5 takeaways from Oklahoma’s loss to Texas Tech: Sooners can’t capitalize in shootout

Oklahoma and Texas Tech have a history that includes multiple high-scoring affairs.

Six years ago in Lubbock, the Big 12 foes combined for over 1,700 total yards.

Although they did not reach the mark Saturday, both put up strong showings where they combined for 99 points and 1,271 yards.

Oklahoma (6-6, 3-6) got into another offensive shootout with Texas Tech, this time falling to the Red Raiders (6-6, 4-5), 51-48, in Lubbock.

Here are five takeaways from the Sooners’ anticlimactic loss to Texas Tech.

Sooners continue first quarter momentum

After spotting 28 points in the first quarter last week against Oklahoma State, the Oklahoma offense was held scoreless for the remainder of the contest.

The Sooners’ defense generated confidence early against Texas Tech, as defensive lineman Jordan Kelley blew up a designed trick play to force a fumble that was recovered by Ethan Downs on the first offensive play of the game.

The offense would turn the turnover into points with a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dillon Gabriel to wide receiver Marvin Mims.

After each team’s first two drives, the Sooners outgained the Red Raiders 153 yards to 6 and held a 14-point lead with 9:24 left in the first quarter. That set the tone for an offense that finished with 672 yards.

Gabriel and Mims’ career day

Against Texas Tech, Gabriel and Mims displayed how strong their chemistry was with offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. Gabriel threw for a career-high six touchdowns in the barnburner.

Mims finished the game five catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns. It was his second multi-touchdown game of the season and he recorded his second-highest yardage in a game this season in the first half alone.

Fast was the name of the game Saturday and Gabriel helped the Sooners’ offense stay on schedule. Although Gabriel finished with 449 yards passing, it wasn’t enough to help Oklahoma exit Lubbock with a win.

Defending SaRodrick Thompson and Tyler Shough was a problem

The Sooners gave up roughly 200 yards per game on the ground coming into its game against Texas Tech. Although Thompson found some success there, he was a receiving threat out of the backfield as well.

Coming into the year, Thompson wasn’t a dynamic pass catcher, with 19 catches for 96 yards.

He had two catches for 34 yards in the first half, finishing with over 100 total yards and two rushing touchdowns.

For Shough, it was his most explosive performance of the season, throwing for over 400 yards for the first time this season. He also added 44 yards on the ground.

Three of the final four Tech offensive drives resulted in scores and after Oklahoma missed its field goal attempt in overtime, Texas Tech’s Trey Wolff capitalized with a 29-yard field goal for the win.

Losing the final five minutes of the first half

After Mims’ second touchdown catch, the Sooners held a 24-6 lead. What seemed cushioned, quickly deflated in 6:25.

Texas Tech responded to that score with a 10-play touchdown drive. Three plays later, Gabriel was picked off, giving the Red Raiders the football inside Oklahoma’s 30.

Four-plays later, what was once an 18-point lead was trimmed down to a four-point advantage.

Right before halftime, a 43-yard pass from Texas Tech quarterback Donovan Smith hit wide receiver Jerand Bradley in stride inside Texas Tech’s 15. Tech got a field goal right before half expired.

The momentum lost in the final six minutes of half gave the Sooners little room for error coming out of halftime.

Since the 24-6 lead, Oklahoma was outscored 45-24 the rest of the way.

No Gray area

Gray got back on track running the football with his fifth 100-yard showing in six games. However, when it came to third-down opportunities, he couldn’t convert along with Oklahoma’s offense.

The Sooners converted seven of their 18 third down attempts to close out the game.

Oklahoma hasn’t been efficient on third down, which has been a recurring issue throughout the campaign.

The Sooners’ defense, however, got off the field during critical periods of the game with third-down stops.

Texas Tech came into the game converting 36% of third-down conversions. Oklahoma made sure to keep the number low, giving up three first downs on nine attempts.

The Sooners will see their season continue, as they await the announcement of their upcoming bowl game.

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