Spencer Rattler completed 88 percent of his 25 passes as No. 6 Oklahoma defeated Kansas State 37-31. Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) snapped a two-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
The Wildcats (3-2, 0-2) outgained the Sooners 420-392, including 320-261 through the air, but it wasn’t enough.
With word all week that K-State quarterback Skylar Thompson was “doubtful” for Saturday’s game, the crowd erupted when Thompson ran on the field for the first offensive series. Thompson finished the game 29-of-41 for 320 yards and three touchdowns.
Oklahoma came into the game ranked second in FBS in defensive third-down percentage defense. The Wildcats converted 8-of-15 on third down, and 4-of-5 on fourth down. But a fourth-down conversion in the fourth quarter that was overturned by review gave the Sooners a chance to pull away.
But the Wildcats wouldn’t go quietly. A Thompson-to-Landry Weber 6-yard touchdown cut the deficit to 34-24. After a Gabe Brkic field goal gave OU a 37-24 lead, Malik Knowles returned the kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
K-State started its first possession at its own 27 and marched to the OU 11, converting but Jacardia Wright fumbled. Nik Bonitto recovered it and returned it 70 yards to the KSU 19. Oklahoma got it to the 1, but got pushed back and settled for a 40-yard Brkic field goal.
K-State went 75 yards on 10 plays on the ensuing drive, capped by a 2-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to Phillip Brooks on fourth and goal.
The Sooners responded with a Jeremiah Hall 4-yard touchdown run, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive. Taiten Winkel tied it with a 30-yard field goal with 1:30 left, but Brkic gave OU the lead right before the half with a 27-yarder.
The Sooners took the second-half kickoff and marched 75 yards in nine plays to take a 20-10 lead. Kennedy Brooks ran it in from 2-yards out for the score. Following another touchdown drive by the Sooners, K-State got a 7-yard touchdown from Thompson to Deuce Vaughn to draw within 27-17.
Hall’s second touchdown, with 9:49 left, gave the Sooners a three-score lead.