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There was one sport that mattered greater than the remainder Saturday, and although it had an impression on the School Soccer Playoff image, the stakes at this season’s Bedlam transcended nationwide titles. Within the remaining iteration of Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, the Cowboys despatched the Sooners packing to the SEC, 27-24, and stomped out any hopes OU had of the playoff.
Whereas the in-state rivals certainly will meet once more, Mike Gundy and Okie State gained’t be in a rush to provide the traitors from Norman one other shot on the title. It’s a stage of pettiness that’s solely wholesome within the area of fandom and one which must be celebrated contemplating OU’s motivation for leaping conferences.
Maybe probably the most karmic second got here on a 3rd and 12 deep in OSU territory late within the fourth quarter, with OU trailing 27-21. Dillon Gabriel threw a fade to the again proper nook of the endzone, and receiver Drake Stoops obtained mugged, actually tackled, with the ref staring proper at him.
No flag.
It was the sort of non-call that instantly sends conspiracy theorists’ antennae skyward. Huge 12 crew provides Oklahoma a swift kick to the groin within the largest spot attainable? Positive. Sooner coach Brent Venables ended up kicking a subject objective, however like final week, even when OU obtained the ball again with 1:46 remaining needing solely three extra to go to OT, no one thought they have been going to execute.
The Sooners didn’t because the Cowboys earned a cease on fourth and 5 to seal the sport. After a few kneel-downs, the Stillwater crowd then spilled onto the sector, and are in all probability nonetheless spilling drinks round campus.
It was your typical rivalry sport of twists, turns, and large performs, however Ollie Gordon II’s two-touchdown, 136-yard efficiency will without end be immortalized in Poes’ lore. It was Gundy’s one hundredth Huge 12 win, and after the sport he instructed ESPN that the win ranked on the prime of his Ws on this at present defunct sequence.
“It’s an enormous sport,” Gundy said. “And it’s good for the Oklahoma State individuals to complete Bedlam with a win. Interval.”
From a 2023 soccer standpoint, the Sooners’ second loss takes them out of the CFP image, and places any likelihood of creating a Huge 12 title sport berth within the palms of Texas, and Oklahoma State, who sit atop the convention. To be honest, the best way the Sooners, and Gabriel have been enjoying, they’re not successful something of significance.
The Cowboys, alternatively, are three video games from reprising their spoiler position in opposition to the opposite deserter, ought to the Longhorns additionally keep away from self-destructing. Whereas a Huge 12 title and a center finger to Texas — the staff palling along with your longtime rival to the SEC — could be good, it gained’t be sweeter than Saturday.
Two finest quarterbacks in school soccer bow out
Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels have been lastly betrayed one too many occasions by their respective defenses. In two video games that gave the impression to be heavyweight prize shootouts after a half, they rapidly became referendums on why USC and LSU can’t be taken critically.
The Tide knocked Daniels out of the sport and turned the ultimate quarter right into a formality for a 42-28 win over LSU. The Huskies put the Trojans in a trailing place that they couldn’t overcome and rode UW’s Dillon Johnson to victory. The working again had a profession night time with 256 yards and 4 touchdowns on 26 carries.
Alabama and Washington made sufficient performs on each side of the ball to additional their march towards the CFP, however don’t idiot your self into considering Michael Penix Jr. and Jalen Milroe are in the identical hemisphere as Williams and Daniels. Regardless of Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley being within the second season of a brand new job, each shall be kicking themselves for squandering these extraordinarily gifted quarterbacks’ remaining years.
That’s additionally been the rub on Kelly and Riley: there’s at all times an Achilles heel, and it’s at all times evident. It’s additionally humorous how a lot the notion varies between the 2 visored coaches. Anyway, it doesn’t matter, a minimum of not this yr.
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