Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Vandagriff is a 5-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 1 pro-style quarterback and No. 8 overall prospect in the 2021 class.
A Georgia native who currently attends Prince Avenue Christian School,Vandagrifforiginally pledged to play for the Sooners in June.
He toldChad Simmonsof Rivals.com a meeting with Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley helped make up his mind:
"It was deep down, honestly. I felt it, Oklahoma was where I want to go. And the last meeting I had with coach Lincoln Riley, he asked me a question. He said, 'Where would you feel bad if they said you can't come here, the spot's closed?' Oklahoma was the only one that came to mind. Everything they do there is great. Coach Riley really cares for me. That's what triggered it."
Prior to giving Oklahoma his commitment,Vandagriffreleaseda list of six finalists that also included the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Tennessee Volunteers, Auburn Tigers and Clemson Tigers.
IfVandagriffis keen on playing closer to home, the most-obvious destination would be Georgia. The Bulldogs could get Jake Fromm back as a senior in 2020, but they don't have an obvious heir apparent in place. Carson Beck, a4-star prospect, has committed to head coach Kirby Smart next season.
There doesn't have to be any rush forVandagriffto make a decision, but putting his name back into the recruiting pool for next year will certainly have a lot of teams making their best pitch to reel him in.
Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb Declares for 2020 NFL Draft After CFP Loss to LSU
Dec 29, 2019
Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (2) carries during an NCAA college football game between Iowa State and Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
One of the best playmakers in college football is headed to the professional ranks.
Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb declared for the 2020 NFL draft on Sunday, a day after the Sooners lost to LSU in the College Football Playoff semifinal:
Lamb has been a difference-maker for Oklahoma since he arrived as a 4-star recruit and the No. 24 overall wide receiver in the class of 2017, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He tallied 46 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman, helping lead the Sooners to the College Football Playoff in the process.
Those 807 receiving yards set a school freshman record.
He was even better in 2018 with 65 catches for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns as a second-team All-Big 12 selection. Oklahoma once again reached the CFP on the back of its dynamic offensive attack.
Marquise Brown's departure to the NFL prior to the 2019 campaign elevated Lamb to No. 1 receiver status, and he wasted little time taking advantage of it. He finished the year with 62 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns, standing out with a three-touchdown game in the rivalry win over Texas and another in a win over Texas Tech.
There is plenty to like about how Lamb's game translates to the pros.
Even if his straight-line speed is something of a question mark, he has the burst to beat press coverage, shiftiness in the open field to turn a short bubble screen or underneath route into a game-changing touchdown and the elusiveness to make tacklers miss in space.
He is also 6'2" with the athleticism to high-point passes in the end zone as a traditional red-zone threat if needed. His route-running ability and hands also stand out.
In November, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranked Lamb as the No. 9 overall prospect on his big board with a head-turning player comparison of DeAndre Hopkins, who is one of the best receivers in the league.
"Lamb has been absolutely amazing as a route-runner and yards-after-catch playmaker in an Oklahoma offense that has relied heavily on the junior receiver under a quarterback who isn't as prolific as Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray before him," Miller wrote. "... What he does offer is a toughness that's undeniable and an ability to extend his catch radius to make the big play."
NFL teams will jump at the chance to add a skill set like that come draft day.
Report: Ronnie Perkins, 2 Oklahoma Players Suspended for Peach Bowl vs. LSU
Dec 18, 2019
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Ronnie Perkins #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners in action against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Three Oklahoma Sooners football players, including defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins, have reportedly been suspended and will not play in the College Football Playoff semifinal Peach Bowl against No. 1 LSU.
According to SoonerScoop.com, Perkins, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver Trejan Bridges are the suspended players. Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports confirmed Perkins' suspension.
Jason Kersey of The Athletic reported the suspensions are a result of failed drug tests.
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley declined to discuss the reported suspensions on Wednesday.
"I'm aware of the report that is out there," Riley said, per Kersey. "Unfortunately at this time, I cannot comment on it."
The winner of the Peach Bowl on Dec. 28 will go on to face the winner of the Fiesta Bowl between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 13.
With 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks during his sophomore season, Perkins is undoubtedly the biggest loss for the No. 4 Sooners among the three suspended players.
