Oklahoma HC Lincoln Riley Denies LSU Rumors: 'Been Down This Road Many Times Before'
Nov 16, 2021
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley questions the referees during first half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
Lincoln Riley isn't going to LSU.
The Oklahoma coach addressed speculation that he may be a candidate for the Tigers' head coaching vacancy Tuesday, saying he is happy right where he is in Norman.
“I coach at the University of Oklahoma. You know how I feel about this place and this program. We’ve all been down this road many times before. You guys know where I stand, and that hasn’t changed," Riley told reporters.
Riley has been linked to several coaching jobs over his five-year tenure at Oklahoma but has remained at his post, building one of the most consistently great programs in the country. The Sooners are 54-9 under Rliey and have finished no worse than seventh in the final Associated Press poll.
So let us address the obvious: No college vacancy is going to lure Riley.
Oklahoma is one of the best half-dozen jobs in the country, and his $7.7 million salary ranks fifth among all coaches. While it's true that outgoing LSU coach Ed Orgeron is one of the coaches with a higher salary than Riley, Orgeron signed his deal in 2020 coming off a national championship—something that's eluded the Riley to this point.
Getting a raise that bumps him into Dabo Swinney territory is likely about as simple as Riley walking into the Oklahoma athletic department with rumors buzzing around his name. With the Sooners set to join the SEC in 2025, there's no added competition bump in heading to LSU, either. It's a lateral move from one school where Riley has built a career to another where he has no ties.
It's not happening.
If anything eventually takes Riley from Oklahoma, it'll almost certainly be an NFL job too good to pass up. Riley has been on NFL radars since his first season as a head coach, and it's not hard to see why. The offensive innovator already boasts two Heisman Trophy winners (Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray) and another finalist (Jalen Hurts); each of Riley's primary starting quarterbacks who have left Oklahoma are currently NFL starters.
The allure of seeing if his offensive genius translates to Sundays may be the only thing keeping Riley from a decades-long tenure with the Sooners.
Baylor Fined $25K by Big 12 After Fans Stormed Field Following Oklahoma Upset
Nov 16, 2021
The Baylor Bears student section during an NCAA college football game against the Oklahoma Sooners in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. Baylor won 27-14. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
The Big 12 fined Baylor $25,000 after fans rushed onto the field early during the football team's win over Oklahoma last week.
“We have a duty to ensure a safe game environment that provides the visiting team secure egress from the field for players, staff and support personnel, and protection of the team bench area. I appreciate Baylor’s advance planning and communication, and although well planned, the end-of-game circumstances made its field storming plan impossible to execute, resulting in an interruption of play, impeding the visiting team from reaching their locker room and damage to OU bench area equipment.”
Baylor's student section rushed onto the field with one second remaining in the Bears' 27-14 win, resulting in Oklahoma players and coaches being swarmed by fans. Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley was incensed by the situation, both on the field and while speaking with reporters after the game.
"I don't believe the situation was handled well by a lot of people," Riley said. "But at the end of the day, doing it with class is important to me, and at the end of the day, we decided to bring 11 guys back out even though I damn well didn't want to."
Baylor fans rushed the field with 1 second left and Lincoln Riley was HEATED 💀 https://t.co/3PHcl7wTOW
Baylor's win over Oklahoma snapped a 17-game winning streak for the Sooners, the longest in the nation. It was also Bears' first win over their Big 12 rival since 2014 and just their fourth overall in 32 meetings.
A year removed from an ugly 2-7 campaign, head coach Dave Aranda has Baylor at 8-2 with an outside shot at a Big 12 championship.
Oklahoma, which was already looked at with some trepidation by the College Football Playoff committee, will likely fall out of the Top 10 following the loss. The Sooners entered last week ranked eighth in the country, behind four one-loss teams despite being undefeated.
The selection committee will release its latest playoff rankings Tuesday night.
Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley on Baylor's Late FG: 'I Wouldn't Have Done It'
Nov 13, 2021
WACO, TX - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts after the Sooners scored a touchdown against the Baylor Bears in the first half at McLane Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley didn't agree with Baylor head coach Dave Aranda's decision to have his team kick a field goal on the final play of Saturday's 27-14 win over the Sooners.
