Oklahoma-Baylor Observations: AllSooners LIVE In-Game Blog

John Hoover, Ryan Chapman and Ross Lovelace offer their real-time observations from the Sooners' home game with the Baylor Bears.

NORMAN — Unranked Oklahoma and unranked Baylor come into Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium with 5-3 overall records. AllSooners has four reporters on site to cover the game.

This live blog will be updated throughout Saturday's contest. Newest posts appear at the top. Simply refresh your browser to see the latest posts.

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5:16 p.m.

Final stats:

5:13 p.m.

Oklahoma falls again. That's 5-4 this season for the Sooners.

4:57 p.m.

Incredibly disappointing possession for Oklahoma’s defense. Baylor’s offensive line punched the Sooners in the mouth all the way down the field. Uninspiring effort from the defensive side of the ball there, and now Oklahoma will need some help to pull this one off.

38-28, Sooners trail with 9:15 left in the game.

— RL

4:54 p.m.

Oklahoma’s tackling hasn’t been good today. But this drive, it’s an abject disaster. We haven’t seen tackling this bad since probably 2018. Baylor running backs aren’t doing anything special, just keeping their feet moving, and the OU defenders are just refusing to get them to the ground. There’s no penetration up front, no disruption by the front 6 or 7, no pursuit by the linebackers. I’m seeing some good blocking by the Baylor o-line, but not elite. That last touchdown drive played out like a varsity versus junior varsity scrimmage.

The touchdown run by Qualan Jones was literally uncontested, and Baylor leads 38-28.

Having said all that, if the OU offense answers here, it’s a 3-point game again.

— JH

4:50 p.m.

Coming out of the timeout it looked like Jonah Laulu had a shot to bring down Shapen for the stop in the backfield. Instead, Shapen puts the moves on, but gets stopped short of the first down marker.

From his own 29-yard line, Aranda showed no fear. Baylor lined up and picked up the first down. There was never any doubt.

Still a chance to rebound and force the punt, though.

— RC 

4:44 p.m.

Marvin Mims almost makes a great play for the Sooners to down the punt at the 1-yard line, but the officials ruled the ball crossed the goal line.

Defense needs another stop to start the fourth quarter.

— RC 

4:39 p.m.

Third quarter stats:

4:39 p.m.

Third quarter is done, and the Sooners are in good shape.

4:33 p.m

Great work by the defense to string back-to-back stops.

In a game where Dillon Gabriel has thrown three picks and the Sooners missed a massive 55-yard field goal, Oklahoma is getting the ball back down three points with a chance to get back in front.

— RC 

4:29 p.m.

Five of the seven play calls on that touchdown drive were runs.

The two passes both were short outs that made life easy on Gabriel.

The Sooners are having success on the ground, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. All OU needs is for Gabriel to not turn the ball over in the passing game and they’ll be able to score.

— RC 

4:28 p.m.

Massive scoring drive right there for Oklahoma’s offense. They ran it all the way down the field, and Jeff Lebby tricked everyone out with a screen to Drake Stoops for the score.

Oklahoma has life. 31-28 with 4:52 left in the third quarter. Cleaning up defensive penalties could determine the outcome of this one.

— RL

Drake Stoops

4:26 p.m.

A very disciplined drive there by Oklahoma answers Baylor and cuts it to 31-28. The motion by Drake Stoops behind the formation got him into open space, and he put an ankle-breaking move on Mark Milton to get into the end zone.

— JH

4:20 p.m.

Oklahoma’s defense gets off the field with help from an offensive pass interference call. Looked like a ticky-tacky interference call, but the Sooners will take whatever they can get. Points here feel like a must.

— RL

4:16 p.m.

More lack of composure by Oklahoma: Dillon Gabriel is sacked on third and eight to start the second half, and on Michael Turk’s punt, Gentry Williams is flagged for kick catch interference.

— JH

4:15 p.m.

Really bad effort from the OU offense out of the locker room.

First down play gets blown up by a blitz and Dillon Gabriel eats a sack on third down.

