It was just like when Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes got together a few years back, as Oklahoma football and Texas Tech made the scoreboard operator work overtime Saturday night.
In the end, the Sooners pulled out the victory, 51-46, thanks in large part to the efforts of Trey Sermon, who gained 206 yards on the ground with three touchdowns – including the eventual game-winner.
The two teams combined for 38 points in the second quarter alone, as Kyler Murray had two touchdowns in an eight-minute span, with Sermon adding another. Da’Leon Ward scored twice in the frame for the Red Raiders, who overcame the loss of starting quarterback Alan Bowman.
Bowman, who completed 21 of 26 for 227 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, was injured during warmups after the break and forced to miss the second half. No official announcement was made on the status of Bowman, who missed time earlier this year due to a collapsed lung.
Jett Duffey replaced him and nearly led the comeback, but a failed two-point conversion attempt that was returned by Oklahoma came back to haunt Texas Tech on its home field.
Duffey capped a quick scoring drive with 65 seconds left to make it a 51-46 deficit, but another conversion failed and the onside kick by the Red Raiders went out of bounds. Duffey finished with 139 yards passing, two touchdowns, 47 yards rushing and another score.
Along with Sermon’s career-night, Murray continued to fill up the box score. The Oakland A’s baseball prospect completed 20 of 35 for 360 with three touchdowns, adding another 100 yards rushing and a score. Murray now has four games this season with over 300 yards passing and 50 yards rushing.
Oklahoma kept itself in a tie with West Virginia atop the conference standings, improving to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the league. The Sooners host Oklahoma State and Kansas before meeting the Mountaineers on the road to conclude the regular season.
They could meet a second time the following week in the conference title game if they finished first and second.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, has lost two in a row to fall to 5-4, 3-3. The Red Raiders host Texas with Kansas State and Baylor left to finish out the regular season slate.
Antonio Wesley recorded his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game, as the junior finished with 12 for 199. He’s surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season with seven touchdowns and 70 receptions.