Norman, OK – The Cotton Bowl was split right down the middle — half burnt orange, half crimson — and 100% chaos. When the dust settled, the #1 Oklahoma Sooners had outlasted #5 Texas, 42–29, in a bruising, bizarre, and unforgettable edition of the Red River Rivalry.
This one had it all: huge plays, a few miracles, a dash of controversy, and one sideline figure whose cigar smoke rose above it all — Coach Lovie Mahawg, arms crossed, visor low, smirking like he’d seen it all before.
Arch Down, OU Up
The momentum shifted early when Texas quarterback Arch Manning went down midway through the second quarter after a heavy hit by senior linebacker Karmelo Upton, who added a forced fumble and sack to his box score. Manning did not return, and from there, the Sooners began to seize control.
Mahawg didn’t mince words afterward:
“Look, I ain’t in the business of hurting kids — but I’m sure not in the business of letting ‘em throw darts on my defense, either.”
Behind him, the OU defense smelled blood. Senior safety Peyton Bowen led the charge with 10 tackles and a sack, while Darrell Droogsma, the freshman phenom from Norman, notched another sack and a forced fumble. The Sooners racked up five total sacks, turning Texas drives into dust.
“Our D-line ate like it was Thanksgiving,” Mahawg said with a laugh. “That’s Sooners football — trench warfare and cigar smoke.”
Ground and Pound
Once again, OU’s backfield trio was unstoppable.
- Isaac Brown: 9 carries, 109 yards, 2 TDs (including a 71-yard sprint that broke Texas’s will)
- Xavier Robinson: 14 carries, 95 yards, 3 TDs — pure bruiser energy
- Taylor Tatum: 4 carries, 17 yards, steadying presence
When asked how he splits the carries, Mahawg grinned and puffed his cigar.
“I don’t do politics in the backfield. I feed whoever’s hungry. Tonight, they all were.”
Quarterback Jake Wakefield played efficient and controlled football, completing 18 of 22 passes (81%) for 156 yards. No touchdowns, but no mistakes — exactly what his coach demanded.
“He managed the game like a general,” Mahawg said. “Sometimes the best throw is the one you don’t make.”
Flags, No-Calls, and Fireworks
To say officiating was “questionable” would be generous. A phantom holding penalty erased a potential Oklahoma touchdown late in the second quarter, while two clear late hits on Wakefield went uncalled.
Mahawg’s take?
“I’ve seen better eyes on a potato. But we ain’t blaming stripes — we control what we can control.”
Still, OU’s sideline erupted multiple times, and fans on both sides agreed the refs were… involved. When asked if he expected a call from the league office, Mahawg just smirked.
“If they call, I’ll answer. But I won’t apologize for winning a fight.”
The OU Defense Bends, Never Breaks
Even without their best starting linemen (Fasusi, Grimes, Lolohea all still sidelined), the Sooners held Texas to just 29 points and 380 total yards. OU forced three interceptions, all coming in the second half as the Longhorns tried to claw back.
Senior defensive captain Peyton Bowen summed it up: “They hit us early, we hit back harder.”
Mahawg added,
“You can’t spell ‘tough’ without OU. We take pride in making the other guy quit first.”
“Make OU Great Again” Marches On
With the win, the Sooners move to 6–0 (2–0 in the Big 12) and keep their #1 ranking intact. They’ve now outscored opponents 318–105 on the season, and Mahawg’s swagger seems to grow with every W.
In his postgame presser, he leaned into the mic — cigar smoke curling upward — and delivered the line that’s already gone viral among Sooner Nation:
“They can cry about flags, injuries, or bad luck — but we don’t do excuses in Norman. We just win. That’s how you make OU great again.”
Next Up
The Sooners travel north to face Kansas State, another gritty Big 12 matchup with upset potential. But as long as Coach Mahawg’s got a cigar, a visor, and that look in his eye, it’s hard to bet against him.
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