After Baylor kneeled twice to run down the clock, fans prematurely rushed the field as the Sooners headed to the locker room. Officials forced Oklahoma to return to the field for the final play of the game, and instead of kneeling a third time, Baylor kicked a field goal while they were up 24-14.
Oklahoma comes back on the field and Baylor kicks a field goal to end it 🐻
“I know why Dave kicked the field goal. I don’t agree with it," Riley told reporters after the loss. "I wouldn’t have done it. I think there’s a code of sportsmanship there.”
Riley also told reporters after the game that Baylor should've received a 15-yard penalty because the home fans rushed the field before the game was over. He added that he considered not having his players return to the field for the final play.
While Riley was upset about the field goal, Aranda explained that his decision to go for it was strategic.
"That was for the Big 12 tiebreaker," Aranda said in a postgame interview on Fox. "We wanted to be over 10."
However, it's unlikely a field goal would make a difference in deciding the Big 12 champion. In the event of a three-way tie, there's a slim chance scoring differential could be use to eliminate one of those teams.
Oklahoma's offense struggled Saturday, with quarterback Caleb Williams completing 10 of 19 passes for 146 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 17 yards and a score but was benched for former starter Spencer Rattler in the fourth quarter.
The Baylor running game killed the Sooners. Running backs Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner, quarterback Gerry Bohanon and receiver Drew Estrada combined for 296 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
The Sooners are now 9-1, while the Bears are 8-2.
Baylor's win over Oklahoma marked its first victory against the school since November 2014. The Sooners had won their last seven matchups against the Bears.
Oklahoma will face Iowa State next weekend, while Baylor will face Kansas State.
Caleb Williams Benched as No. 8 Oklahoma Upset by No. 13 Baylor's Dominant Defense
Nov 13, 2021
Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams (13) scrambles for positive yards against the Baylor during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
The No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners suffered their first loss of the season Saturday, falling to the No. 13 Baylor Bears 27-14 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas.
Both teams struggled to get much going offensively for most of the day, and Oklahoma freshman quarterback Caleb Williams was held in check, finishing with 146 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions through the air, plus 17 yards and one score on the ground.
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley replaced Williams with Spencer Rattler in the second half, although Williams returned in the closing minutes when Rattler proved ineffective.
While some offensive fireworks were expected, Baylor held Oklahoma to just 260 total yards, including only 78 on the ground.
Baylor's ground game dominated by comparison, as the Bears rushed for 296 yards and held the ball for 35:19, while Oklahoma only possessed it for 24:41.
By virtue of Saturday's victory, Baylor is 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play, while OU is 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the conference.
The College Football Playoff committee was already down on Oklahoma because of its inability to dominate, and now that the Sooners have a loss, their chances at a CFP berth are likely gone.
Notable Stats
Gerry Bohanon, QB, BAY: 12/21 for 117 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; 9 CAR for 107 YDS, 2 TD
Caleb Williams, QB, OU: 10/19 for 146 YDS, 0 TD, 2 INT; 10 CAR for 17 YDS, 1 TD
Spencer Rattler, QB, OU: 4/6 for 36 YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT
Abram Smith, WR, BAY: 20 CAR for 148 YDS
Kennedy Brooks, RB, OU: 13 CAR for 51 YDS, 1 TD
Tyquan Thornton, WR, BAY: 4 REC for 41 YDS, 1 TD
Williams Struggles Mightily in Oklahoma's 1st Loss
There was Heisman Trophy buzz surrounding Williams ahead of Saturday's clash with Baylor, but just like Oklahoma's national championship hopes, they went up in smoke.
The talented freshman never looked comfortable or in sync at any point during the game, as Baylor's swarming defense constantly gave him problems.
It started on the Sooners' second offensive drive when Williams was intercepted on an ill-advised throw in Oklahoma territory:
Williams had a great run for a first down on a 2nd-and-16 play late in the first half, but he had his hand stepped on by a Baylor defender while getting tackled:
Right hand is clearly bothering Caleb Williams as OU heads to halftime. Worth monitoring. Maybe we see a Rattler cameo today?
