SAN ANTONIO — Bob Stoops and Oklahoma had been winners collectively once more, similar to outdated instances.
Kennedy Brooks ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns, Caleb Williams handed for 3 extra scores and the 14th-ranked Sooners rode a dominant first half to a 47-32 win over No. 15 Oregon within the Alamo Bowl on Wednesday night time.
The victory marked a short and joyful reunion for the coach and college he led to a nationwide championship and 10 Massive 12 titles from 1999 to 2016. Stoops was known as off a golf course to return out of retirement to educate the bowl recreation after the abrupt departure of Lincoln Riley for Southern California.
“I have been out of it, got here again,” Stoops stated. “It was enjoyable. Greater than something, I respect the younger individuals, the blokes in this system, embraced me, had been all in, and labored arduous.”
Stoops earned profession win No. 191 and boosted his bowl file to 10-9. Getting the most recent victory was possibly the best half in all this.
Simply as necessary had been the duties of steadying this system general after Riley’s bolt west turned it the other way up. And Stoops needed to construct a steady bridge to the brand new period underneath incoming coach Brent Venables, his former Oklahoma assistant who has spent the previous 9 seasons at Clemson.
“They’re getting a man with ardour, a man that loves the sport,” Stoops stated. “A winner.”
And the coach who as soon as earned the nickname Massive Recreation Bob additionally became Massive Hug Bob when he received to embrace son and Sooners receiver Drake Stoops after a second-quarter landing catch. Drake walked on at Oklahoma in 2018 after Bob had retired.
Oklahoma (11-2) raced out to a 30-3 lead as Brooks and Williams sliced up the Oregon protection. Brooks had 127 yards on simply 10 carries within the first half with scoring runs of 16 and 29 yards, and one other 40-yard run that arrange Williams’ first landing go to Drake Stoops.
Williams’ 55-yard TD go to Marvin Mims Jr. hit the receiver completely in stride behind two Geese defenders who had been two steps late. Brooks then punched within the ultimate rating of the half.
The Sooners had been so dominant at that time they seemed like a few of Stoops’ outdated groups of bulldozing working backs, protection and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks.
However Oregon (10-4) did not stop and made a recreation of it within the second half. The Geese scored three touchdowns within the third quarter, two approaching lengthy throws by quarterback Anthony Brown, to get inside 44-25 by the beginning of the fourth. Brown completed with 306 yards passing, and Travis Dye rushed for 153 yards and a landing for Oregon.
Oregon was led by assistant coach Bryan McClendon, elevated to interim head coach for the bowl recreation after Mario Cristobal left for Miami. Oregon has employed Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, who will take over the Geese after the School Soccer Playoff.
“It hurts,” McClendon stated. “In addition to we performed within the second half, it is not a comfort prize.”
Riley’s sudden departure and a number of other gamers bolting early for the NFL or transferring had this system’s fan base in a little bit of a panic. Venables was on the recreation and was across the workforce throughout bowl practices. He ought to have a eager deal with on the place the Sooners are headed subsequent season.
Venables’ greatest job is constructing a possible future with Williams, who hasn’t stated definitively whether or not he plans to stick with the Sooners subsequent yr.
Williams didn’t settle the problem after the sport. He known as the previous few weeks a “curler coaster” and stated he will probably be taking a trip along with his household.
“Oklahoma selected the best man to return in right here,” Williams stated of Venables.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
