Orlando, FL — Oklahoma trilled in its last recreation of the season, however finally was unable to pull an upset win on Thursday night time’s Cheez-It Bowl.
The shorthanded Sooners went blow-for-blow with the No. 13-ranked Florida State Seminoles, however allowed a subject objective in the last minute of the recreation to fall 35-32 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Entering as almost a double-digit underdog, Oklahoma (6-7) led for many of the first half.
But the Seminoles (10-3) climbed out of the early gap to hand the Sooners their first shedding season since 1998.
Defense Holds Out as Long as Possible
Slowing down a Florida State offense that entered the Cheez-It Bowl averaging 475.7 yards per recreation was at all times going to be a battle.
But the OU protection helped hold the Sooners hanging round by profitable high-leverage downs by means of the first three quarters.
The Seminoles went a mixed 6-for-16 on third and fourth down, however FSU quarterback Jordan Travis was in a position to assist flip the tide in the last quarter-hour.
Oklahoma allowed the Seminoles to convert 2-of-3 third downs in the fourth quarter, as the ‘Noles posted 155 total yards of offense in the quarter.
Florida State scored on four of its five drives in the second half as Oklahoma’s protection once more waned down the stretch.
Second Half Timeout Management Costly
Brent Venables burned a pair of timeouts in the third quarter, and it got here again to chew him.
On the first defensive drive of the second half, the Sooners gave up a pair of conversions on third and lengthy.
As a end result, Venables took his first timeout to regular the ship.
Four performs later, the Seminoles scored and took its first lead since the opening drive of the recreation.
On the ensuing drive, Venables used his second timeout forward of a fourth-and-6 conversion try in Florida State territory.
OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel was unable to join with Drake Stoops on a play the place Stoops and teammate Jalil Farooq have been oddly shut collectively downfield, turning the ball over and leaving the Sooners with only one timeout.
Predictably, Oklahoma wanted these timeouts in the fourth quarter.
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Seminole broad receiver Johnny Wilson hauled in an important one-handed seize over Justin Broiles, organising FSU at the 15-yard line.
With below three minutes remaining, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell slowed down the tempo.
Florida State milked the clock and arrange the game-winning subject objective, leaving Oklahoma simply 55 seconds to reply.
Depleted O-Line Brings the Fight
Headed to Orlando, Oklahoma knew it could be with out a minimum of three starters alongside the offensive line at each tackles and middle.
In the pregame warmups it turned clear the Sooners can be down a fourth, as proper guard Chris Murray wasn’t taking snaps with the starters.
Matters have been made worse when true freshman Jacob Sexton, who began the recreation at left deal with, hobbled off the subject after the third offensive snap.
But the Sooners have been nonetheless in a position to have success on the floor.
Freshman operating again duo Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk mixed to rush for 208 yards and two scores, and the OU offense ended with 253 yards on the floor as a complete.
Eventually, the dam broke in the passing recreation.
Gabriel was dragged down for six sacks by Florida State’s proficient move rush.
Even when the Seminoles didn’t deal with Gabriel in the again subject, he had to lengthen performs along with his legs increasingly more as the recreation wore on.
As a end result, Oklahoma referred to as a season-high 60 runs as offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby tried to restrict the harm in the passing recreation.
But there have been nonetheless loads of constructive moments the place the younger line matched Florida State’s physicality and outperformed expectations.
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