Fundamentals Vanish for Sooners Offense in Win

© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN/USA TODAY

The 15th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners (2-0) beat the Houston Cougars (0-2) 16-12 on Sept. 7 at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla. The offense had a miserable outing, and the defense shined and helped save the game for the struggling Sooners.

Game Summary

On a night when the Sooners were wearing alternate uniforms to honor the championship era for Bud Wilkenson, the offense did not put out a championship product. Quarterback Jackson Arnold and the offense got out to an early lead after the Cougars muffed a punt by Mekhi Mews. Arnold found Brennan Thompson on the first play for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Arnold threw his second touchdown pass, and the Sooners were up 14-6.

The second half saw more of the same for the Sooners. They could not get a running game going, and Arnold struggled to stay in the pocket and find guys downfield. The Cougars outgained the Sooners 318-249 in total yards. The Cougars also won the time of possession game with a 35:03 to 24:57 advantage.

The Cougars, manhandled by UNLV last weekend, showed up more prepared, with the signature of a Willie Fritz-coached team. The Sooners looked like a team, believing the press clippings about how bad the Cougars were and how much they should beat them.

Turning Point for the Sooners

The turning point did not come until the game was over. The Sooners clung to a 14-12 lead with 1:42 left in the game, and Houston had the ball at their own 5-yard line.

Defensive tackle Gracen Halton blew up the first play and registered a safety-tackling Cougars running back Stacey Sneed in the end zone, giving the Sooners 2 points to make the winning score 16-12.

What It Means

For the Sooners, this adds to the offenses' struggles under new leadership at the quarterback position and the play calling of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. The Sooners once again struggled to convert on third down as they went 4-of-14 and never really got any momentum going. The Sooners don't have long to work out the kinks as a feisty Tulane (1-1) team comes to Norman next before the Sooners start the daunting Southeastern Conference schedule with the high-powered No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers (2-0).

After being embarrassed last week by UNLV, the Cougars needed a bounce-back game, and they got that against the Sooners even though they lost the game. Fritz is a good coach and will right the wrongs, and the Cougars might be a far better team at the end of the year than they showed the first week of the season.