Oklahoma’s football team was held to just 249 total yards, but the Sooner defense made several big plays to lead OU to a 16-12 win over Houston at Owen Field in Norman on Saturday night.
The Cougars outgained OU by 69 total yards, and won the first down battle 18-15.
Oklahoma’s defense got two big turnovers, however, and the clinching points on a safety.
OU quarterback Jackson Arnold was just 19-for-32 for 174 yards passing, and the Sooners were held to just 75 yards rushing.
OU got the ball first and had to punt after three downs.
On the punt, Houston’s Mehki Mews came up short in trying to field it, and officials ruled he touched the ball, with Sam Franklin recovering for the Sooners at the Houston 10-yard line.
It took Oklahoma just one play to convert the mistake into points, as Jackson Arnold passed to Brenen Thompson for a 10-yard touchdown to put the Sooners up 7-0 with 12:59 to play in the first quarter.
Houston responded with a clock-eating drive that took 8:25 off the clock, ending in a 43-yard field goal by Joseph Kim to cut OU’s lead to 7-3 with 4:29 left in the first quarter.
The two teams exchanged punts before the first quarter ended.
OU then put together an 8-play, 81-yard drive to extend the lead.
Arnold passed to Brenen Thompson for 33 yards, then finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Arnold to Jake Roberts to put OU on top 14-3 with 12:28 to play in the second quarter.
The two teams exchanged punts the rest of the half, until Houston put together a scoring drive and got a 44-yard field goal from Joseph Kim to end the half to cut OU’s lead to 14-6 at halftime.
Houston got the ball to start the second half and went on a 4-play, 75 yard drive to cut OU’s lead to two.
Woodi Washington intercepted a Donovan Smith pass but was called for pass interference on the play.
On the next snap, Smith went deep to a wide open Joseph Manjack for a 44-yard touchdown.
The 2-point conversion failed when Smith passed incomplete and OU’s lead was just 14-12 with 13:15 to play in the third quarter.
Oklahoma was moving the ball on the ensuing possession, but Arnold was intercepted on a deep pass by Jeremiah Wilson at the Cougars’ 8-yard line.
Early in the fourth quarter, OU’s defense made a big play, as Robert Spears-Jennings intercepted Smith at the Houston 32-yard line.
Oklahoma couldn’t get a first down from there, and Tyler Keltner missed a 45-yard field goal attempt wide left with 12:41 to play.
The two teams exchanged punts, and Houston got the ball at their own five-yard line with 1:46 to play.
On the first play after the punt, Gracen Halton tackled Stacy Sneed in the end zone for a safety to make it 16-12 with 1:42 to play.
After a free kick to the Sooners, OU had to punt, but Houston could not get into position for a Hail Mary to end the game and the Sooners survived to win.
Oklahoma was wearing throwback uniforms, modeled after the Bud Wilkinson era uniforms of the 1950’s.
OU is now 4-1 all-time against Houston.
Oklahoma has won 40 straight non-conference home games against unranked opponents.
The Sooners improve to 2-0 on the season and will host Tulane next Saturday at 2:30 pm.
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