ARLINGTON, Texas — It was basically a jump ball between Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson and Oklahoma defensive back Tre Brown. The pass was thrown on the run, so high up, anything could've happened.
If the Cyclones came down with it, they would be in prime position to win. If the Sooners caught it, then game over. After Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy’s pass hung in the air, it was Brown’s jump that was timed better. He snatched it, giving Oklahoma a 27-21 win and a Big 12 championship.
After starting the conference season 0-2, the Sooners won their sixth consecutive Big 12 title and kept their ever-so-slim College Football Playoff hopes alive with their win.
“It was just crazy,” Brown said. “All game, I felt like I needed to make a big play.”
To actually get selected for the game on Sunday, there will still need to be something of a minor miracle — involving both help from teams in front of the Sooners, as well the deference of the CFP selection committee.
Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler finished 22-of-34 passing with 272 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers. Wide receiver Marvin Mims was the only 100-yard playmaker, though Rhamondre Stevenson got close, with 97 on the ground. Patrick Fields and Tre Norwood also registered interceptions on Purdy, who finished 27-of-40 passing with three critical misses. In the end, Oklahoma avenged its 37-30 road loss against this opponent from early this season.
“People need to make sure and educate themselves on why a lot those things happened early on in the season,” head coach Lincoln Riley said, seeming to make his team’s CFP case. “... We were playing with depleted rosters when a lot of people either weren’t playing or were postponing and canceling games.”
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell appeared unhappy with some officiating calls, especially early on as the Sooners raced out to a large lead in the first half. First it was Isheem Young getting called for targeting just 33 seconds into the game Then in the second quarter, it appeared as though the Cyclones might have drawn the Sooners defense offsides. But no penalty was called, which led to Campbell angrily screaming and pointing at the referees as he was held back.
Despite the anger at the officials, Oklahoma was clearly the better team. After getting stuffed on first-and-goal, the Sooners called on third-string quarterback Chandler Morris. Playing in just his fourth collegiate game, he raced in for the first score of the game.
Mims hauled in a 45-yard pass on the first play of the second quarter, and kicker Gabe Brkic connected on a career-long 54-yarder — after missing a 36-yarder earlier in the game — before Iowa State ever got on the board.
“Words can’t really describe it right now,” Rattler said after the game. “Just where we started and where we’re at now is just night and day. Who would have have known we’d be here winning it for the sixth time in a row?”
But that sixth trophy seemed in doubt as Rattler’s offense sputtered in the second half. Oklahoma punted on its first five possessions of the second half. It was 1 of 11 on third downs overall. It didn’t score a touchdown after the intermission, but in the end, it didn’t need one. After scoring at least 28 points for more than 60 consecutive games, the Sooners have been held to below that in two straight games, both wins.
After losing two consecutive games in the first month of the season, it seemed as though the Sooners season was dead — or at least was any hope of competing for a national championship. They fell out of the rankings and needed four overtimes against Texas the next week to avoid a three-game losing streak.
Iowa State made a valiant comeback effort. After punting on its first offensive possession of the fourth quarter, it got the ball back and didn’t waste its next chance. It used a 12-play, 5:15 drive, capped off by Breece Hall running from three yards out to make it a three-point game.
But on its potential game-winning drive, the offensive and defensive momentum that was clearly on the Cyclones’ side wasn’t enough to overcome the hole it’d dug itself into. Its Cinderella story ended with a ball in Brown’s hands, as the Sooners retained their champion status.
“At a place like OU, there’s nowhere to hide,” Riley said. “Well if we just go off and have a bad season, people aren’t going to play attention — they always pay attention to OU. It’s just such a national powerhouse, and there’s just never anywhere to hide in this program. So you’ve got one choice, you’ve got to step up. ... What a tremendous run it’s been.”
