College Football: Rewatching Week 1 of an exciting 2009 season

No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 20 BYU

Before acting like we are in the year 2009, a few things stood out from the opening 30 seconds of the broadcast.

First, ‘Horns Down’ has forever been a thing and I’m confused as to why it is just now becoming an issue. Showing Oklahoma fans tailgating as Brad Nessler hyped up the game, at least six different people were flashing the “controversial” gesture.

Secondly, this top 20 matchup was the first college football game to be played at the brand new AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In what was/still is an amazing stadium, Jerry Jones has built it into more than just a place the Cowboys play. Now, multiple college games are hosted there a year, making it one of the best stadiums in the country to play football.

Back to regularly scheduled programming. 

One final thing actually, sideline reporter Heather Cox talked about BYU running back Harvey Unga who was coming into the season losing 20 pounds. He lost that weight due to the swine flu pandemic from the summer of 2009. Crazy to think about.

OK, now back to 2009.

BYU defeated Oklahoma in a sloppy fashion, 14-13, but the game itself is nowhere near the main storyline. With the clock ticking away in the first half, Oklahoma was attempting to score more points before halftime. An unblocked defender stormed through the offensive line and got to Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford. Taking a huge hit, Bradford injured his shoulder, forcing him to be out for the rest of the game.

The biggest question now becomes, for how long will Bradford be out? After leading Oklahoma to the national championship in 2008 and winning the Heisman trophy, the Oklahoma offense was expected to be a juggernaut with Bradford under center. Not only in the passing game but the Sooners were returning two 1,000-yard rushers in DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown.

Reportedly a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, if the diagnostic is true, Bradford is more than likely to miss a few weeks. Oklahoma has Idaho State, Tulsa, and Miami on the schedule over the next month. In six weeks, they will travel 196 miles south to Dallas, for an important rematch of the Red River Shootout. Hopefully, Bradford is able to play and the Sooners have their All-American quarterback playing.

As for the game itself, the inaugural Cowboys Classic was a sloppy and sluggish contest in multiple fashions. Firstly with the turnovers, each team put the ball on the ground three times. Both lost it twice and luckily were able to recover one. For BYU, they were about to turn it over for the second possession but were saved as they were able to fall on it before Oklahoma did. The next play, Andrew George punched it into the endzone, tying the game at seven.

Ten of Oklahoma’s 13 points came off a BYU turnover of sorts, with the first touchdown coming after a muffed punt from BYU. The Sooner offense had gone three and out twice, but the Cougars gave them a gift inside the red zone and Ryan Broyles made it 7-0. The other came deep in BYU territory again, as the Oklahoma offense had six plays from inside the 5-yard line to score. Instead, they had to settle for a field goal, making it 13-7. The goal-line stand ending up being the difference in the game.

Whistles and penalties seemed to be occurring every single play, as there were a combined 22 penalties between the two teams. Constant false starts, holdings, and pass interferences took the flow and momentum out of the game. For the Sooners, they had 12 penalties for 93 yards, more than they had all of last season. BYU was not any better, having 10 penalties for 87 yards.

The best drive of the night from either team came in the final one by the Cougars, sealing the game with an 8:44 drive to win the game. Down six, BYU quarterback Max Hall took the game into his own hands, going 9-for-10 with 84 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass to McKay Jacobson. BYU converted three third downs and a crucial fourth-down pass to extend their drive, ending Oklahoma’s chance of having back to back undefeated regular seasons.

Oklahoma’s Tress Way missed a 54-yard field goal short and to the left on a fourth-and-14, sealing the victory for the Cougars.

Without former Heisman winning quarterback Sam Bradford, the Sooners’ national title hopes are in real jeopardy. Going on the road to Miami before the gauntlet of a Big 12 schedule, without Bradford, Oklahoma could struggle behind redshirt freshman quarterback Landry Jones.

Key Stats

Sam Bradford (Oklahoma): 10-for-14 with 96 yards and a touchdown
Landry Jones (Oklahoma): 6-for-12 with 51 yards

Key play

Fourth-and-4 from the Oklahoma 29-yard line and BYU hurries up to the line of scrimmage. Max Hall runs to his right and finds tight end Dennis Pita open and gains 23 yards. BYU scored five plays later, giving them the 14-13 lead and eventual victory.