Oklahoma’s football team had their 18-game winning streak against Kansas come to an end, with the Jayhawks taking the lead in the final minute and beating the Sooners 38-33 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
Each team turned the ball over three times, but Kansas converted OU’s turnovers into 12 points and the Sooners got just six points off the KU miscues.
Kansas outgained OU 443-to-440 in total yards, and the Sooners were just 2-for-10 on third down.
On a rainy day in Lawrence, OU attempted just 19 passes, with Gabriel completing 14 for 171 yards.
Tawee Walker led OU’s running attack with 146 yards on 23 carries.
Kansas ended an eight-game losing streak to OU in Lawrence, and ended a 26-game home losing streak to AP Top 10 teams.
Their last win was also against Oklahoma, a 28-11 upset in 1984, when Troy Aikman started at quarterback with Danny Bradley out with an injury.
Kansas got the ball to start the game and marched into OU territory, but on 4th and 3 from the Sooners’ 27, Trace Ford deflected a pass over the middle to give Oklahoma the ball on downs.
On Oklahoma’s third play from scrimmage, Dillon Gabriel was intercepted on a pass to the right flat by Ra’Mello Dotson, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown to put the Jayhawks up 7-0 with 9:25 to play in the first quarter.
The Sooners moved to the Kansas 20 on the ensuing possession, but on 4th and 3, Gabriel was sacked and the Jayhawks took over on downs.
KU got a 25-yard pass from Jason Bean to Lawrence Arnold, and then a 21-yard run by Devin Neal to the OU 14-yard line as the first quarter expired.
On the second play of the second quarter, Moore native Daniel Hishaw scored on a nine-yard touchdown run, capping a 10-play, 79-yard drive, putting KU up 14-0 with 14:09 left in the first half.
Hishaw had 51 yards on 12 carries.
Oklahoma responded with their first scoring drive.
Facing a 4th and 3 from the Kansas 21, OU converted on a 12-yard pass from Gabriel to Austin Stogner.
Two plays later, Gabriel kept for a 7-yard touchdown, capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive to cut the Kansas lead to 14-7 with 10:15 to play in the second quarter.
After a Kansas punt, OU had the ball at the Jayhawks’ 41-yard line with 7:50 to play in the second quarter when the game was delayed due to lightning for almost one hour.
When play resumed about 1:00 pm, Tawee Walker gained 28 yards on a run to the Kansas 5, then two plays later scored from two yards out to finish the 66-yard drive in 9 plays, tying the game 14-14 with 6:05 left in the first half.
On the ensuing kickoff, Trevor Wilson muffed it, and OU’s Kip Lewis recovered at the Jayhawks 17.
It took OU four plays to capitalize on the turnover, as Gabriel ran it in from nine yards out to put the Sooners up for the first time, 21-14 with 4:25 to play in the second quarter.
Gabriel had 64 yards rushing on 14 carries.
Kansas responded with a field goal drive, with Jason Bean passing to Quentin Skinner for a gain of 24 yards, and Devin Neal rushing for 18 yards.
KU eventually had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Seth Keller to cut OU’s lead to 21-17 with 53 seconds left in the first half.
The second half began with three straight possessions that ended in punts.
Kansas then got the first score of the half.
On the first play of the drive, Jason Bean passed down the middle to Mason Fairchild for a gain of 39 to the OU 17.
The Jayhawks had to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Seth Keller to trim the OU lead to 21-20 with 4:01 left in the third quarter.
Oklahoma gave the ball up on the ensuing possession, as Jalil Farooq was hit and fumbled and J.B. Brown recovered at the Sooners’ 38-yard line.
On the next play, Jason Bean kept around the right side for a 38-yard touchdown run.
Kansas went for the two-point conversion but Bean’s pass was incomplete and the Jayhawks led 26-21 with 3:03 left in the third quarter.
Oklahoma responded to regain the lead, going 75 yards in 7 plays to score.
Gabriel passed to Drake Stoops for gain of 39.
Gavin Sawchuk finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown run.
OU went for two points and Gavin Freeman was run out of bounds short of the goal line, keeping OU on top 27-26 with 35 seconds to play in the third quarter.
Kansas responded by regaining the lead, with help from three big OU penalties.
Kendel Dolby was called for unnecessary roughness, then in the aftermath of that play, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called on OU, giving the Jayhawks 30 yards.
On third and goal, Bean went into a slide and was a yard short of the goal line.
OU’s Reggie Pearson was called for targeting on the play, giving Kansas a first and goal inside the one.
Daniel Hishaw scored on a run on the next play to give the Jayhawks the lead, capping a 7-play, 65-yard drive.
Kansas went for two points again, and Bean’s pass was incomplete, making it 32-27 Kansas with 12:25 to play.
On the ensuing kickoff, Marcus Stripling muffed it and Cornell Wheeler recovered for KU at the Sooners’ 20-yard line.
Oklahoma dodged the bullet, however, forcing a 42-yard field goal attempt by Seth Keller, who missed it wide right.
The Sooners had to punt on their next possession, but got the ball right back.
Bean had a pass deflected by Kendel Dolby and Billy Bowman intercepted, returning it 10 yards to the Kansas 14.
Four plays later, OU punched it in on a one-yard touchdown run by Gabriel.
On the two point attempt, Gabriel’s pass was incomplete and the Sooners led 33-32 with 5:23 to play.
Oklahoma’s defense then came up with another big play, as Bean was intercepted by Ethan Downs, who returned it 13 yards to the Kansas 38-yard line.
Oklahoma was forced to punt and a touchback gave Kansas the ball at their own 20-yard line.
On 4th and 6 from the OU 46, Bean passed to Lawrence Arnold for a gain of 37 yards to the Sooner 9.
Devin Neal scored on a nine-yard touchdown run on the next play to give Kansas the lead again.
Neal had 112 yards rushing on 25 carries.
On the two point conversion attempt, Devin Neal did not make it and it was 38-33 Jayhawks with 58 seconds to play.
Oklahoma got a 39-yard pass from Gabriel to Brenen Thompson to the Kansas 27.
The Sooners could not finish the drive, however, as Gabriel passed into the end zone incomplete as time expired.
Oklahoma falls to 7-1 overall, 4-1 in Big 12 play.
The Sooners will play at Oklahoma State next Saturday with the kickoff to be announced.