Gentry Williams then gets blocked into punt returner Gavin Holmes and the freshman is called for interfering with the returner to add insult to injury.

The Bears will start at their own 45-yard line with a chance to go up 17 and put this game away early in the second half.

— RC 

4:10 p.m.

Incredibly deflating possession from Oklahoma’s defense. Two big-time penalties extended Baylor’s drive and moved the Bears right down the field. Isaiah Coe’s personal foul could be a play we look back on when discussing the outcome of this one. Brutal.

Touchdown Baylor, 31-21 Bears.

— RL

4:08 p.m.

That was a big poise drive for Oklahoma’s defense. The Sooners didn’t have any. Surprised by a sweep on the first play, unnecessary roughness wipes out a tackle for loss and no resistance again on a goal line rush by Richard Reese, and it’s 31-21 Baylor.

The offense hasn’t been good enough to erase those kinds of mistakes.

— JH

4:02 p.m.

Jordan Nabors with another big run on a simple jet sweep, and Key Lawrence sustains an injury while tackling him. With no Lawrence,, Justin Broiles, Billy Bowman and DaShaun White are lining up at safety.

— JH

3:56 p.m.

All things considered, Oklahoma’s in a good spot. The Sooners threw three interceptions, failed to convert a fourth-and-inches in Baylor territory and missed a field goal. Oklahoma out-gained Baylor 334-to-187 in total yards of offense, too.

After all of that, the Sooners trail by just three. Oklahoma’s mistakes are defining this game. Cleaning up the turnovers will go a long way in the second half.

— RL

3:42 p.m.

. Sooners have a lot to clean up.

3:41 p.m.

Halftime stats.

3:40 p.m.

Bad break there for Oklahoma. It seemed the Sooners had enough time to cobble together a drive and get in field goal position, but a personal foul penalty on Dillon Gabriel’s extended scramble costs both yardage and clock.

Assassin Zach Schmit bangs a field goal attempt from 55 yards, but it sails wide as time expires.

OU trails Baylor 24-21 at the half.

— JH

3:33 p.m.

Jaren Kanak has gotten a few snaps early, but no more important than getting subbed in for David Ugwoegbu on that third down.

Coaching staff showing more and more faith in the young linebacker. He’s there to help make the stop and the defense bailed Gabriel out of an awful interception.

— RC 

3:30 p.m.

Dillon Gabriel gives it right back to Baylor with his third interception of the day. Tried to fit another tight throw into Jalil Farooq, who was covered in front. Behind Farooq, Morgan made a diving INT.

Gabriel gonna have to clean it up big-time or the Sooners will not survive.

— JH

3:29 p.m.

And right on cue, Billy Bowman with an incredible effort to hang onto the ball. Just a monumental takeaway, especially considering Baylor will start with the ball in the second half. Sooners defense coming up in a big way.

— RL

3:28 p.m.

At a loss as to what Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes was doing on that drive.

Craig Williams is averaging 9.4 yards per carry. Why even try to throw the ball?

Billy Bowman will take it though. Sooners have a chance to go back ahead.

— RC 

3:26 p.m.

Really bad throw there across the middle by Blake Shapen and Billy Bowman makes a diving interception. The Sooner defense has life.

— JH

3:23 p.m.

Jaden Davis is standing up and has his helmet on on the OU sideline, but he’s standing with some guys who are not dressed out. The halfway educated but highly unofficial guess here is he won’t be back, although I'm told they're saying on the broadcast that he got taped up and is expected to return.

— JH

3:20 p.m.

Oklahoma’s defense can change the game with a stop or a turnover here. Massive possession coming up after the timely offensive touchdown.

— RL

3:18 p.m.

Really nice drive from the OU offense there. Finally the Sooners were able to get some rhythm as they went tempo, and Gabriel moved Oklahoma right down the field.

Had success attacking Baylor over the middle which is a good sign that he’s not gun-shy after a couple of tip-drill interceptions.

— RC 

3:16 p.m.

Baylor defensive tackle Brayden Utley is ejected for a flagrant personal foul for throwing a punch on Gray’s TD run, and OU’s Wanya Morris is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct as well but isn’t ejected.

