Sooners Downed By Kansas State

Saturday, September 24

Norman

7 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

3-1 , 0-1

Kansas State

3-1 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Kansas St.

Oklahoma

September 24, 2022 | Football

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By: John Rohde for SoonerSports.com

NORMAN, Okla. — With a 41-34 victory over Oklahoma on Saturday night, Kansas State continued its decade-long role as the Sooners' Big 12 Conference nemesis at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Oklahoma (3-1, 0-1) has won eight of its last 10 conference openers and 12 of its last 15. All three conference-opening defeats the past 15 years have come against the Wildcats in Norman (2012, 2020 and 2022).

The Sooners' streak of 10 straight home victories (and 16 consecutive home night games) was snapped Saturday. They have won 28 of their last 30 home games and both losses have come to Kansas State (3-1, 1-0).

OU's struggles arrived at the outset Saturday as it fell behind 14-0 with 5½ minutes left in the first quarter of the nationally televised (FOX) game. The Sooners forged a tie at 14 early in the second quarter but failed to lead the contest at any point.

It was a superlative performance from KSU senior quarterback Adrian Martinez that sparked the victory. A portal transfer from Nebraska, Martinez accounted for 382 total yards and five touchdowns, rushing for 148 yards on 21 carries (7.0 yards per) and four TDs and completing 21 of 34 passes for 234 yards and one more score.

KSU running back Deuce Vaughn added 116 yards rushing on 25 carries while senior running back Eric Gray led the Sooners with 114 yards rushing on 16 carries (7.1-yard average).

"We had a setback and it was nothing that we planned for, so I'm certainly disappointed in so many ways," said Brent Venables, who lost for the first time as a head coach. "I do believe our guys will respond the right way. We have great leadership, tremendous buy-in and great accountability. We're down in the mud right now, there's no doubt about it, but we're going to take this one on the chin and try to learn and grow from it. We have two options in how we respond moving forward, so I feel strong and have a clear vision on how I think our guys will respond to this. Again, hats off to Kansas State, they came in and earned the victory in every way, there wasn't any fluke about it."

OU junior transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 26 of 39 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Tight end Brayden Willis (5 catches for 41 yards) had two touchdown receptions, while wideouts Marvin Mims (4 for 87 yards) and Theo Wease (3 for 75 yards) had one touchdown catch each.

The Sooners outgained KSU 550-509 in total yards and averaged 7.5 yards per play, but they were unable to overcome 11 penalties totaling 87 yards.

The vaunted OU defense failed to record a sack against the remarkably composed Martinez. The Sooners also struggled to prevent the Wildcats from converting on key downs (8 for 17 on third downs and 2 for 2 on fourth downs). Meanwhile, OU was just 4 for 13 on third-down conversions.

The game clincher came on a 55-yard scramble from Martinez on third-and-16 at the KSU 41-yard line with 2:39 left and the Wildcats clinging to a seven-point lead.

The play appeared to be a designed read on a quarterback draw. Martinez calmly stood in the pocket holding the ball waist-high with seemingly no intention of throwing. He looked for a crease, darted through, broke toward the left sideline and stepped out of bounds at the OU 4.

His 1-yard keeper two plays later put KSU back on top 41-27 with 1:58 remaining.

The Sooners responded with a 75-yard, 12-play drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel to Willis with 35 seconds remaining to pull OU within 41-34. However, the Wildcats recovered the Sooners' ensuing onside kick to seal the victory.

Going back to 2006, the Sooners have lost their conference opener just five times. On each of the previous four occasions (2006, 2007, 2012 and 2020) they went on to win the Big 12 crown.

OU plays at TCU next Saturday at 11 a.m. on ABC.