OU Didn't Know?

Norman, OK – There was nothing rushed about Oklahoma’s win over Texas A&M. No frantic pace. No early knockout attempt. Just a steady, deliberate squeeze that tightened until the Aggies had nowhere left to go.

The Sooners’ 28–14 victory wasn’t built in the first quarter, and Head Coach Lovie Mahawg was clear about that afterward.

“This game wasn’t about jumping out fast,” Mahawg said. “It was about seeing how long they could stay disciplined once we started leaning on them.”

Oklahoma struck first midway through the opening quarter with a short touchdown pass to Taylor Tatum, a simple, efficient finish to a methodical drive. It set the tone for an offense that wasn’t interested in flash—just execution.

Still, the game settled into a grind. Texas A&M responded late in the second quarter, and at halftime the margin was slim. The Sooners hadn’t separated yet, but Mahawg liked what he saw.

“At halftime, I told them we were exactly where we wanted to be,” Mahawg said. “No panic. No chasing. Just keep playing clean football.”

That patience paid off almost immediately after the break.

On Oklahoma’s first series of the third quarter, Taylor Tatum broke the game open with a 61-yard touchdown run—one cut, full acceleration, gone. It wasn’t just the score that mattered; it was the message.

“That run wasn’t about speed,” Mahawg said. “That was vision and trust. When your back hits it like that, the whole sideline feels it.”

From there, the Sooners took control. Braylen Russell followed with a short touchdown run later in the third quarter, capping a stretch where Oklahoma dictated everything—tempo, field position, and physicality.

The numbers told the story without needing to scream it. Oklahoma rolled up 234 rushing yards, averaging nearly nine yards per carry, while Texas A&M struggled to slow the bleeding.

“We didn’t out-scheme them,” Mahawg said. “We outlasted them. That’s a big difference.”

Jake Wakefield played exactly the game Oklahoma needed. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown, protecting the football and punishing the Aggies whenever they sold out to stop the run.

“Jake doesn’t need to light up the stat sheet to control a game,” Mahawg said. “He made the right throw every time it mattered, and that’s winning quarterback play.”

Receivers like Ivan Carreon and Austin Parms made timely catches to keep drives alive, but the heartbeat of the offense remained the backfield. Russell, in particular, delivered the finishing blows—two rushing touchdowns and a relentless downhill presence in the fourth quarter that drained what little resistance Texas A&M had left.

Defensively, Oklahoma was every bit as imposing.

The Aggies managed just 248 total yards, repeatedly stalled by a front seven that refused to give ground. Reggie Powers III led the charge with six tackles and a tackle for loss, while James Nesta and David Stone anchored a defense that consistently forced Texas A&M into long, uncomfortable downs.

“That was grown-man defense,” Mahawg said. “Assignment sound, violent, and patient. We didn’t give them anything cheap.”

Texas A&M did find the end zone late in the fourth quarter, but the response was immediate. Russell punched in another short touchdown run, and any remaining doubt disappeared.

“When they scored, I told the offense, ‘Go end it,’” Mahawg said. “And that’s exactly what they did.”

The final score reflected more than just points—it reflected control. Oklahoma won the line of scrimmage, won the turnover battle, and won the moments that decide games between evenly matched teams.

“This team is learning how to finish,” Mahawg said. “Not just play hard—finish. That’s where championships start.”

Against Texas A&M, Oklahoma didn’t overwhelm with chaos or flash. They absorbed pressure, trusted their identity, and turned patience into separation.

That’s not just a win.
That’s a team showing it understands exactly who it is.