Oklahoma pulled off a stunning upset of No. 1 Texas on Saturday night, winning 27‑24 in the annual Red River rivalry. The decisive moment came when kicker Tate Sandell converted a 47‑yard field goal on the final play, sealing the win for the Sooners.
Key plays and turning points
The Sooners (3‑2, 1‑1 SEC) overcame a season‑long struggle to beat a top‑ranked opponent for the first time since a 38‑17 victory over Missouri in 2007. Oklahoma entered the game 0‑4‑1 against Texas when the Longhorns were ranked No. 1.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning threw three touchdown passes for the Longhorns (4‑1, 1‑1), but both of his interceptions proved costly. Late in the fourth quarter, Manning’s final pass was intercepted by Oklahoma safety Courtland Guillory with 19 seconds remaining, setting up the game‑winning field‑goal attempt.
After the interception, Oklahoma started at its own 39‑yard line. Quarterback John Mateer completed two short passes—13 yards to Isaiah Sategna and 20 yards to the same receiver on the opposite side of the field—both upheld on replay review. The drive positioned Sandell for the 47‑yard kick.
Special teams and defensive contributions
Oklahoma’s special teams and defense played a pivotal role. Defensive back Dakoda Fields recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown, and safety Peyton Bowen returned an interception 42 yards for another score. Bowen’s pick‑six came after Manning was pressured and forced a pass intended for Cam Coleman, which instead landed in Oklahoma’s hands.
Earlier, Texas had a chance to tie the game when Manning connected with Jermaine Bishop Jr. on a 15‑yard touchdown pass with 6:32 left, completing a 75‑yard drive. However, a missed 53‑yard field‑goal attempt by Texas kicker Gianni Spetic with 1:55 remaining left the door open for the Sooners.
Statistical snapshot
Arch Manning finished 19‑of‑31 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. John Mateer completed 18 of 26 passes for 155 yards. Oklahoma’s total offense was limited to 238 yards, well below its season average of 321 yards per game.
The victory marks a significant morale boost for Oklahoma, which had suffered a 41‑13 loss to No. 2 Georgia two weeks earlier. The Sooners now look to build on this momentum as the SEC season progresses.
Looking ahead
Both programs will turn their attention to upcoming conference matchups. Texas remains a contender in the Big 12, while Oklahoma hopes to leverage this upset to improve its standing in the SEC race.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.