Oklahoma-Florida State Cheez-It Bowl Observations: AllSooners LIVE In-Game Blog

John Hoover, Ryan Chapman and Josh Callaway offer their real-time observations from Orlando for the Sooners' season finale against No. 13 Florida State.

Orlando, FL — Unranked Oklahoma and No. 13-ranked Florida State look to cap the 2022 season off with a win at Camping World Stadium in the Cheez-It Bowl. AllSooners has three reporters on site to cover the game.

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

(ALL TIMES EASTERN)

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10:32 p.m.

Final stats:

10:32 p.m.

Sooners fall short in Brent Venables' first bowl game.

8:48 p.m.

Rushing attempt No. 58 for the Sooners proved profitable.

Jovantae Barnes bursted through the left side of the Oklahoma offensive line and there wasn’t a Seminole in sight.

The true freshman carried the ball 12 yard for the score, and Zach Schmit nailed the extra point to level the game once again.

Just 3:37 left to crown a Cheez-It Bowl Champion, 32-32.

— RC 

8:26 p.m.

Florida State strikes back with an answer of their own.

Treshaun Ward gets to the perimeter and takes the ball 38 yards to the house to tie the contest at 25-25.

Back and forth we go at Camping World Stadium into the fourth quarter. Buckle up.

— RC 

8:17 p.m.

And finally Gavin Sawchuk gets his touchdown.

The true freshman finished off a huge drive for the Sooners with a 15-yard touchdown run.

Dillon Gabriel then finds Brayden Willis to go back up a touchdown with an awkward 25-18 scoreline.

Oklahoma cashes in on Billy Bowman’s fourth down interception, and the Sooners are back on top with 13:32 to play in Orlando.

What a game this has turned out to be.

— RC 

8:14 p.m.

Both of Marvin Mims’ catches are bonkers grabs on the sideline.

I know the Sooners have been hesitant to throw the football considering the offensive line situation, but might want to find a way to get Mims more touches here in the fourth quarter.

— RC 

8:09 p.m.

Third quarter stats:

8:09 p.m.

OU trails by a point going into the fourth.

8:07 p.m.

A nice pair of plays by the Oklahoma secondary forces a stop.

Justin Broiles came up with a big swat to force fourth-and-3, and then Billy Bowman jumped in front of Johnny Wilson to give the ball back to the OU offense.

Sooners hanging on down a point in Orlando.

— RC 

8:02 p.m.

Brent Venables already has burned two timeouts in the second half, and the Sooners are unable to convert on fourth-and-6.

Oklahoma’s defense is going to have to force a stop and wrestle some of the momentum back from the Seminoles.

— RC 

7:59 p.m.

Oklahoma needs a big play or a score on this drive, and the thing almost went south quick before Dillon Gabriel found Brayden Willis on third down for a 31-yard gain. But the drive stalls again and Gabriel can’t convert a fourth-down throw to Drake Stoops. FSU takes over up 18-17 with 2:59 left in the third on their own 36.

— JH

7:51 p.m.

On second down from the 1, Treshaun Ward takes a direct snap and patiently walks into the end zone. FSU has taken an 18-17 lead.

That is the exact score of the OU-FSU Orange Bowl, by the way — although OU had the 18 thanks to a late touchdown drive and 2-point conversion.

— JH

7:47 p.m

Jordan Travis is an absolute wizard in the pocket. Steps, moves, jumps, twitches away from trouble and converts his throws.

Somehow, the official statistics show FSU just 3-of-8 on third downs. I’d have guessed they have at least twice that. There have been times they’ve felt automatic. They have two on this drive alone. Odd statistic there.

— JH

7:38 p.m.

Wow. Instead of a 79-yard Travis touchdown pass to Johnny Wilson — Wilson beat Woodi Washington and Justin Broiles — it’s a drop and the OU defense has life. With that, they’ve created pressure twice now on Travis, and he’s hobbling around with a store ankle. Alas, Travis converts a third-and-10 pass, and the drive continues for the Seminoles.

— JH

7:36 p.m.

Jake McCoy’s absence hasn’t really impacted the OU special teams so far tonight.

