Slow, agonizing death for OU

By Fred Fehr
charles.fehr@news-star.com

DALLAS — What was the most telling statistic in Oklahoma’s 45-35 setback to Texas?
How about time of possession? Oklahoma’s five touchdowns came in just 22:50 while Texas chewed up 37:10 of the clock.
Texas won the time of possession battle in every quarter. While Oklahoma scored quickly, Texas was methodical as the Sooners were victims of an agonizingly slow death. The 80-yard TD drive that brought Texas within 21-17 took 6:44 and the 89-yard march that cut OU’s lead to 28-27 took 6:07.
•Prior to Saturday’s upset, Oklahoma had amassed a 70-7 record while carrying the No. 1 ranking. With the defeat Saturday, OU is now 9-5 while carrying the No. 1 banner into a neutral-field battle.
•Oklahoma remains No. 1 in the nation in Red Zone scoring at 28 of 28. The Sooners have 27 Red Zone touchdowns and one field goal. In its first five games, Oklahoma had allowed foes to score on just 9-of-14 visits to the Red Zone. Texas burned OU on all seven of its Red-Zone opportunities — four touchdowns and three field goals.
•OU’s porous kickoff return coverage was gouged again. The Longhorns averaged 33.4 yards on five returns, including the momentum-changing 96-yard TD return by Jordan Shipley that quickly wiped out OU’s 14-3 advantage.
•Texas finished with 438 yards of total offense. Until Saturday, the most yards surrendered by OU had been 336 in a 55-14 win over Washington. Oklahoma gave up just 314 yards to TCU, 326 to Cincinnati and 269 to Baylor.
•Texas easily had the most third-down success of any Sooner opponent. The Longhorns converted 6 of 13 third-down attempts for 46.1 percent. OU entered the Cotton Bowl battle ranked eighth nationally in third-down defense. Opponents had converted just 27.6 percent of their opportunities at 21-of-76.
•In 21 college starts at quarterback, Sooner sophomore Sam Bradford has thrown three or more touchdown passes 13 times.
•Since Mack Brown took the Longhorn helm in 1998, Texas has the best winning record of any NCAA, Div. 1 team at 109-25. Oklahoma is right on the Longhorns’ heels at 107-29.