Oklahoma-TCU Observations: LIVE In-Game Blog

John Hoover, Ryan Chapman and Randall Sweet offer their real-time observations from the Sooners' game Friday against the TCU Horned Frogs.

SI Editorial | Nov 24, 2023

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Oklahoma Sooners

NORMAN — AllSooners offers real-time observations throughout today's season finale and Big 12 curtain call against TCU. Newest posts are at the top. Just keep your browser open and refresh often.

2:14 p.m.

Zach Schmit just made a really important field goal, a 41-yarder with 10:14 to play that gives Oklahoma a 55-38 lead.

OU needed that. So did Schmit.

— JH

2:13 p.m.

Adrian Peterson and Neville Gallimore were just introduced to the crowd.

Nice moment earlier as OU alumni, Texas Rangers pitcher and World Series champ Jon Gray was announced. Gray came back to Norman this week and even donated $25,000 to the OU baseball stadium project.

— JH

2:04 p.m.

Stats at the end of the third quarter:

— RC

2:03 p.m.

That's it for the third quarter. TCU and the Oklahoma defense have made a game out of this one.

-- JH

Gavin Sawchuk :: BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK

1:54 p.m.

Didn’t have Dillon Gabriel running for 40 yards on fourth-and-1 on my Black Friday bingo card.

But I did have Drake Stoops getting two tiptoes down on the sideline and then pulling through a tackle and stretching across the goal line for maybe his final touchdown as a Sooner. Poignant moment.

Tremendous response there by the Oklahoma offense — and a really forceful decision to go for it on fourth-and-inches from the OU 29-yard line. And hey, a nice call by Jeff Lebby to run Gabriel on the option.

— JH

1:52 p.m.

Drake Stoops gets his Senior Day score.

One play after his 17-yard reception stands on the sideline, Stoops catches a 9-yard ball from Gabriel and stretches the ball across the goal line, kickstarting the loudest “STOOPS!” cheer of the day from the home crowd.

OU extends its lead to 52-31 with 2:46 left in the third quarter.

— RC

1:50 p.m.

Magic spray needed in Norman!

At least two TCU defenders hit the deck after Stoops’ grab was called a catch to slow things down and give the referees enough time to start an official review.

It was so bad, Horned Frogs defender Millard Bradford had to pop back up after grabbing his leg when he say that Channing Canada had already faked the injury. Pretty funny stuff. In a stunning turn of events, everyone is okay.

— RC

1:42 p.m.

Odd play there from Robert Spears-Jennings.

He got caught up by the tight end as he tried to work his way to cover the flat, but instead of going under the tight end, he went around him backwards and turned away from the goal line.

TCU then converted the two-point conversion, and its’ suddenly 45-31 Oklahoma with 5:14 left in the third quarter.

Sooners look like they’re sleepwalking through this second half.

— RC

1:36 p.m.

Gentry Williams just went straight to the bench holding his right shoulder.

Already had a brace on it, Venables said it popped out of place earlier this season.

We’ll have to see if he returns.

— RC

1:31 p.m.

Brenen Thompson probably wants that one back.

He’s on the field to run as far as possible, but never came back to the ball. Instead, TCU defensive back Bud Clark picks off Gabriel and the Horned Frogs have a chance to cut the deficit and make it a two-score game.

— RC

1:27 p.m.

Really sloppy drive there from Oklahoma’s defense. Multiple guys were guilty of taking bad angles that led to missed tackles, and then it looked like nobody knew the call on the Emani Bailey 32-yard touchdown run.

Just have to get locked back in, I suppose.

— RC

1:19 p.m.

The crowd is actually booing Brent Venables’ decision to run the field goal unit on the field after a nice opening drive to the third quarter. Zach Schmit hits a 23-yard gimme and it’s 45-16, 9:51 on the clock.

— JH

1:08 p.m.

Good news for Sooners fans this week… Dillon Gabriel is out of the locker room and warming up per usual after halftime. No repeat of last week’s chaotic final few minutes of the intermission.

— RC

12:53 p.m.

Halftime stats from Norman:

— RC

12:51 p.m.

Halftime. OU is squashing the Frogs.

-- JH

12:35 p.m.

After a nice throw from Dillon Gabriel to Drake Stoops gets OU to a second-and-1 following a penalty, Tawee Walker walks in for another Oklahoma touchdown.

It’s 42-13 with 3:18 til halftime, and OU is on pace for 750 yards total offense.

— JH

12:29 p.m.

Had the binoculars on Freeman there. He went down, then got hit twice by two late-arriving Horned Frogs. The second one seemed to deliver a knee to the back of his head. He laid on the ground for a few extra seconds apparently a little dazed or hurting. Now he's in the sideline injury tent.

Listen, you can have whatever agenda you want against a team for leaving a conference or not, I don’t care, but your job as a striped official on game day is to protect the football players. That should have been called.

— JH

12:30 p.m.