Oklahoma can ill afford to be without arguably its best defensive lineman against an LSU offense that ranks third in the nation in scoring with 47.8 points per game. In addition to the play of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow, the Sooners have to worry about running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who has 1,689 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns this season.
Stopping either of them without the services of Perkins will make an already difficult task even tougher Riley.
Freshman defensive lineman Marcus Stripling, who has just 1.0 sack and 1.0 tackle for loss this season, is the top candidate to fill in for Perkins.
Stevenson, a junior running back, has also been a key contributor for Oklahoma this season. He has rushed for 515 yards and six touchdowns, and his 8.0 yards per carry are the best on the team.
Kennedy Brooks will be the clear top running back without Stevenson, while the leading rusher, quarterback Jalen Hurts, will be tasked with using his legs plenty as well.
Also, with running back Trey Sermon out for the season, T.J. Pledger could see more work than usual as Brooks' backup against LSU.
Bridges is a freshman wide receiver who has not made any on-field contributions to the team this season, meaning Hurts will continue to rely on CeeDee Lamb and Charleston Rambo in the passing game.
Jalen Hurts, No. 6 Oklahoma Outlast No. 7 Baylor in OT to Win 2019 Big 12 Title
Dec 7, 2019
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 07: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners scrambles with the ball as James Lynch #93 and Blake Lynch #2 of the Baylor Bears pursue in the second quarter of the Big 12 Football Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
The No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners provided a major boost to their College Football Playoff resume Saturday with a 30-23 overtime victory over the No. 7 Baylor Bears in the 2019 Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, a Heisman Trophy candidate, the Sooners have compiled a 12-1 record, with their only loss coming to the Kansas State Wildcats in October. Winning the Big 12 title improves their chances of a CFP berth to 95 percent while awaiting the day's other results, per FiveThirtyEight.
Baylor entered the contest with a chance to avenge its sole loss of the campaign, a three-point defeat by OU in November, which would have likely earned the Bears a spot in college football's final four. They still have a strong case to represent the conference in the Sugar Bowl as part of the New Year's Six.
Although fellow quarterbacks such as the LSU Tigers' Joe Burrow and Ohio State Buckeyes' Justin Fields have taken command of the Heisman Trophy race throughout the season, Hurts has still put together a mostly stellar campaign by accounting for 50 total touchdowns entering Saturday.
Turnovers are the one troublesome issue he's struggled to put aside, though.
The senior signal-caller came into the Big 12 title game with 11 turnovers (six interceptions and five lost fumbles) in 12 appearances this season. He added an interception and a lost fumble to that total against the Bears, which directly led to 10 of Baylor's points.
Hurts' second-quarter interception came after a complete misread of the defense and was thrown right into the hands of Baylor linebacker Jordan Williams. The underdogs scored a touchdown 59 seconds later.
Oklahoma's offense has been so explosive throughout the season that averaging a turnover per contest didn't generate much attention or affect the team's record. The mistakes always posed the potential to rear their ugly head at the wrong time as OU moved closer to the national title contention, though.
Hurts deserves a lot of credit for playing with much more efficiency in the second half and overtime. The offensive line did a better job of giving him time in the pocket, and he was able to stand tall to deliver several strikes, especially on third down to keep the chains moving.
That said, the bottom line is clear: Hurts needs to keep turnovers to a minimum if the Sooners are going to win a national championship.
Baylor Defense Shines Again Despite OT Loss
The Bears' defense came to the rescue all year. While they posted an 11-1 record during the regular season, five of the wins came by a single score, including two overtime triumphs.
So even getting to this point was mostly thanks to a unit that ranked 13th in the country in points allowed per game. That stat is made more impressive by the fact that the team plays in the offense-heavy Big 12.
The group stepped up in a major way once again Saturday by keeping Hurts and Co. at bay while the Baylor offense tried to find a rhythm after being forced to switch from Charlie Brewer, who was removed for evaluation on a head injury, to Gerry Bohanon and Zeno at quarterback.
Baylor held OU to 10 points on eight first-half possessions and took a 13-10 lead into the locker room.
Oklahoma eventually started putting together some sustained drives to take control of the game. As the time of possession became more lopsided, the stout defense struggled to keep pace and get off the field at times. But the unit came up huge again in the fourth quarter to help force overtime.
