NORMAN — The rain came down steadily, the air hung thick at 83 degrees, and Kansas State arrived hoping the weather might slow the nation’s top-ranked team. Instead, it only seemed to sharpen Oklahoma’s edge.
Behind a brilliant afternoon from Jake Wakefield and an avalanche of explosive plays, No. 1 Oklahoma rolled past Kansas State 45–6, turning a soggy Saturday in Norman into another reminder that this Sooners team can win in any conditions — pretty or punishing.
Coach Lovie Mahawg never bothered mentioning the rain.
“Weather’s just background noise,” Mahawg said afterward. “Execution doesn’t care if it’s wet.”
Fast Start, Immediate Control
Oklahoma wasted little time setting the tone. On the Sooners’ second possession, Wakefield zipped a pass to Braylen Russell in the flat, and the junior back cut inside for a seven-yard touchdown with 1:47 left in the first quarter.
Kansas State managed a single response in the second quarter — a 44-yard field goal — but that brief flicker was quickly extinguished.
Wakefield answered by finding Tramon Wheeler down the seam for a 27-yard touchdown with 3:09 remaining in the half. Just before halftime, Ivan Carreon slipped free in the red zone and hauled in an eight-yard score with 47 seconds on the clock, pushing Oklahoma’s lead to 21–3.
“That stretch right there was the game,” Mahawg said. “We stacked good plays and didn’t let them breathe.”
A Third Quarter That Broke It Open
If Kansas State harbored any hopes of climbing back in, the third quarter erased them completely.
Wakefield opened the half by hitting Taylor Tatum on a swing route that turned into a 12-yard touchdown at the 2:43 mark. Less than two minutes later, Tatum struck again — this time on special teams — fielding a punt and racing 76 yards through the rain for a touchdown that sent the stadium into a frenzy.
“Taylor’s dangerous when the field’s slick,” Mahawg said. “One cut and he’s gone.”
By the time the third quarter ended, Oklahoma led 35–3, and the game had long since tilted beyond reach.
Depth on Display in the Fourth
The fourth quarter became a showcase of Oklahoma’s balance and depth. Braylen Russell powered in from one yard out with 4:52 left, then added another two-yard score just over two minutes later. Kansas State managed a late field goal, but Liam Evans answered at the horn with a 34-yard field goal, punctuating a dominant performance.
Wakefield finished 25 of 34 for 374 yards and four touchdowns, spreading the ball effortlessly across the field.
“Jake’s seeing everything right now,” Mahawg said. “When the quarterback’s calm, the whole team settles.”
Defense Sets the Floor
While the offense stole headlines, Oklahoma’s defense quietly suffocated Kansas State. The Wildcats were held to 28 rushing yards, threw just one interception, and rarely found clean pockets.
Linebacker James Nesta led the way with six tackles and a forced fumble, while David Stone and Wyatt Gilmore combined for three tackles for loss and two sacks. Safety Edward Garcia added an interception to cap another efficient day for the secondary.
“Defense traveled today,” Mahawg said. “That matters when November gets ugly.”
Kansas State finished with just 281 total yards and held the ball for under nine minutes, a testament to how thoroughly Oklahoma controlled tempo.
Another Step Forward
The Sooners piled up 550 yards of offense, scored in all four quarters, and never allowed Kansas State to feel competitive. More importantly, they showed once again that the standard doesn’t change — rain, heat, rankings, none of it.
“We’re not chasing perfection,” Mahawg said. “We’re chasing consistency.”
Oklahoma remains unbeaten and firmly planted atop the polls as the season moves deeper into conference play. The rain washed away nothing — if anything, it revealed just how sharp this team has become.
In Norman, even storms seem to bend toward crimson.
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