The defense has really settled into this game. Getting stops rotating Jacobe Johnson and Jasiah Wagoner in at the cornerback spot opposite of Woodi Washington.

Wagoner made a competitive play to break the pass up on that last drive on second down, and then the blitz forced Hoover to jettison the ball into the grass.

OU might have a shot to put 14 more points up before halftime. Looking like a machine today.

— RC

12:25 p.m.

Oklahoma has absolutely taken control of this game. The Sooners got everything they wanted in the throw game with a mismatch against TCU’s man-to-man coverage, and now they’re taking what they want on the ground with back-to-back TD runs by Gavin Sawchuk.

It’s 35-13 with 6:15 til halftime.

Dillon Gabriel is is 12-of-20 for 256 yards and two touchdowns.

— JH

12:23 p.m.

Oklahoma’s offense is once again firing on all cylinders here on Owen Field.

Gabriel doing a great job of spreading the ball all across the field, finding Nic Anderson for 11 yards on third-and-10 before Gavin Sawchuk walked 7 yards untouched into the end zone.

Sooners now up 35-13 with 6:15 left until halftime.

— RC

12:19 p.m.

Brent Venables is dialing up plenty of pressure today.

Reggie Pearson came screaming off the edge and punched the ball right out of Josh Hoover’s hands.

The Sooners then sniffed out TCU’s fake punt (P.J. Adebawore and Kip Lewis combined to make the stop), setting OU up with prime field position on the Horned Frogs’ 33-yard line.

— RC

12:14 p.m.

Oklahoma’s offense is doing whatever it wants.

The Sooners have already completed three passes for 50 yards or more today (four would be a school record per OU media guru Mike Houck), and now Sawchuk got to play a role.

He carried the ball 12 yards for the score on that last drive, Oklahoma’s second rushing touchdown of the day.

OU marched 72 yards in 10 plays and only needed 2:51 to extend its lead to 28-13 with 10:13 left until halftime.

Currently, OU is sitting at 259 total yards… on only 22 rushing yards.

— RC

12:09 p.m.

And… that completion to Drake Stoops puts Gabriel in front of Kellen Moore. Moving up the charts.

— RC

12:06 p.m.

A few Dillon Gabriel notes for your consumption.

His last touchdown pass to Thompson was career touchdown pass No. 124, moving Gabriel in front of Landry Jones for eighth in NCAA history.

Gabriel has also passed Baker Mayfield on the career passing yards list. He’s two passing yards away from surpassing Boise State great Kellen Moore, which would put him seventh all-time in passing yards.

— RC

12:04 p.m.

Really solid possession there for the Oklahoma defense complete with a nice open field tackle from Kendel Dolby on third down.

Sooners going to get the ball on the 28-yard line with a chance to extend the lead really for the first time after Freeman’s muff earlier in the half.

— RC

12:00 p.m.

Jeff Lebby wastes another play giving the ball behind the line of scrimmage to Gavin Freeman, but then he makes up for it.

Gabriel uncorks another beautiful deep shot, this one a 53-yard connection with Brenen Thompson for the score.

OU back on top 21-13 with 14:33 until halftime. Track meet!

— RC

11:58 a.m.

Here are the first quarter stats from Norman:

— RC

11:56 a.m.

That's it for the first quarter. Offense is off to a good start.

—JH

11:55 a.m.

Pass wasn’t completed, but Gavin Sawchuk did a really nice job on that last blitz pickup to allow Gabriel to set his feet and chuck the ball toward Jayden Gibson on the sideline.

— RC

11:44 a.m.

Took Oklahoma eight plays to decide to hand the ball to a running back, and unfortunately for Gavin Sawchuk his rush was wiped away by an offsides call on the TCU defense.

— RC

11:42 a.m.

Dillon Gabriel's passer rating as he starts this drive is 422.1.

I understand that's good.

— JH

11:40 a.m.

Horned Frogs march right down the field this time for another TD — Josh Hoover throws to JoJo Earle for the 6-yard TD — and kick the PAT. OU leads it 14-13, 4:30 left in the first.

Sooners need to get some things figured out on defense.

— JH

11:33 a.m.

Dillon Gabriel certainly didn’t under throw that ball.

He put it out in front of Jayden Gibson, who didn’t have to break stride, and ended up dragging a TCU defender into the end zone — celebrating with a finger in the air as the DB was hanging onto his jersey.

Quite a play by Gibson on a perfect throw by Gabriel.

— JH

11:33 a.m.

Dillon Gabriel looks as good as ever.

He just hit Jayden Gibson in stride for a 59-yard bomb, complete with Gibson dragging a pair of TCU defenders across the goal line after they grabbed onto his undershirt and held on for dear life.

Looked like Gibson ended up doing a slo-mo high step before putting one finger up in the air as he crossed the plane of the end zone. Pretty comical stuff.

Sooners back on top 14-6 with 7:42 left in the first quarter.