For a game that looked like a possible blowout after the Sooners scored a touchdown inside the first six minutes, Baylor's defensive effort kept an upset within reach all afternoon.
What's Next?
The Sooners will watch closely as the SEC (4 p.m. ET), ACC (7:30 p.m. ET) and Big Ten (8 p.m. ET) championship games take place Saturday to see how those Power Five matchups could impact their College Football Playoff outlook, though they should be in regardless.
Baylor must await its bowl assignment to see if it's indeed heading to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans for the 2020 Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day.
Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts Says 2019 Iron Bowl Score 'Sounds Like Rat Poison'
Dec 1, 2019
Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) before an NCAA college football game against TCU in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Jalen Hurts used a Nick Saban-ism to describe his former team's Iron Bowl loss Saturday.
"That sounds like rat poison to me," the Oklahoma Sooners quarterback said when asked about the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide's 48-45 loss to the No. 15 Auburn Tigers, according to Tulsa World's Eric Bailey. "We have to focus on Baylor tonight."
Hurts' jab harkens back to what Saban told reporters in October 2017: "I'm trying to get our players to listen to me instead of listening to you guys. All that stuff you write about how good we are, all that stuff they hear on ESPN, it's like poison. It's like taking poison. Like rat poison."
At that time of Saban's comment, Hurts was Alabama's starting quarterback.
Hurts transferred to Oklahoma ahead of this season and, apparently, left his feelings toward the Tide in Alabama.
Hurts has thrived at OU with 3,347 yards, 31 touchdowns and six interceptions as a passer alongside 1,217 yards and 18 touchdowns as a rusher.
While Alabama registered its first two-loss season since 2014, Hurts' Sooners prevailed over No. 21 Oklahoma State 34-16 to finish the regular season 11-1. Oklahoma will face the 11-1 Baylor Bears in the Big 12 Championship Game next Saturday.
The Tide could have used Hurts down the stretch while junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggled through injury and then was lost for the season Nov. 16 when he suffered a dislocated hip against Mississippi State.
But at OU, Hurts is right to be zoned in on Baylor. The Sooners need to win the Big 12 to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive among other one-loss teams such as Georgia and Utah.
Jalen Hurts, No. 7 Oklahoma Dominate No. 21 Oklahoma State in Bedlam Rivalry
Nov 30, 2019
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: Running back Kennedy Brooks #26 of the Oklahoma Sooners picks up a first down against the TCU Horned Frogs on a touchdown drive to start the second quarter on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 28-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
No. 7 Oklahoma will roll into the Big 12 Championship Game off an impressive 34-16 victory over No. 21 Oklahoma State on Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium.
The Sooners never trailed Saturday as their running game (44 carries, 283 yards, two touchdowns) proved too strong for the Cowboy defense. Running back Kennedy Brooks led that effort with 22 carries, 160 yards and a score.
Brooks' three-yard touchdown run capped off Oklahoma's most impressive drive of the night—an 11-play, 93-yard effort that eventually gave the Sooners a 27-16 lead with 3:22 remaining in the third quarter. The Sooners never looked back in the 18-point win.
OU already clinched a spot in the Big 12 title matchup against Baylor before their road win began. The Sooners and Bears finished their seasons with matching 8-1 conference records.
The game marked the 114th edition of the Bedlam rivalry between the interstate enemies. OU leads the all-time series 89-18-7.
The Sooners end their regular season with an 11-1 record and a four-game win streak after falling to Kansas State 48-41 on the road Oct. 26. Oklahoma State's four-game win streak ended, dropping the Cowboys to 8-4.
Oklahoma State WR Braydon Johnson: 4 catches, 77 yards
Oklahoma Stops Living on the Edge, Posts Resounding Win
Oklahoma fans have likely been on a roller coaster of emotions over the past month.
The Sooners fell 48-41 to unranked Kansas State on Oct. 26, significantly damaging the team's College Football Playoff hopes but not eliminating them.
Those chances look a lot better, as a few top teams have fallen victim to upsets while the Sooners have survived and advanced each week.
Oklahoma beat Iowa State, Baylor and TCU by a combined eight points, and the Sooners came back from a 28-3 deficit on the road to beat the Bears.
That doesn't exactly pass the eye test for the College Football Playoff committee, but the Sooners meant business Saturday in their strong 34-16 win.