Per PFF, his overall grade of 76.6 percent is the fourth-highest on the team and his 141 total special teams snaps ranks sixth.

But OU has been pretty good on every specials unit tonight: punt, kickoff, kick return and punt return. The only mistakes have been a missed 45-yard field goal and the decision to squib the kickoff right before half. McCoy wouldn’t have helped those.

— JH

7:34 p.m.

Oklahoma’s opening drive has promise, but fizzles out after a couple runs are blown up at the line and Gabriel nearly throws a third-down interception. Turk pins the ‘Noles at their own 6.

— JH

7:09 p.m.

Halftime stats:

7:08 p.m.

Sooners lead it at the break.

7:07 p.m.

Pass protection has been predictably bad, but the Sooners’ run blocking has been pretty good with a rebuilt offensive line. More than that, OU’s two freshmen RBs have been dynamic: Jovantae Barnes has 15 carries for 70 yards and Gavin Sawchuk has six carries for 54. The Sooners’ future at running back is bright.

— JH

7:04 p.m.

Oklahoma scored with 15 seconds left and Florida State kicked a 54-yard field goal as time expired. It was short, but that was one million percent unnecessary. FSU hadn’t returned a kickoff all night, and you decide to squib the kickoff? The Seminoles took over at their own 38, ran one play (a QB scramble) and nearly gets to add three points.

That’s Lincoln Riley in Pasadena all over again.

— JH

7:05 p.m.

Really odd close to the half there for the OU offense. Sooners were out of timeouts, but it felt like they hit the brakes and played for a field goal.

Schmit nails the 41-yarder despite missing an attempt earlier though and Venables is rewarded.

He then opts for a squib kick, allowing Florida State to set up a 54-yard field goal.

First year OU head coaches in the postseason struggle to handle the end of the first half. It is written.

Ryan Fitzgerald missed the field goal, however. Florida State is no Georgia.

— RC 

7:02 p.m.

Schmit bangs through a 41-yard field goal and the Sooners are 15 seconds from taking a 17-11 lead into halftime. Quite a half for Oklahoma.

— JH

6:59 p.m.

Sooners get lucky with the facemask call there on first down, and then true freshman Gavin Sawchuk busts the drive open.

He was patient to sit this year, but back-to-back runs of 25 yards and nine yards have Oklahoma threatening.

The speedster has looked as good as advertised tonight. Just has an entirely different gear in the open field.

— RC 

6:57 p.m.

The Sooners’ final drive of the first half starts out with promise — a 15-yard facemask penalty on a sack of Dillon Gabriel and a 25-yard run by Gavin Sawchuk. OU already threatening here if they can pick up a couple more first downs. Injury timeout for two Seminoles, 1:18 til halftime.

— JH

6:53 p.m.

Oklahoma hasn’t had a ton of defensive busts tonight, but they’ve been profound. FSU wideout Johnny Wilson now has 110 yards on four catches.

— JH

6:46 p.m.

A nearly catastrophic turnover there by Gabriel. He didn’t see Mims break wide open a couple plays earlier, but Mims came back to bail him out — by recovering Gabriel’s fumble on a scramble. Mims pulled it away from a couple of FSU defensive linemen. The net is another Michael Turk punt. Well, a timeout first. Maybe the Sooners will go for it on fourth-and-4. 

OU needs to shore up the pass protection and take care of the football.

— JH

6:43 p.m.

Feels like Dillon Gabriel and the OU offense need to answer here to stem that momentum swing.

Gabriel is 4/9 for 91 yards passing and has a net minus-1 rushing yard. I’d have thought his stats were better than that at this stage of the game.

— JH

6:40 p.m.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Oklahoma is unable to harness momentum and suddenly the game has changed.

Sooners unable to cash in on Marvin Mims’ huge reception, calling a Gavin Sawchuk touchdown back for a holding.

Then Zach Schmit misses a field goal.

Under three minutes later, Florida State cuts the lead to 14-11.

Schmit is now 11-of-15 for the season on field goals.

The Seminole crowd is back into this one in Orlando.

— RC 

6:37 p.m.

