Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on August 30, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 3
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Josh Gateley
Defense Prevails in Tight Spring Game on Special Day for Kyler Murray
April 22, 2023 | Football
NORMAN - Though the scoreboard showed an offensive shootout, it was defense that ruled Saturday's Red vs. White spring game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
It was head coach Brent Venables' version of new math that created the misleading final score of 84-82 in favor of the White (defense) squad.
A crowd of 54,409 attended the scrimmage that was staged with temperatures in the mid-50s and a healthy north wind.
A longtime FBS defensive coordinator before taking over the Sooners prior to last season, Venables smiled while trying to explain the creative scoring system that undeniably favored the defense.
The offense (Red team) got six points for a touchdown, three points for field goals, two points for plays of 15+ yards, two points per punt, two points for two-point conversions, and one point for an extra point.
The defense (White team) got 12 points for a defensive touchdown, seven points for a turnover, seven points for a fourth-down stop, seven points for a missed field goal, five points per punt, four points for made field goal, three points for a sack, two points for pass breakup, two points for a missed extra point or missed two-point conversion and one point for a tackle for loss.
Then again, for defense to dominate the spring game is usually the norm.
"There's good and bad in all of it," Venables said.
"Today, I just wanted to see these guys go out and play. We had 26 guys who had not been here before. I really wanted to focus on letting those guys go play without paralyzing them in the moment.
That's a real thing, too. Just trying to get big picture. Obviously, we went for it a lot on fourth down. We didn't have our kicker out there."
Fifth-year graduate transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 11 of 17 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns, and had one interception. Five-star freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold settled down to complete 6 of 14 passes for 64 yards, including a late touchdown pass to wide receiver Gavin Freeman that tied the game and set the stage for the game's final play – a two-point conversion attempt. The attempt failed and the White team won by two.
"We couldn't have scripted it (the scoring) any better," Venables explained. "We knew all along that when we go to the two-minute drill prior to that final drive, so actually it was kind of cool.
Quarterback Davis Beville, in his second year with the program, completed 5 of 6 for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Nine players combined for 38 rushing attempts for 112 yards (2.9 average). Former cornerback D.J. Graham led the receivers with two catches for 74 yards while Freeman had three catches for 47 yards and the late touchdown.
Sophomore linebacker Kip Lewis led the defense with 11 tackles while Texas Tech senior transfer Reggie Pearson added seven tackles, one for loss. Sophomore lineman Gracen Halton had five tackles and two sacks (for 14 yards).
"There were plenty of things we didn't do well," Venables said. "But I'm looking for guys doing all the stuff, doing the little things right – covering the ball, playing physical, running on and off the field, just handling their business the right way, play the game the right way. Make the layups that are there. We had a couple of procedural penalties, a couple of holds and picked up the flags, lined up off-sides a couple times, had the pass interference. So we've got to get those things corrected."
Venables and his assistant coaches agreed the Sooners are much further ahead than after spring practice last season.
"We had a great spring," Venables. "I told the team again, 'You know it when you see it and you know it when you don't (with) improvement.' Some positions with players it's more incremental and I saw a lot of guys who made tremendous improvement. A lot of that was from the guys who just got here.
"I'm really excited to see the direction of this team. We have really good chemistry and leadership at this point. It's a lot of fun."
KYLER MURRAY HONORED
Three hours prior to Saturday afternoon's Red-White Spring Game, the statue for 2018 Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray was unveiled across Jenkins Ave. in Heisman Park, alongside monuments of past winners Billy Vessels (1952), Steve Owens (1969), Billy Sims (1978), Jason White (2003), Sam Bradford (2008) and Baker Mayfield (2017).
"I thought it looked great," Murray said of the statue.
Murray also was honored at halftime of the spring game, a ceremony which was attended by Owens, Sims, White and Mayfield.
"It was a special deal," Murray said of his ceremony and being honored at halftime. "To be received this way by the whole town, city, the school, teammates. The recognition was a surreal moment for me and my family."
Murray played his freshman season at Texas A&M and saw limited action with three starts and eight games played before deciding to transfer to OU in December 2015. "I picked the wrong school," he told Saturday's crowd at halftime, drawing immediate cheers and applause.
After sitting out his transfer season, Murray played backup to Mayfield the following year and waited for his turn as starter. After winning the Heisman as a redshirt junior, Murray declared for the 2019 NFL Draft and was the No. 1 overall choice by the Arizona Cardinals, following in the steps of Mayfield, who was drafted No. 1 in 2018.
"It's different. This place is special," Murray said of OU. "Obviously, when you get into a professional world, you receive hate and stuff like that. In the collegiate world, most of it is usually love. This place is loyal. This place will always hold a special place in my heart."