OU outgained Oklahoma State 450-335, held the ball for eight-plus minutes longer and won the turnover battle 2-0. The much-maligned Sooners defense also dominated down the stretch (much like it did against Baylor) when it counted most, holding the Cowboys scoreless for the final 24:19.
The Cowboys were starting a backup quarterback in Dru Brown with Spencer Sanders suffering a right thumb injury, although the second-stringer impressed the week before by going 22-of-29 for 196 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win over West Virginia. Oklahoma State also still featured star running back Chuba Hubbard, who has 1,936 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on the season.
The Sooners defense slowed him, holding Hubbard to 4.3 yards per carry, far lower than his 6.4-yard average.
Now the Sooners face the task of beating Baylor a second time, and the Bears will undoubtedly look for revenge against the team that spoiled their undefeated season. But if Oklahoma plays like it did Saturday, then the Sooners will be difficult to beat, leaving the CFP committee with a tough choice when considering how to round out the four-team playoff field.
What's Next?
Oklahoma will face Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is at noon ET.
A Sooners win would give Oklahoma its fifth straight conference title. The last non-Oklahoma teams to win the Big 12 were Baylor and TCU in 2014.
Oklahoma State is eligible for a bowl game and will wait to hear its destination and opponent.
Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) passes in the first half of an NCAA college football game against TCU in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
The Oklahoma Sooners kept their playoff hopes alive and clinched a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game with a 28-24victory over the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday.
Coming off last week's comeback win over Baylor, the No. 9 Sooners controlled their destiny for a spot in the conference title game. They will still need help to climb into the top four of the playoff standings with two weeks remaining before the final rankings are released.
Head coach Lincoln Riley went heavy with his running game to get his team to eke out the victory. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was erratic throwing the ball, including throwing an interception to TCU safety Vernon Scott that was returned 98 yards for a touchdown.
Jalen's historic season continues 🔥
He joins Lamar Jackson and Johnny Manziel as the only QBs to reach 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards through 11 games of a season. pic.twitter.com/IVoNVNp3Ph
The Sooners' ability to run the ball allowed them to win the possession battle, 39:31 to 20:29, but it was the defense that stepped up late to preserve the win by intercepting Horned Frogs QB Max Duggan on 4th-and-6 with 1:41 remaining.
Hurts, OU Ride Explosive Rushing Attack to Survive Upset Bid
With Hurts in the midst of his worst passing game of the season by completion percentage, Riley decided to make use of his team's potent ground game to beat TCU.
Hurts broke 100 yards rushing for the second consecutive week and fifth time in 2019. He opened the scoring with a seven-yard run in the first quarter that showcased his footwork and power:
That looked like it was going to be the beginning of a Sooners blowout. They got into the end zone on each of their first three drives to take a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter, including a touchdown catch by Lamb in his return after sitting out against Baylor with an undisclosed injury.
After absorbing those haymakers from Oklahoma's offense, TCU came roaring back with 17 unanswered points to make it 21-17 five minutes into the third quarter.
Max Duggan wasn't going to be stopped on this one 😤
Hurts and Brooks, who both had over 100 yards rushing in the same game for the first time since Oct. 12, carried Oklahoma on the ensuing drive by accounting for all 66 yards between them. Hurts finished it with an eight-yard touchdown run and push from his offensive lineman.
The Sooners looked to be back in control once again after that score, but Hurts opened the door for TCU to hang around. He had two turnovers on consecutive drives, including one in which Horned Frogs safety Nook Bradford just stole the ball out of his hands.
Oklahoma's defense really turned up the heat down the stretch when it needed to. After TCU's touchdown to get within four points in the third quarter, the offense gained a total of 40 yards on its final 14 plays.
No one is going to confuse Oklahoma's defense for Ohio State's, but the group has made two game-saving interceptions in the past two games. Brendan Radley-Hiles played the hero against TCU by jumping in front of Duggan's final pass on fourth down.
This win combined with Oregon's loss to Arizona State will likely move the Sooners up in next week's College Football Playoff standings. Their performance Saturday wasn't great, but at this point in the season, there's a lot to be said for doing what it takes to win.
What's Next?
TCU will close out its regular season on Nov. 29 with a home game against West Virginia. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will renew the Bedlam Series at Boone Pickens Stadium on Nov. 30.