That Sawchuk TD run that was called back and the missed field goal by Schmit felt like a crushing momentum switch. FSU marched down almost uncontested that drive for a touchdown — Travis to Wilson — and it’s 14-11 after a 2-point conversion pass.

Oh boy.

— JH

6:32 p.m.

Zach Schmit misses a 45-yard field goal attempt wide left after Gavin Sawchuk appeared to have scored his first career touchdown. Great run by Sawchuk, but it’s nullified by a holding penalty, and the Sooners go backward from there. That could prove to be absolutely huge.

— JH

6:30 p.m.

Unfortunate for Gavin Sawchuk to have that touchdown taken off the board. Marvin Mims might have been the most excited person on the field. He sprinted over to the true freshman and was juiced to celebrate with Sawchuk.

— RC 

6:28 p.m.

That decision to go for it on fourth-and-9 by FSU was surprising. The fourth-down stop by the Sooners — which included a dropped pass and a dropped interception — was even more surprising.

— JH

6:22 p.m.

That chase-down sack of Jordan Travis by Danny Stutsman is how you handle a mobile QB — full speed, no hesitation.

Reminded me very much of Teddy Lehman.

— JH

6:19 p.m

Dillon Gabriel fooled the crowd and the Florida State defense, pulling the ball for himself.

Takes some punishment at the goal line, but powers for the 8-yard touchdown to put OU up 14-3.

Capped off a drive that marched 49 yards on eight plays, running 2:56 off the clock.

— RC 

6:17 p.m.

Impressive first quarter from the Sooners. It’s not always been pretty, but both the offensive and defensive line have come out and played with a high level of physicality.

Savion Byrd particularly has been moving bodies along Florida State’s front.

Oklahoma in prime position to take a 14-3 lead to start the second quarter.

— RC 

6:15 p.m.

First quarter stats:

6:14 p.m.

First quarter in the books. Sooners in front.

6:09 p.m.

Oklahoma’s defense rises up and gets a three-and-out, and Marvin Mims pulls off a 23-yard punt return. Sooners set up in nice field position here. Big possession for the OU offense.

Sooners open the drive with a smash mouth third-down conversion after a wildcat run by Jovantae Barnes. Gabriel adds a 14-yard scramble. Different look for the OU offense. 

— JH

6:03 p.m.

So while this play heads to a review… I’m very curious about what is being said on the field.

Both Dillon Gabriel and Marvin Mims have been running hot, jawing with the Florida State defense.

Those two are incredibly calm and composed, so interesting to see them on edge early on in this game.

— RC 

5:55 p.m.

Oklahoma’s scoring drive took 4:25 off the clock.

Exactly the recipe this offense needs tonight. Down four lineman already, lost Jacob Sexton on the third play of the series and still marches down for a score. Impressive start for Lebby and Co.

— RC 

5:53 p.m.

Gabriel’s very interesting drive continues for the Sooners with a sack on first down and then a 22-yard touchdown strike to Jalil Farooq.

Sooners lead 7-3, just like everyone predicted.

— JH

5:51 p.m.

Quick game reset as a Florida State player needed some assistance.

Already on the first drive we’ve seen Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes bounce off Seminole defenders.

LV Bunkley-Shelton has gotten involved, and Savion Byrd has looked good.

But Jacob Sexton and now Aaryn Parks appear to be struggling at left tackle. Interesting to see how long that spot holds up.

— RC 

5:49 p.m.

Interesting opening drive so far for Dillon Gabriel. He had too much mustard on the first throw, a bubble screen, that went incomplete. He converted a third-down throw, then under threw Marvin Mims for a possible touchdown, then scrambled for a very competitive third-down run for another first, then dropped a pass to LV Bunkley-Shelton, then scrambled for a yard.

— JH

5:46 p.m.

Jacob Sexton just took a ferocious bull rush from FSU’s Jared Verse, got knocked on his back (Dillon Gabriel completed the pass and picked up a third-down conversion) and then had to be taken out of the game with a limp. Aaryn Parks replaced him for the rest of the series.

— JH

5:46 p.m.