He appeared to be favoring his hand when entering the locker room, and he continued to struggle when he came back out for the second half.
After having been intercepted only once this season entering Saturday's game, Williams was picked off for a second time early in the third quarter with Oklahoma trailing 10-7:
Williams seemingly tried to throw the ball away but failed to get it out of bounds, thus stalling another OU drive.
After Williams nearly lost a fumble on a sack late in the third quarter, the Oklahoma fans present in Waco began chanting for Rattler to enter the game:
It was ironic, since OU fans chanted for Williams several weeks earlier, which led to Williams taking the starting job from Rattler.
Skip Bayless of Fox Sports was among those who weren't thrilled with Riley's decision to pull Williams:
WRONG WRONG WRONG. Lincoln Riley just made the mistake of the year, replacing a struggling Caleb Williams with preseason Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler. So much for Caleb's Heisman chances. I believe he would've snapped out of it in the 4th quarter. Caleb>>>>>>>Rattler.
The move did not pay dividends for Oklahoma, as Rattler played poorly and was ultimately taken out of the game in the fourth quarter.
Saturday served as a reality check for Williams and the Sooners team as a whole after Oklahoma had narrowly avoided several near-upsets earlier in the season.
The loss to Baylor cost OU a chance at a national title, but a Big 12 title remains possible if the Sooners can regroup.
Baylor Rides Defense, Running Game to Upset Win
All eyes were on Williams and the electric Oklahoma offense entering Saturday's game, but Baylor proved why it boasts one of the best defenses in college football.
The Bears were all over Williams and the Sooners from start to finish, forcing two turnovers and preventing OU from finding any type of rhythm throughout.
Baylor set the tone from Oklahoma's first drive of the game by forcing a three-and-out and then intercepting Williams on the second drive, as it held the Sooners to just seven points in the opening half.
The dominance of Baylor's defense carried over to the second half, as the Bears put consistent pressure on Williams and nearly forced a turnover deep in Oklahoma territory late in the third quarter on a strip-sack:
With Williams struggling and perhaps nursing a hand injury, Oklahoma turned to Rattler at the end of the third quarter in hopes of creating a spark.
That didn't happen, as the Bears continued to wreak havoc on the Oklahoma offensive line and sacked Rattler on third-and-long on his first drive to force a punt:
Before Oklahoma scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter during garbage time, Sam Khan Jr. of The Athletic tweeted a breakdown of the ridiculous production Baylor's defense provided Saturday:
While defense was the driving force behind Baylor's biggest win of the season, the Bears' running game also thrived, especially in the second half when the team rushed for over 200 yards.
The defining offensive play of the game for Baylor came early in the fourth quarter with the Bears clinging to a 10-7 lead.
Running back Abram Smith dashed 75 yards down the field and into the Oklahoma red zone, setting the stage for a Baylor touchdown to extend the lead to 17-7:
Based on how well Baylor's defense was playing at the time, that was essentially an insurmountable lead, and it allowed the Bears to run as much clock as possible in the final quarter.
Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohanon largely struggled as a passer in the game, going just 12-of-21 for 117 yards with one touchdown and one pick, but Oklahoma couldn't handle him as a runner either, as evidenced by his 107 yards and two scores on the ground.
The Bears seemingly figured out the formula to beating Oklahoma and perhaps showed other teams the blueprint for the remainder of the season.
What's Next?
Baylor will attempt to continue rolling next Saturday when it goes on the road to face the unranked Kansas State Wildcats.
Meanwhile, the Sooners will look to bounce back from a devastating loss next Saturday when they host the unranked Iowa State Cyclones.
Spencer Rattler Replaces Caleb Williams at QB for Oklahoma vs. Baylor
Nov 13, 2021
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
After being benched early in the season because of on-field struggles, Spencer Rattler is back in at quarterback for Oklahoma.
The sophomore replaced Caleb Williams late in the third quarter of Saturday's game against Baylor. Williams was 8-of-17 for 84 yards and two interceptions before being benched.
Before head coach Lincoln Riley made the move, Sooners fans were chanting for Rattler to be put in the game.
Per Jason Kersey of The Athletic, Williams did have his throwing hand stepped on earlier in the game. It's unclear if his issues were related to an injury because of that incident.