Oklahoma TE Grant Calcaterra Announces He's Retiring Because of Concussions
Nov 21, 2019
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 01: Grant Calcaterra #80 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates a 39-27 win in the Big 12 Championship against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma tight end Grant Calcaterra announced Thursday that he is retiring from football after suffering numerous concussions, with the latest occurring during a midseason practice this year:
"Over a month ago, I received a concussion in practice," Calcaterra said in part. "But most of you may not know that I've had a fair share of concussions in my career. I spent countless hours visiting with OU medical professionals and specialists around the country. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that it would be best for me to step away from the game."
Calcaterra, a 6'4", 233-pound junior, has played in three games this season.
He notably starred during the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game, catching three passes for 38 yards and two touchdowns in a 39-27 win over Texas. That performance helped vault OU into the College Football Playoff.
The Sooners tight end caught 41 passes for 637 yards and nine touchdowns during his collegiate career.
Calcaterra, who called this choice the "hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life," proceeded to thank his family, close friends, girlfriend, teammates and staff members throughout this process.
The tight end closed by saying he plans to graduate from OU in May with a degree in communication and a minor in health and exercise science before becoming a firefighter at home in Southern California.
Calcaterra received an outpouring of support on Twitter in response, including Tyler Palmateer of theNorman Transcriptand Lee Benson of News9:
Grant Calcaterra was always one of the nicest guys to talk with. This is one of the most wise decisions he'll ever make. Good luck to him.
OU will host TCU before visiting Oklahoma State to close the regular season. The 9-1 Sooners are ninth in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.
WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts on the field before a game against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
No. 10 Oklahoma engineered the largest comeback in program history Saturday by overcoming a 28-3 road deficit to defeat No. 13 Baylor 34-31 on Saturday at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas.
In the College Football Playoff Era (since 2014), teams are a combined 0-162 against a CFP-ranked team in the regular-season when trailing by at least 25 points. pic.twitter.com/pqofvezKCg
Sooners quarterback Jalen Hurts did it all with four passing touchdowns and 411 yards (297 passing, 114 rushing) despite the absence of No. 1 wideout CeeDee Lamb, who missed the game for an undisclosed reason. Per George Stoia of the Oklahoma Daily, Lamb traveled with the team and warmed up pregame.
Down 31-10 at halftime, Hurts and the Sooners scored 24 unanswered points, which included touchdown passes to Austin Stogner, Theo Wease and Brayden Willis.
A Gabe Brkic 31-yard field goal gave OU a 34-31 lead with 1:45 remaining, and the Sooner defense shut the door when Nik Bonitto picked off a pass from Baylor signal-caller Charlie Brewer.
With one epic comeback, Oklahoma kept its Playoff hopes alive while all but vanquishing Baylor’s.
The Bears quarterback was exceptional overall, accounting for all four of his team's touchdowns (two passing, two rushing). But Hurts was magical on one of the most memorable nights in the Sooners' 124-year history.
It's hard to come up with a silver lining for Baylor.
The Bears were staring at a 10-0 record (7-0 in the Big 12) and shot at sneaking into the College Football Playoff if they held on to a 25-point edge at home.
That didn't happen, and they are left wondering what might have been during a magical season where Baylor has lived on the edge and still come out on top with five single-digit victories.
There are a few causes for the demise.
For one, Baylor's final five drives ended on a fumble, three punts and an interception. Three of the drives were three-and-outs, and another lasted just one play.
The Bears also ran just 16 second-half plays, or 43 fewer than Oklahoma did during that same span. The Sooners enjoyed a massive time-of-possession differential, holding on to the ball for 41:11 and outgaining Baylor 525-307.
The fact that the Bears couldn't muster any second-half offense didn't help, as a clock-killing drive or two would have been Baylor's best defense against the potent Sooner attack.
Ultimately, the main takeaway for why the Bears lost doubles as the reason Baylor shouldn't be despondent over the defeat: Hurts is an incredible football player, and athletes of his caliber can prove impossible to beat on any given night.
Hurts wasn't invincible, committing three turnovers off an interception and two fumbles. But his best traits on Saturday were his perseverance and stamina: He ran or threw on 46 of his team's 59 plays in the second half alone and somehow didn't succumb to fatigue en route to carrying the Sooner offense to 24 second-half points.