That’s a big hit for the Baylor defense, which is good at rotating guys in for Siaki Ika.

— JH

3:12 p.m.

Dillon Gabriel tried to find Theo Wease on a first down throw but he was covered. Gabriel then dumped a 3-yard throw to Wease on second-and-10.

Gabriel saves the drive with a third-down scramble, then zips to Eric Gray across the middle, setting up Gray’s 5-yard touchdown run to cut it to 24-20. PAT is good and it's 24-21. Massive response for OU.

We’re midway through the second quarter and that’s Wease’s first offensive snaps.

— JH

3:09 p.m.

No brownie points for bottling up an awful Iowa State rushing attack.

The Sooners are getting gashed on the ground.

Craig Williams started things off with a 51-yard sprint, and finished the job with a pair of strong runs on the goal line.

Honestly, Jeff Grimes should’t call another pass today. The 10-point lead might be enough if Dillon Gabriel can’t get locked back in on the other side.

— RC 

3:08 p.m.

That time, the Oklahoma turnover – on downs – is converted into another Baylor touchdown, a 1-yard TD run by Craig Williams, who strolls untouched into the end zone right up the middle.

Baylor leads it 24-14, 9:06 til halftime.

— JH

3:06 p.m.

That was the most out-of-sorts drive of the day for Gabriel and the offense. Despite multiple bad overthrows, Oklahoma pushed the ball into Baylor territory. Marcus Major couldn’t pick up a fourth-and-short, though, and the defense will have to step up again.

Major just hasn’t looked right over the past week or two. The Sooners seem to be running the ball more efficiently with Eric Gray, but Major got the call on fourth down even with Jovantae Barnes listed as healthy. Missed opportunity, and now Baylor nets a 51-yard run down the sidelines.

— RL

3:04 p.m.

That drive was all over the place.

Sooners start moving the ball with the perimeter runs. Lebby took a shot with Gabriel, and he overthrew Mims for what would have been a touchdown. Then Gabriel misses Stoops on two straight throws, and got bailed out on third and long by flipping the ball to Gray.

For the fourth-and-1 call, Lebby dialed up a wildcat look right into Siaki Ika. None of that made sense.

— RC 

3:01 p.m.

Boy, Dillon Gabriel threw an absolute rope on a deep ball to Marvin Mims, but with the wind at his back, it had no chance of being caught. Mims had a step on his defender, too.

OU gets a break on the next play when Chris Murray gets his helmet ripped off for a 15-yard personal foul penalty, but Gabriel misfires a couple more throws before scrambling out of trouble and dumping down to Eric Gray on third-and-10. Gray picks up 9 and the Sooners face fourth-and-1 as Baylor tends to an injury.

Marcus Major runs up the middle but gets stuffed, and Baylor takes over with 11:02 until halftime.

— JH

2:55 p.m.

Oklahoma’s defense with two costly penalties, but the unit gets off the field again. Offsides twice on the same set of downs, but the bend-don’t-break mentality holds. Baylor’s trick play on third-and-short goes nowhere, as the Sooners force a field goal.

Once again, Oklahoma’s adjustments on the defensive end have been impressive. After the opening drive, and a very short field to work with on drive No. 2, it’s been a different story for the Sooners defense.

— RL

2:52 p.m.

After another Dillon Gabriel INT – this one tipped by Brayden Willis after what looked like possible pass interference – the Oklahoma defense gets a stop on third-and-8, but R Mason Thomas is flagged for offsides. It’s the second one this drive by an OU freshman (Jaren Kanak got hit with it on the first play).

John Mayers kicks a 49-yard field goal to give Baylor a 17-14 lead.

That’s 10 points off Gabriel INTs.

— JH

2:50 p.m.

Tipped passes are killing Dillon Gabriel.

This time he tried to thread the needle to Brayden Willis, and the Sooner tight end couldn’t haul it in with his left hand while Matt Jones held on to Willis’ right arm.

Bears returned the ball back to the 34-yard line, and Baylor will have great field position yet again.

