have the same caliber of recruits as the crimson and cream. So, you could forgive a couple. Maybe you could even forgive a few, but five?
That’s too many hits on a QB who’s yet to face the big boys of the schedule. Although he didn’t start, Morris was back. It made little difference in terms of the amount of times Gabriel got sacked. You can tack on a couple more from this contest. He was wisely pulled from the game, but not after being allowed to score after the last sack on him.
Mims was excellent in the return game, averaging 20 yards on three attempts as a punt return specialist. As a receiver, he scored to open the second quarter, only for them to overturn it. Marcus Major finished it off on the next play. Mims also led the team in receiving, hauling in four passes for 66 yards.
One of my favorite TDs of this one-sided affair was when Major caught a pass from Willis to go up 28-7.
By the half, it was 35-7. By 49-7, Nebraska put in their backup QB. The physicality of OU, particularly on defense, was simply too much to handle.
https://twitter.com/OU_Football/status/1571218799625478149
This team is starting to fully buy-in on coach Venables, and it’s starting to look like a very good team. The whole of NCAA football better wake up and watch out. Coach Venables is the perfect leader for this tough OU team, and he’s here to stay.