Coming into Saturday, Williams had been playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in three games as the starter. The freshman was 56-of-73 for 875 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Williams threw more interceptions in three quarters against Baylor than he did in his first seven games combined.
Rattler was the Sooners' starting quarterback for the first six games of the season. He was completing 74.3 percent of his passes during that span but had three touchdowns and three interceptions in three games before being benched midway through an Oct. 9 contest against Texas.
The 21-year-old entered this season as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. He was fantastic as a redshirt freshman in 2020 with a 67.5 completion percentage, 3,031 yards and 28 touchdown passes in 11 games.
Despite getting occasionally inconsistent play under center this season, Oklahoma (9-0) entered Saturday as one of four undefeated FBS teams (Georgia, Cincinnati, University of Texas San Antonio).
The Sooners are also ranked No. 8 in the College Football Playoff standings.
Per Jason Kersey of The Athletic, Williams did have his throwing hand stepped on earlier in the game. It's unclear if his issues were related to an injury because of that incident.
Lincoln Riley: Gary Patterson, Matt Wells Firings 'Not Good for Our Game'
Nov 3, 2021
LAWRENCE, KS - OCTOBER 23: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners talks to players during warmups before a game against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
Oklahoma Sooners head football coach Lincoln Riley is not a fan of the recent coaching changes in the Big 12.
Texas Tech fired head coach Matt Wells on Oct. 25 despite having a 5-3 record at the time. TCU and longtime head coach Gary Patterson mutually agreed to part ways Sunday. Riley wasn't happy with the timing of the midseason oustings.
"It's not good for our game, not good for our league," Riley said. "I hope we can find a better solution than this because I'm afraid it's going to become the trend. If you're asking maybe a reason why, I think everybody is scared they're going to miss out on who they want to hire."
Patterson was the second-longest tenured active head coach in the FBS, trailing only Iowa's Kirk Ferentz. He is TCU's winningest coach in program history with a record of 181-79. The 61-year-old led the Horned Frogs to six conference titles and nine bowl game wins, including the 2011 Rose Bowl and 2014 Peach Bowl.
Riley expressed how he felt about the firings, and he didn't hold back.
"To see two guys out in midseason like that, one with a winning record and one is undoubtedly the greatest coach in the history of his school," Riley said. "Seeing Gary Patterson go out in the middle of the season is just — I don't know what to think of it, man. I was sick when I heard the news, to be completely honest.
"I know it's a tough business," he continued. "Our jobs are scrutinized and we're big boys and can live with big-boy decisions. But man, what he did at that place and to not even finish out the year, I don't know."
Riley acknowledged it's likely that these coaching changes happened when they did because schools don't want to fall behind in the recruiting period. But he feels strongly that coaches need to be better protected and the timing of the firings didn't sit right with him.
"We may have to look at something maybe like the pros do, or something like that that really draws some hard lines on when [firings] can happen and when they can't," Riley said. "Gary Patterson not finishing a season at a place he built? Man, that ain't right."
Patterson declined TCU officials' offer to finish the season. The eighth-ranked Sooners are off this weekend before returning to action on Nov. 13 against No. 12 Baylor.
Lincoln Riley After Kansas Win: Oklahoma's Toughest Opponent Right Now Is Itself
Oct 23, 2021
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against Texas at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Dallas. Oklahoma won 55-48. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley wasn't happy with his team's performance after surviving a scare against Kansas on Saturday.
After the Sooners' 35-23 win, Riley told reporters that his team is its own worst enemy right now.
"The toughest opponent that we've got right now is ourselves," Riley said. "And we beat ourselves too much. I love the way we finish, and damn, if we will ever figure out how to play a complete game, combined with the way this team finishes, we could have something."
The Sooners were trailing 10-0 through two quarters after a horrendous performance by the offense. They gained a total of 53 yards on just 17 plays with an interception by Caleb Williams and a turnover on downs when a 4th-and-6 pass was incomplete.
Coming out after halftime, Oklahoma gained more yards on its first drive (75) than it did in the entire first half. Williams capped it off with a five-yard touchdown pass to Jadon Haselwood.