It was head coach Brent Venables' version of new math that created the misleading final score of 84-82 in favor of the White (defense) squad.
A crowd of 54,409 attended the scrimmage that was staged with temperatures in the mid-50s and a healthy north wind.
A longtime FBS defensive coordinator before taking over the Sooners prior to last season, Venables smiled while trying to explain the creative scoring system that undeniably favored the defense.
The offense (Red team) got six points for a touchdown, three points for field goals, two points for plays of 15+ yards, two points per punt, two points for two-point conversions, and one point for an extra point.
The defense (White team) got 12 points for a defensive touchdown, seven points for a turnover, seven points for a fourth-down stop, seven points for a missed field goal, five points per punt, four points for made field goal, three points for a sack, two points for pass breakup, two points for a missed extra point or missed two-point conversion and one point for a tackle for loss.
Then again, for defense to dominate the spring game is usually the norm.
"There's good and bad in all of it," Venables said.
"Today, I just wanted to see these guys go out and play. We had 26 guys who had not been here before. I really wanted to focus on letting those guys go play without paralyzing them in the moment.
That's a real thing, too. Just trying to get big picture. Obviously, we went for it a lot on fourth down. We didn't have our kicker out there."
Fifth-year graduate transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 11 of 17 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns, and had one interception. Five-star freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold settled down to complete 6 of 14 passes for 64 yards, including a late touchdown pass to wide receiver Gavin Freeman that tied the game and set the stage for the game's final play – a two-point conversion attempt. The attempt failed and the White team won by two.
"We couldn't have scripted it (the scoring) any better," Venables explained. "We knew all along that when we go to the two-minute drill prior to that final drive, so actually it was kind of cool.
Quarterback Davis Beville, in his second year with the program, completed 5 of 6 for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Nine players combined for 38 rushing attempts for 112 yards (2.9 average). Former cornerback D.J. Graham led the receivers with two catches for 74 yards while Freeman had three catches for 47 yards and the late touchdown.
Sophomore linebacker Kip Lewis led the defense with 11 tackles while Texas Tech senior transfer Reggie Pearson added seven tackles, one for loss. Sophomore lineman Gracen Halton had five tackles and two sacks (for 14 yards).
"There were plenty of things we didn't do well," Venables said. "But I'm looking for guys doing all the stuff, doing the little things right – covering the ball, playing physical, running on and off the field, just handling their business the right way, play the game the right way. Make the layups that are there. We had a couple of procedural penalties, a couple of holds and picked up the flags, lined up off-sides a couple times, had the pass interference. So we've got to get those things corrected."
Venables and his assistant coaches agreed the Sooners are much further ahead than after spring practice last season.
"We had a great spring," Venables. "I told the team again, 'You know it when you see it and you know it when you don't (with) improvement.' Some positions with players it's more incremental and I saw a lot of guys who made tremendous improvement. A lot of that was from the guys who just got here.
"I'm really excited to see the direction of this team. We have really good chemistry and leadership at this point. It's a lot of fun."
KYLER MURRAY HONORED
Three hours prior to Saturday afternoon's Red-White Spring Game, the statue for 2018 Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray was unveiled across Jenkins Ave. in Heisman Park, alongside monuments of past winners Billy Vessels (1952), Steve Owens (1969), Billy Sims (1978), Jason White (2003), Sam Bradford (2008) and Baker Mayfield (2017).
"I thought it looked great," Murray said of the statue.
Murray also was honored at halftime of the spring game, a ceremony which was attended by Owens, Sims, White and Mayfield.
"It was a special deal," Murray said of his ceremony and being honored at halftime. "To be received this way by the whole town, city, the school, teammates. The recognition was a surreal moment for me and my family."
Murray played his freshman season at Texas A&M and saw limited action with three starts and eight games played before deciding to transfer to OU in December 2015. "I picked the wrong school," he told Saturday's crowd at halftime, drawing immediate cheers and applause.
After sitting out his transfer season, Murray played backup to Mayfield the following year and waited for his turn as starter. After winning the Heisman as a redshirt junior, Murray declared for the 2019 NFL Draft and was the No. 1 overall choice by the Arizona Cardinals, following in the steps of Mayfield, who was drafted No. 1 in 2018.
"It's different. This place is special," Murray said of OU. "Obviously, when you get into a professional world, you receive hate and stuff like that. In the collegiate world, most of it is usually love. This place is loyal. This place will always hold a special place in my heart."
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
QB
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WR
/ Football
QB
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DL
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DB
/ FootballSooner Gameday - 9/12/25
Friday, September 12
Coaches Corner - 9/11/25
Thursday, September 11
Brent Venables Media Availability - 9/9/25
Tuesday, September 09
Ben Arbuckle Media Availability - 9/9/25
Tuesday, September 09
