College Football Fans Were So Confused by Oklahoma’s Perplexing Clock Management

Oklahoma and Texas met in this year’s edition of the Red River Rivalry on Saturday, and through the first half, both teams struggled to find their groove on offense.

The teams combined for just three field goals through the first half, and only one red zone appearance—by the Longhorns, which ended with a field goal kicked on fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line.

But it was after that Texas field goal that the most baffling display of offensive mismanagement took place. As Oklahoma took the field ready to run the two-minute offense before halftime, the Sooners appeared confounded as to what exactly they wanted to do.

After crossing midfield with 90 seconds left, Oklahoma let 30 seconds tick off the clock before getting another snap off. That snap was a run for no gain, and it would be another 15 seconds until the next snap was made.

Quarterback John Mateer completed a pass to Isaiah Sategna III for eight yards, meaning the clock was still running as the Sooners had not gotten a first down. But the clock ticked all the way down to 10 seconds before Oklahoma decided to call their final timeout. On the next play, Mateer threw a pick on a desperation heave into the end zone, robbing the Sooners of a field goal attempt.

Oklahoma DID NOT need to do THAT. pic.twitter.com/ZEvLzG9ZVT
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) October 11, 2025

Fans online share their confusion and frustration with the Sooners’ lack of coherence heading into halftime.

Still trying to process what Oklahoma was doing at the end of the first half.

It's third-and-2 and you have a timeout. Do you...

A) Run a play, and if it doesn't work call timeout and kick a field goal.

B) Run down the clock, call timeout, arm punt.
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) October 11, 2025

Oklahoma will lose those game due to that end of half execution. Coaches and players were awful. Venables makes millions to be a dum dum
— ChadinPortland 🎙 (@ChadinRipCity) October 11, 2025

Some peculiar clock-management/decision-making to close the first half from Oklahoma to leave points on the board. Sooners lead Texas 6-3 at the break.

Per ESPN Research, that was the lowest scoring first-half in a Red River Rivalry game since 2009.
— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) October 11, 2025

Very poor coaching to end the half by Venables and Oklahoma. Just can’t happen. The way this game is going you have to get points when you have chances.
— Tim Smithson (@timsmithson22) October 11, 2025

Clock management and decision making by Oklahoma at the end of the half left a lot of be desired. We’ll see if those 3 points matter later…
— Max Olson (@max_olson) October 11, 2025

We’ll see whether either offense can look a bit sharper in the second half.