The Sooners scored touchdowns on all five of their second-half possessions. Williams threw for 178 yards, ran for 70 and accounted for three scores.
Despite being 8-0 so far, the Sooners have rarely played an entire game at an elite level. They had to make a defensive stop on the final drive in a 23-16 win over Nebraska. They spent most of their game against West Virginia tied before Gabe Brkic's 30-yard field goal as time expired.
Oklahoma had to score 35 points in the second half against Texas to steal a 55-48 win on Oct. 9.
Early season issues at quarterback are at least partially to blame. Spencer Rattler was seen as a Heisman favorite coming into the year, but turnovers have moved him behind Williams on the depth chart.
If there is a silver lining for Riley and the Sooners, they keep winning games as other playoff contenders fall. Illinois upset Penn State 20-18 in nine overtimes Saturday. Alabama and Ohio State already have one loss this season.
Oklahoma still has two games remaining against teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including a Nov. 27 showdown at Oklahoma State in the regular-season finale.
If the Sooners can iron out their issues, they are still in a prime position to be in the College Football Playoff.
Caleb Williams, No. 3 Oklahoma Rally in 2nd Half to Thwart Kansas' Upset Bid
Oct 23, 2021
Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams passes the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
The No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners overcame sloppy play and a 10-0 halftime deficit to beat the Kansas Jayhawks 35-23 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday.
Oklahoma improved to 8-0 and kept its hopes of an undefeated season alive, while Kansas fell to 1-6 and dropped its 17th consecutive game to the Sooners.
Oklahoma true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams accounted for just 50 yards with one interception in the first half, but he bounced back in the second half and finished with 248 yards and three touchdowns.
Kansas' near-upset was spearheaded by running back Devin Neal, who paced the Jayhawks with 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Oklahoma entered the game as a 38.5-point favorite and avoided what would have been one of the biggest upsets in college football history.
Notable Stats
Caleb Williams, QB, OKLA: 15/20 for 178 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT; 8 CAR for 70 YDS, 1 TD
Jason Bean, QB, KAN: 17/23 for 246 YDS, 1 TD; 14 CAR for 59 YDS
Kennedy Brooks, RB, OKLA: 24 CAR for 79 YDS, 2 TD; 1 REC for 24 YDS
Devin Neal, RB, KAN: 23 CAR for 100 YDS, 2 TD
Jadon Haselwood, WR, OKLA: 3 REC for 38 YDS, 1 TD
Kwamie Lassiter II, WR, KAN: 7 REC for 101 YDS
Caleb Williams Bounces Back in Come-from-Behind Win
In just the second start of his collegiate career, Williams faced and overcame a significant amount of adversity.
Williams was the hero two weeks ago when he replaced Spencer Rattler in the Red River Showdown against Texas, leading Oklahoma to victory. He followed that up with a good performance in an easy win over TCU.
The expectation was that Williams and the Sooners would cruise against a struggling team, and while that wasn't the case, winning in the fashion they did may have set OU up for sustained success.
Williams and Co. were out of sync in the first half, likely due in large part to the fact that Kansas possessed the ball for long stretches.
Even when the Sooners had the ball, things didn't go well, as Williams was picked off by Ricky Thomas Jr. on a deep pass in the second quarter:
The Sooners gained fewer than 100 yards in the first half, and in the second half Kansas opened the stadium to anyone, regardless of whether they had a ticket:
Wow! They just announced on Kansas radio network that stadium gates are open, no more tickets required. “If you’re in town, come on down!”
But Williams led Oklahoma on a touchdown drive to open the second half, throwing a five-yard scoring pass to Jadon Haselwood.
After Kansas restored its 10-point lead on the next drive, Oklahoma struck again three plays later when Williams threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Hall.
Oklahoma then forced a three-and-out and took a 21-17 lead on a four-play, 48-yard drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown run by Kennedy Brooks.
Williams later helped put the game away with two massive plays that further showed why he separated himself from Rattler.
The first was a 40-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-3:
Williams was far from perfect, but he sprinkled in some of his trademark magic to lead the Sooners to victory.
Oklahoma will have to be better in every aspect to remain undefeated and reach the College Football Playoff, but with Williams behind center, it will have a chance.
