OU football topples No. 1 Texas on last-second FG by Tate Sandell | 5 takeaways
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DALLAS — John Mateer dropped back to throw with 13 seconds remaining.
The Oklahoma quarterback, after two of the lowest weeks of his life, had a chance to put the Sooners in position to upset No. 1 Texas.
Mateer put the toss on a rope to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III’s back shoulder. First down OU.
The play set up reigning Lou Groza Award winner Tate Sandell for a 47-yard try.
Nailed it. Ballgame.
TATE THE GREAT 🦿 pic.twitter.com/QBFeGORsFu
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 10, 2026
The Sooners upset the No. 1-ranked Longhorns 27-24 Saturday in a classic game at Cotton Bowl Stadium in the middle of the State Fair of Texas. Mateer, in the midst of a turnover-filled season, completed 18 of his 26 passes for 155 yards.
He didn’t throw a touchdown but he didn’t turn it over, either.
All week, it was said OU would have a chance if Mateer didn’t flounder. Instead, he delivered when it mattered most.
What a massive win for Mateer, coach Brent Venables and Oklahoma (3-2, 1-1 SEC).
Here are a few more takeaways from the Sooners’ win:
Sooners defense is elite
While the offense failed to move the ball with consistency, OU’s defense did its job all afternoon.
The Sooners came up with multiple big stops to keep OU in the game and shut the Longhorns down for most of the second half. Safety Peyton Bowen picked off Arch Manning and returned it 42 yards to put the Sooners up by seven in the fourth quarter.
No play was bigger than Guillory’s clutch pick.
It appeared Texas was driving to put the game away late until Longhorns kicker Gianni Spetic missed from 53 yards to give OU the ball with 1:55 remaining.
Linebacker Owen Heinecke led the Sooners’ defense with nine tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
"Hats off to Texas, they played hard,” Heinecke said on the radio postgame. “But Boomer Sooner forever and they're little bro forever."
OU has found something with Lloyd Avant
It appears the Sooners have found their running back.
Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant, who won the starting job out of training camp, rushed 10 times for 72 yards and a touchdown in the win.
When OU’s offense was in need of something, Avant broke out a 42-yard rush in the third quarter.
The Sooners started Jonathan Hatton Jr. and also gave opportunities to Tory Blaylock against the Longhorns.
But it appears they’ve found something with Avant.
OU special teams comes up huge
Hats off to OU's special teams.
With the Sooners’ offensive struggles through four games, it was thought OU’s special teams might have to come up with a score. It took only 16 minutes.
With 14:11 remaining in the first half, Sooners defensive lineman Danny Okoye blocked a Texas punt in the end zone and OU defensive back Dakoda Fields fell on it. Touchdown Sooners.
From there, Sandell delivered.
Outside of his game-winner, he also nailed a massive 53-yard make to put OU within one score in the second half.
Trystan Haynes holds own against Cam Coleman, stacked Texas receiving corps
Trystan Haynes earned his first career start in a massive spot.
Haynes was inserted into the starting lineup after defensive back Eli Bowen was ruled out pregame. Bowen was a game time decision but ultimately couldn’t go.
The Carl Albert product mostly held his own against one of the most talented receiving cops in the country. He was frequently matched up against star Cam Coleman.
Haynes started fast, recording a pass breakup on the Longhorns’ first drive. The biggest blemish on Haynes’ performance Saturday was when Coleman got loose for a 41-yard touchdown in the first quarter but it appeared the OU corner thought he had safety help.
He finished with seven tackles in the win.
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football topples No. 1 Texas on last-second FG by Tate Sandell | 5 takeaways
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