— RC

11:24 a.m.

And that’s how you lose a game you’re not supposed to lose: with a pass interference penalty on third-and-long (poor technique) and trying to dive on a bouncing, bouncing punt in a crowd of opponents.

Makes no sense why Gavin Freeman would try that there, with no real reward to hopping on that ball but saving a few yards.

Freeman showed poor concentration two weeks ago when he muffed two punts. Today he showed poor judgment.

TCU turns it into a touchdown, although the PAT is missed and the Sooners lead 7-6.

The Oklahoma coaching staff needs to quit forgiving all these catastrophic special teams mistakes. This is the 12th game of the season.

— JH

11:23 a.m.

TCU has a very clear plan of action: throw a bunch of jump balls and try to draw a pass interference.

Didn’t quite work on that drive, but Gavin Freeman decided to try and field a punt he called dead.

Freeman muffed it, TCU recovered and the Horned Frogs now have the ball in the red zone at the 19-yard line.

— RC

11:13 a.m.

Dillon Gabriel starts at QB for Oklahoma.

And throws a 50-yard bomb to Nic Anderson.

And then runs for an 8-yard touchdown.

Guessing he's OK after last week's injury.

— JH

11:12 a.m.

Starters for the OU offense:

Rouse - Green - Raym - Mettauer - Sexton

Farooq - Stogner - Stoops - Anderson

Gabriel - Sawchuk

— RC

11:06 a.m.

Starters for the OU defense:

Bothroyd - Lacey - Coe - Downs

Dolby - Lewis - Stutsman

Williams - Bowman - Pearson - Washington

— RC

11:05 a.m.

Some final pregame observations:

Brent Venables fell down as the team came onto the field …

Danny Stutsman did not go through Senior Day activities, although several other juniors and others with additional eligibility did, including right tackle Tyler Guyton.

— JH

11:04 a.m.

Oklahoma wins yet another coin toss.

Sooners will defer, TCU gets the ball.

OU ends 10-2 in coin tosses in the regular season. Uncommon effort. #212 #Team129

— RC

10:56 a.m.

Another first: pregame flyover arrived just before the start of today's anthem.

Guess Senior Day ran a little long.

— JH

10:47 a.m.

Drake Stoops, Dillon Gabriel and Woodi Washington are your Don Key Award winners for 2023. It's the highest honor bestowed on an OU football player each year.

Pierce Hudgens and Tawee Walker are the this year's recipients of the Derrick Shepard Award as the most inspirational walk-ons.

— JH

10:46 a.m.

Here’s the full list of Senior Day participants:

Rondell Bothroyd
Isaiah Coe
Trace Ford
Dillon Gabriel
Tyler Guyton
Reggie Grimes
Pierce Hudgens
Jordan Kelley
Jacob Lacey
Jonah Laulu
Key Lawrence
Marcus Major
McKade Mettauer
Konnor Near
Phil Paea
Reggie Person
Andrew Raym
Walter Rouse
Caleb Shaffer
Austin Stogner
Drake Stoops
Marcus Stripling
Da’Jon Terry
Woodi Washington
Shane Whitter

— RC

10:40 a.m.

Senior Day festivities are getting underway. Will update with the full list of participants after it concludes.

— RC

10:17 a.m.

Gentry Williams is once again going through warmups as well. We’ll see if he gets into the game today.

— RC

10:15 a.m.

Oklahoma freshman defensive back Makari Vickers is in street clothes as the entire team hit the field for warmups.

— RC

10:05 a.m.

OU wide receiver Jalil Farooq has made it out to the field for warmups.

He was also named as being on track to play this week alongside Gabriel by Venables on Monday.

— RC

9:59 a.m.

No shock again as Hoov mentioned earlier, but Dillon Gabriel is still going through every stage of warmups before kickoff.

Did the exact same thing last year ahead of the Texas game, but ultimately didn’t play.

Patiently waiting for the first time the offense rolls out onto the field to see who is at the helm. For whatever it’s worth, Gabriel was the starter on the pregame lineup video that was being tested at 7 a.m. when I walked in to do radio this morning.

All of that can change, obviously. We shall see.

— RC

9:25 a.m.

Dillon Gabriel is throwing the football on field. Remember, before the Texas game last year, he went through the full pregame warmups. So don't read too much into it.

I still suspect one of two things will happen today at QB for Oklahoma;

One, Jackson Arnold will start and go the distance ...

Two, Gabriel will break concussion protocol and start on his Senior Day.

— JH

Just Dillon Gabriel and Jackson Arnold playing catch: pic.twitter.com/kMArqGVRVW
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) November 24, 2023

9:15 a.m.

We're two hours from Oklahoma kicking off its last Big 12 game ever. It's Black Friday, so here's hoping Sooner fans got lots of turkey and some good shopping deals.

— JH

Two hours to kickoff. — Two hours to kickoff :: John E. Hoover / AllSooners

Published Nov 24, 2023

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