Oklahoma’s offensive starters:

Sexton - Mettauer - Congel - Byrd - Guyton

Mims - Willis - Stoops - Farooq

Gabriel - Barnes

— RC 

5:42 p.m.

Florida State rushed for 44 yards on the first drive. The Sooner defense, specifically CJ Coldon, did a nice job to force the field goal, but they’re going to need help from the offense.

If Jeff Lebby and Dillon Gabriel can’t hold onto the football, the defense is going to get run ragged tonight.

— RC 

5:42 p.m.

As we await the kickoff following FSU’s field goal, it feels like a good time to remind readers that the fan split here is about 90-10 for the Seminoles. That’s a rabid fan base who’s team just ended a three-year bowl drought with a 9-3 season. They LOVE it here in Orlando.

— JH

5:41 p.m.

Oklahoma’s defense played great on first and second down — twice.

On the first, Jordan Travis made the Sooners pay. On the second, C.J. Coldon almost made Travis pay with an end zone INT. Instead, the ball fell incomplete, and FSU takes the lead with a 23-yard field goal.

— JH

5:37 p.m.

Update: Jordan Travis is elusive. He scooted away from a sack and a tackle at the LOS to pick up a first down on third and long. What a play. Buckle up for more of that kind of thrill ride.

— JH

5:37 p.m.

Oklahoma’s defensive starters:

Downs - Coe - Kelley - Laulu

White - Ugwoegbu - Stutsman

Coldon - Bowman - Broiles - Washington

Oklahoma immediately gets FSU into third-and-4, but Jordan Travis escapes Downs in the pocket and scrambles for 16 yards to move the chains.

— RC 

5:35 p.m.

Oklahoma won the toss and deferred.

Jordan Travis time in Orlando.

— RC 

5:33 p.m.

Had a misfire planting the flaming spear into the turf by the Seminoles.

Wonder if that’ll be the last hiccup for Florida State today. Coin toss on deck. 

— RC 

5:11 p.m.

We should also point out the obvious (or at least what we’ve reported all week from Orlando): RB Marcus Major and center Andrew Raym will not play tonight. Major is in a walking boot and Raym had shoulder surgery after the season.

— JH

5:04 p.m.

Looks like the Oklahoma offensive line took another hit.

Based off of warmups, it looks like the Oklahoma offensive line will be:

Jacob Sexton
Savion Byrd
Robert Congel
McKade Mettauer
Tyler Guyton #Sooners

— Josh Callaway (@JoshMCallaway) December 29, 2022

Uphill battle today against a very talented Florida State pass rush.

— RC 

4:52 p.m.

Another pregame injury update:

Linebacker and special teams ace Jake McCoy is not suited up for the game. He’s watching in street clothes.

QB General Booty has been spotted, but he’s also in street clothes and will not suit up tonight. He's wearing a tape job on his throwing thumb.

DE Kelvin Gilliam is not suited up and is wearing a sling on his left arm/shoulder.

Wide receiver J.J. Hester is finally back from his prolonged injury absence.

Nic Anderson is also suited up. He’s been participating in practices in Orlando.

4:46 p.m.

OK. I’m seated in the press box at Camping World Stadium. Josh Callaway and I just drove from Kissimmee, where we got to spend almost 30 minutes with 2023 5-star QB Jackson Arnold and also got some quality time with several other members of the Sooners’ 2023 recruiting class.

That was a cool look at the future, and you can find lots of stories and videos from the Under Armour Next All-America Game (next Tuesday right here at the same stadium).

But my focus is now shifted to the Cheez-It Bowl.

— JH 

4:42 p.m.

General Booty isn’t on the field with the quarterbacks. Dillon Gabriel, Davis Beville and Ralph Rucker are warming up.

— RC 

4:32 p.m.

The Sooners have started to hit the field for warmups. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel is leading the charge in his return to Orlando, as well as the other quarterbacks and the specialists.

— RC 

4:00 p.m

This should come as no surprise, but the Sooners are clearly in hostile territory. Walking around the outside of the stadium to get into the complex, the concourse was flooded with garnet and gold. 

Have to imagine the crowd noise will be a test for an OU offensive line playing with three backups.

— RC

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