— RC 

2:45p.m.

That's it for the first quarter. And it was a good one. Here are the stats:

— JH

2:40 p.m.

There’s that complimentary football. With the help, of course, from an early Baylor penalty. Justin Broiles’ dropped interception is the kind of plays you need to take advantage of, though. Field positioning in Baylor’s territory would’ve gone a long way.

Nonetheless, a stop is a stop. Oklahoma’s defense will get off the field on third down any way possible

— RL

2:38 p.m.

A bunch of non-starters in on this drive, including Billy Bowman at safety. Blake Shapen throws it to Justin Broiles on third-and-13, but the ball is incomplete. Near INT.

Actually, that one's being reviewed now.

— JH

2:37 p.m.

Oklahoma will absolutely take the points (welcome back Marvin Mims), but the defense has to get a stop early in this drive.

Last two Oklahoma drives have lasted 53 seconds (interception) and 49 seconds (touchdown).

Bears going to run away with the time of possession today.

— RC 

2:35 p.m.

Easy peasy. Nothing dysfunctional about that 63-yard touchdown throw from Dillon Gabriel to Marvin Mims. Wide open behind the defense, perfect throw, easy catch.

That’s been missing.

Appears the Baylor secondary got their eyes in the wrong place on the play fake, as the play before, WR Jalil Farooq took a jet sweep for a 12-yard run and a first down.

Clever set-up there by Jeff Lebby and it's 14-14.

— JH

2:32 p.m.

Woodi Washington was back on the field for the last play of Baylor’s drive, but it didn’t matter. Touchdown Bears. Oklahoma’s defense needs a break, a long offensive drive is critical momentum-wise. Another turnover would be costly.

— RL

2:31 p.m.

Really clever play design as Jordan Nabors takes a tight end reverse pitch in for an easy touchdown. The Gabriel INT turns into a Baylor TD and the Bears lead is 14-7, 3:50 left in the first quarter.

— JH

2:30 p.m.

Obviously the tip-drill pick is less than ideal.

But even had it fallen innocently into the grass, OU was on track for a three-and-out in under a minute on its second offensive drive.

With how Baylor wants to hold onto the football on offense, Jeff Lebby can’t put the defense in terrible spots like that. They’ll get worn down and simply won’t be able to hold up late in the game.

— RC 

2:29 p.m.

C.J. Coldon is back at corner, but now so is Woodi Washington, as it’s Jaden Davis who’s injured on the sideline and receiving treatment.

— JH

2:28 p.m.

Dillon Gabriel’s pass was tipped and intercepted. Jaden Davis was then helped off the field. The Bears are at the 9-yard line with a fresh set of downs, and both of Oklahoma’s starting corners are on the sideline. Not good.

— RL

2:24 p.m.

Baylor averaged 4.6 yards per rush there on the first drive.

The bad news? Freshman running back Richard Reese only got one carry.

Oklahoma entered the week ranked No. 115-nationally in rushing defense, and that’s after getting to pad stats against a terrible Iowa State run game.

— RC 

2:23 p.m.

Even with Woodi Washington sidelined after an injury on the first drive, the Bears went right at Jaden Davis. A simple slant allowed Baylor to move the chains on a long fourth-and-7. Tough opening possession for Oklahoma’s defense, didn’t look great.

— RL

2:22 p.m.

C.J. Coldon finished the drive at left corner for Woodi Washington, who remains on the sideline receiving treatment.

— JH

2:20 p.m.

Not much resistance from the OU defense after that fourth-down conversion. Backup RB Craig Williams takes the toss and goes essentially untouched 11 yards into the end zone. Danny Stutsman seemed to have a shot at Williams in the backfield but didn’t get through one final block and ended up on the ground while Williams kicked it outside.

It's 7-7, 5:54 left in the first quarter.

— JH

2:20 p.m.

Fourth down conversions are a Dave Aranda special.

We honed in on that yesterday in our weekly By the Numbers, and it’s not going to change all day long. The Bears will go for it early and often, regardless of field position.

— RC

2:18 p.m.