Neal, Kansas Running Game Nearly Complete Upset
Though Kansas fell short of what would have been the program's biggest victory in over a decade, it may have found a winning formula.
The Jayhawks dominated possession, keeping Oklahoma's high-powered offense off the field.
While quarterback Jason Bean was effective as a runner, Neal chewed up yards and the clock, and his physicality proved difficult to handle.
Neal's one-yard plunge accounted for the only touchdown of the first half, and he scored again late in the third quarter on a hugely important drive for Kansas.
After Oklahoma cut the deficit to 10-7, the Jayhawks orchestrated a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Neal on 4th-and-goal:
Kansas had seemingly regained control of the game at that point, but Oklahoma was unstoppable the rest of the way, with the Sooners' Key Lawrence forcing a big fumble near midfield with his team up 21-17.
Head coach Lance Leipold and the Jayhawks have a long way to go in terms of becoming a winning team, but they showed they can be competitive against one of the best teams in the nation.
If Leipold can execute similar game plans moving forward, Kansas will have a chance to be a problem for opponents.
What's Next?
Oklahoma will look to keep its undefeated season going next Saturday when it hosts the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Kansas will attempt to score its first Big 12 win next Saturday when it visits the No. 8 Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Kansas Opens Gates, Waives Ticket Requirement in 2nd Half of Oklahoma Upset Bid
Oct 23, 2021
LAWRENCE, KS - OCTOBER 23: Devin Neal #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
The unranked Kansas Jayhawks held a surprising 17-14 lead over the No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners entering the fourth quarter of Saturday's game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Kansas hadn't been in such a close game against Oklahoma for decades. The Jayhawks decided to waive the ticket requirement for most of the second half to encourage fans to enter the stadium and get loud:
The gates are open on the east and west sides of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, no ticket required.
Jayhawks fans didn't disappoint. ESPN showed the stadium before and after the announcements, and there were significantly more fans.
The Sooners rallied, however, scoring 14 unanswered points to take a 21-17 lead with 12:35 remaining in the game.
Oklahoma 21, Kansas 17
It was 17-7 when Kansas opened the stadium gates to anyone and everyone. Now the Sooners have scored 14 unanswered.
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) October 23, 2021
Kansas hasn't beaten Oklahoma since October 1997.
4-Star ATH Gentry Williams Commits to Oklahoma Over Florida, Missouri, USC
Oct 18, 2021
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 14: Oklahoma football helmet on display during the Big 12 Conference football media days on July 14, 2021 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Gentry Williams, a 4-star class of 2022 football prospect who has played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back for Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, committed to play for the Oklahoma Sooners on Monday.
Per 247Sports' composite, the 6'0", 170-pound Williams ranks 37th overall in the class of 2022 and first among Oklahomans.
He received a glowing scouting report from Gabe Brooks, 247Sports' Midlands region recruiting analyst, on June 24, 2020.
"Lean, athletic build that could translate to multiple spots at the college level. Owns some frame space to continue adding bulk. Versatile athlete. High school QB and DB whose ceiling is likely highest in the secondary. Primarily plays QB but put some good snaps on tape at corner as a sophomore. Flashes impressive burst coupled with track-verified top-end speed.
"Oklahoma 6A state champion in 400 meters (47.70) and runner-up in 200 meters (21.14) as a freshman. Displays plus agility to make the first defender miss. Fluidity also shows at corner. Shows impressive turn-and-run ability. Good ball skills for a long-term DB prospect thanks to offensive experience. Adding bulk/strength and continued coverage technique development keys moving forward. Dynamic athlete with a high developmental ceiling at corner. High-major recruit with multi-year starter capability who could develop into an early-round NFL Draft prospect."
Brooks compared Williams to Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson.
He received 18 offers, including ones from Oklahoma, LSU, Georgia and Florida. In the end, he chose to become a Sooner.
Williams suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a game in September 2020 and missed the remainder of the season. He relayed the news to Bill Haisten of Tulsa World, who was told that the star athlete suffered the injury after catching a pass against Del City.
He'll join an Oklahoma recruiting class, which is headlined by 5-star DL recruit Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, that ranks seventh in the nation
