Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel did not play against Texas in the 2022 Red River Rivalry due to a concussion.
But with the game on the line and 1:17 to play in regulation in Saturday’s edition of the classic, it was Gabriel who stepped up to the challenge, orchestrating a five-play, 75-yard drive capped with a game-winning three-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Nic Anderson.
The touchdown gave the Sooners a 34–30 lead, and eventually the victory, after a failed Hail Mary pass attempt from Quinn Ewers on the Longhorns’ final offensive drive. With the win, Sooners coach Brent Venables registered his first victory against a top-five team in his second year overseeing the program.
In the win, Oklahoma avenged its blowout loss to its Big 12 rival from a year ago and fans inside Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas were amazed by the ending of Saturday’s contest.
Congratulations to the Oklahoma Sooners, currently the only bowl eligible team in the country! pic.twitter.com/MSwJbVPaV8
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 7, 2023
BOOMER. SOONER.
— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) October 7, 2023
Dillon Gabriel finds Nic Anderson for the touchdown to give Oklahoma the lead.
The Sooners are back. #RedRiverRivalry | #OUvsTEX
pic.twitter.com/SbtpiSusw5
OH MY GOD OKLAHOMA pic.twitter.com/p4FsB9hjDF
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) October 7, 2023
OKLAHOMA WINS AN ABSOLUTE THRILLER AGAINST TEXAS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/8AgyaJxiNI
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 7, 2023
Mom… I apologize for the language. BUT Fu** Texas. Boomer MF Sooner!!!!!!!
— Dimitri Flowers (@treeflowers36) October 7, 2023
Give Dillon Gabriel the hat‼️ pic.twitter.com/y60ajE4cc9
— Boomer Sooner (@BoomerSoonerCo) October 7, 2023
YALL ARE ABOUT TO SEE THIS ALL DAY!!!! pic.twitter.com/CbQg43pRmv
— J🅿️ (@indy_sooner) October 7, 2023
Boomer freaking Sooner!!!!! What a great game! I am seriously going to miss this game every year. What a way for both teams to finish this series! Let’s go get crazy in the SEC! #BoomerSooner #ByeBig12 pic.twitter.com/b35vhAQjuK
— Angie M 🆗 💛💙🧡⚡️🏀 (@Okiefaith) October 7, 2023
Gabriel finished the contest 23-for-38 with 285 passing yards and one touchdown while rushing for 113 yards on 14 carries and one score on the ground. Oklahoma will enter an open week before returning to play UCF on Oct. 21.