Hurts wasn't avoiding contact on those 46 plays either. Of note, his helmet visor popped off after one hard hit, but he somehow stayed in the game:
Hurts lost the ball on a fumble with his team down 31-17 two plays later, but the ex-Alabama star bounced back and led the Sooners on three straight scoring drives, including this one to the game at 31:
Hurts is just playing on a different level and speed than everyone else on Saturdays, to the point where seeing him do the same on Sundays in the near future seems like a distinct possibility.
What's Next?
Both teams will host Big 12 opponents on Saturday at to-be-determined times: OU will welcome TCU, and Baylor will face No. 19 Texas.
The No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners had two weeks to put their 48-41 loss to Kansas State behind them, and they officially bounced back from the upset Saturday night by topping the visiting Iowa State Cyclones 42-41 at Memorial Stadium.
Sooners quarterback Jalen Hurts took over the contest with five total touchdowns in the first half to lead OU to a 35-14 halftime lead.
However, the Cyclones came storming back in the second half. OU held a 42-35 lead when Hurts threw an interception to Lawrence White at the Oklahoma 35-yard line with 2:43 left in regulation. Iowa State was able to convert the turnover into a touchdown, but Brock Purdy was picked off on the two-point conversion that would have sealed the upset for ISU.
THE DEFENSE COMES UP BIG!@OU_Football picks it off on the 2-point conversion to keep the lead with 24 seconds left in the game. pic.twitter.com/ggwC0w8WLz
Defeating a 5-4 Iowa State squad won't absolve the damage done by losing to Kansas State in terms of the Sooners' College Football Playoff aspirations, especially given how close Oklahoma came to being upset by an unranked opponent twice in a row. However, an 8-1 record will at least keep the hope alive for Oklahoma.
The Cyclones, meanwhile, dropped their second in a row.
Oklahoma was upset by Kansas State 48-41 two weeks ago, but Hurts still contributed 395 yards and one touchdown through the air as well as 96 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
The difference against Iowa State was that Hurts' form both propelled the Sooners to victory while simultaneously almost costing them the game.
Hurts accounted for all five of Oklahoma's first-half touchdowns with three coming through his arm and two through his legs:
The second half was much quieter for Hurts and, as a result, for Oklahoma. The Sooners were outscored in the second half 27-7. And when Hurts was picked off at the Oklahoma 35-yard line to put Iowa State in prime position to complete the comeback upset with 2:43 remaining in regulation, everything he accomplished in the first half was almost undone.
However, the Oklahoma defense was able to stave off Iowa State's two-point conversion attempt in order to preserve the win. Hurts performance would have been graded solely on his interception if OU would have lost, but as it stands, his one mistake and slow second half shouldn't negate his first-half dominance.
Saturday marked Hurts' third game this season with three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, which ties the reigning NFL MVP in Big 12 history:
Jalen Hurts has his third game with 3 pass TD and 2 rush TD this season.
In terms of where Hurts stands among quarterbacks still competing in college, his Heisman Trophy candidacy took a hit. LSU's Joe Burrow led the Tigers to a 46-41 win over Alabama earlier in the day, and many now consider Burrow to be the odds-on Heisman favorite—even former OU quarterback and reigning Heisman winner Kyler Murray, per ESPN's John Weinfuss.
Other quarterbacks' play is out of Hurts' control, though, and Hurts has remained mostly prolific in his own play. Because of that, he cannot be totally discounted from the Heisman race.
I know everybody wants to hand Joe Burrow the Heisman after tonight but Jalen Hurts will not go quietly into the night.
According to Westgate Sportsbook (h/t Action Network's Steve Petrella), Hurts entered Week 11 second behind Tua Tagoviloa (3-1) and one spot ahead of Burrow (6-5) in the Heisman race at 5-2.
Just as Burrow had a statement game against Alabama, Hurts' best remaining opportunity to make a statement will come next Saturday against the undefeated No. 12 Baylor Bears.
What's Next?
Oklahoma can only view this victory as a tune-up before traveling to the undefeated No. 12 Baylor Bears next Saturday in the most pivotal Big 12 matchup of the season.
Iowa State will host the Texas Longhorns on Saturday.