Baylor converts its first fourth down of the day, a fourth-and-7 pass across the middle. Expect more of that. Baylor ranks second in the nation this year with 19 successful fourth-down conversions.

— JH

2:17 p.m.

Woodi Washington came out after missing that tackle on Ben Sims. Medical staff is checking his right shoulder.

— JH

2:15 p.m.

Oklahoma’s defensive starters:

Grimes - Redmond - Coe - Downs

Stutsman - Ugwoegbu - White

Davis - Lawrence - Broiles - Washington

— RC 

2:14 p.m.

Damond Harmon was in on the tackle on that kickoff. Good to see he’s OK. What a story after that super scary injury at TCU. Read all about it here:

— JH

2:10 p.m.

Fantastic drive from Dillon Gabriel outside of the missed throw to Willis. He looks confident running the offense, and finally seems in command. Good things happen when he trusts his legs. Perfect start for the Sooners.

— RL

2:08 p.m.

Perfect start for the Oklahoma offense: Dillon Gabriel throws across the middle for a third-and-4 conversion to Brayden Willis, then Gabriel scrambles for a 25-yard gain.

It doesn’t stay perfect, though: no gain by Eric Gray is followed by a false start penalty.

Gray converts a third-and-1 but then gets stuffed. That’s followed by Gabriel missing Willis at the goal line on a slant, setting up Gabriel’s 10-yard touchdown scramble. He rolled left, tucked it and decisively took off, cut inside a tackler at the 5, then took a big hit at the pylon.

Sooners lead 7-0. Drive was 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:47 off the clock.

— JH

2:07 p.m.

Really nice work by Dillon Gabriel there on that big scramble. Looked like Jalil Farooq slipped on the grass, which is where Gabriel was looking, but that didn’t blow up the play.

The talented lefty was able to scan the field and realize he had acres of space on the left side of the field to scoot down the sideline.

— RC 

2:05 p.m

Oklahoma’s offensive starters:

Harrison - Mettauer - Raym - Murray - Morris

Mims - Stoops - Willis - Farooq

Gabriel - Gray

— RC 

2:02 p.m.

After Oklahoma’s pregame hype video and all the appropriate fireworks and smoke, Baylor comes down its ramp in military-style formation and walks across the field to their sideline.

Baylor wins the toss, defers. OU will receive. Here we go.

— JH

2:00 p.m.

Roy Williams made an appearance on the video board during the intro to deliver this week’s “There’s only one Oklahoma.”

The Sooners will be honoring the former star at the end of the first quarter to commemorate his impeding induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

— RC 

1:59 p.m.

Oklahoma runs out onto the field in front of a solid midday crowd. There won’t be any highlights of it, but Justin Harrington absolutely did a back handspring running onto the field.

— RL

1:29 p.m.

A bunch of walk-ons and LB Clayton Smith are not dressed out. The only guys missing off the two-deep are WR J.J. Hester, WR Nic Anderson and OL Marcus Alexander.

— JH

1:22 p.m.

Marcus Major suited up and ready to go. Going through full warmups – as expected. He played last week at Iowa State but wasn’t full speed. He could have a huge role today.

— JH

1:11 p.m.

Running back Jovantae Barnes is suited up and going through early warmups. He missed the trip to Ames last week with a hamstring injury.

— JH

1:03 p.m.

The Sooners are starting to slowly filter out of the locker room in pads. All eyes will be on if true freshman running back Jovantae Barnes is suited up and going to give it a go today. Neither him nor Marcus Major have hit the field yet, but it’s still very early on in warmups.

— RC 

12:44 p.m.

The sun is out and it’s about 65 degrees, but the wind is blowing out of the south pretty good. Pregame field goal kicking isn’t quite was it was this morning before the Ohio State-Northwestern game, but it’s not exactly easy.

Something coaches will keep an eye on today.

— JH

12:04 p.m.

Two hours to kickoff, and there's currently one Sooner on the field ahead of pregame warmups: defensive tackle Jordan Kelley. More Sooners will be here soon.

The Baylor travel party is just pulling into the stadium.

— JH