Oklahoma Sooners survive Houston Cougars in Week 2 college football

UPDATE: The Oklahoma Sooners survived the Houston Cougars for a 16-12 win Saturday in Week 2 of the college football season.

NORMAN — After a 51-3 season-opening win over Temple last week, Oklahoma football continues its season Saturday night when it hosts Houston (6:45 p.m., SEC Network). Houston is coming off a 27-7 loss to UNLV in the Willie Fritz’s first game as the Cougars’ head coach.

The Sooners will look to keep things rolling with their defense and be more effective offensively, especially when it comes to third-down efficiency, the offensive line and the running game.

Follow along as the Sooners (1-0) host the Cougars (0-1):

More:OU football grades vs Houston: Ugly win for Sooners as SEC schedule gets closer

Watch Oklahoma vs. Houston live with Fubo (free trial)

Oklahoma vs Houston score updates

∙	1	2	3	4	F
Houston	3	3	6	0	—	12
Oklahoma	7	7	0	2	—	16

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FINAL: OU 16, Houston 12 | Sooners survive Cougars to move to 2-0

Trust in Jake Roberts.

A great second-and-8 play call — a 28-yard pass up the middle from Jackson Arnold to Roberts — gave the Sooners the opportunity to ice the game with time for a punt return and maybe one play.

Instead an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Joshua Bates gave the Cougars the ball with 29 seconds left after the punt.

But the Cougars can only go from their 13-yard line to the Sooners’ 45.

A weird Week 2 game is in the books.

—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer

More:OU football denies Houston upset bid, but Sooners ‘deserved to lose’ | 5 takeaways

1:42 left in 4Q: OU 16, Houston 12 | Gracen Halton stuffs Stacy Sneed for safety

After a 51-yard punt by Luke Elzinga was downed at the 5-yard line, Houston had little room for comfort.

On the first play of the drive, OU defensive lineman Gracen Halton wrapped up Stacy Sneed near the goal line to force a safety on the first play of the drive.

Defense and special teams are lifting the Sooners tonight.

Sooners will get the ball back, but the Cougars have all three timeouts.

—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer

More:Jackson Arnold stats: OU football quarterback goes cold in win vs. Houston

2:00 left in 4Q: OU 14, Houston 12 | Sooners set to punt, on upset alert

OU faces fourth-and-11 on its 44 at the 2-minute timeout.

The Sooners only have 217 yards of total offense tonight.

Both teams have all three timeouts.

—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer

More:OU football injury update vs. Houston: Gentry Williams, Jake Taylor exit Sooners’ win

7:57 left in 4Q: OU 14, Houston 12 | Sooners take over deep in their own territory

Houston leads time of possession is 34:30-18:20.

—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer

12:41 left in 4Q: OU 14, Houston 12 | Sooners miss field goal

It’s “upset alert” time in Norman.

The Sooners’ offense keeps sputtering and can’t take advantage of getting the ball in plus territory.

Tyler Keltner missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt after OU moved just four yards in three plays.

—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer

More:Will OU football add games against Big 12 teams? Joe Castiglione is hopeful.

14:15 left in 4Q: Oklahoma 14, Houston 12 | Robert Spears-Jennings intercepts Donovan Smith

Robert Spears-Jennings to the rescue.

With the banged-up Sooners sluggish on offense, they needed a defensive jolt.

Spears-Jennings jumped in front of a Donovan Smith pass to give OU the ball at Houston’s 32-yard line.

—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer

End 3Q: Oklahoma 14, Houston 12 | Sooners just holding on against Cougars

OU’s offense needs a jolt.

After scoring two touchdowns on their first four drives, the Sooners have come up empty on five consecutive drives entering the fourth quarter.

OU had just 45 yards of total offense in the third, with just 16 yards on the grounds and just 29 passing yards despite five completions.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

9:53 left in 3Q: Oklahoma 14, Houston 12 | Sooners turn it over on Jackson Arnold interception

OU’s Jackson Arnold was intercepted by Jeremiah Wilson early in the third quarter, ending a Sooners drive that showed promise.

The Sooners took a deep shot to Deion Burks down the middle of the field, but Arnold underthrew the pass and Wilson came up with the interception inside the Houston 10.

Arnold is 15 of 24 for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

The interception was Arnold’s first of the season.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

13:15 left in 3Q: OU 14, Houston 12 | Kip Lewis injured on tackle to start second half

OU linebacker Kip Lewis was injured on the first drive of the second half.

Lewis was hurt making a tackle on the first play from scrimmage and immediately went to the injury tent.

Kobie McKinzie took over at the spot without Lewis on the field.

The Cougars kept their momentum building with a 44-yard touchdown from Donovan Smith to Joseph Manjack IV.

Houston went for two to try to tie it, but couldn’t come up with the conversion.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

HALF: OU 14, Houston 6 | Cougars chip away at Sooners’ lead

Getting the ball back with just 1:17 remaining in the first half and at their own 20, it seemed unlikely Houston would be able to close the Sooners’ lead before halftime.

But Stacy Sneed’s 16-yard run on second down opened the door for the Cougars to be aggressive and Donovan Smith began to carve up OU’s defense.

Houston drove down to the Sooners 20 where Joseph Kim hit a 44-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to cut OU’s lead to 14-6 at the break.

The Cougars will receive the kick to start the second half.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

More:Gentry Williams injury update: OU football cornerback heads to locker room vs. Houston

Gentry Williams heads to locker room vs. Houston

Gentry Williams can’t catch a break.

OU’s junior cornerback exited the Sooners’ game vs. Houston during the second quarter on Saturday night. Williams was checked out inside the injury tent on the sideline and was escorted to the locker room afterward.

In the spring of 2023, Williams passed out during a workout and was hospitalized. He worked his way back last offseason and started 10 games for OU, but struggled to finish most of them, suffering frequent shoulder injuries which led to labrum surgery this offseason.

Head coach Brent Venables said postgame last week he decided to hold Williams out vs. Temple for precautionary reasons.

—Colton Sulley, Staff writer

OU football offensive line keeps shuffling

With Jake Taylor struggling and appearing to be banged up, OU made a switch on the offensive line late in the first half.

Left tackle Michael Tarquin shifted to the right side while redshirt freshman Logan Howland slid in at left tackle when the Sooners got the ball back with just less than five minutes remaining before halftime.

The Sooners offensive line continued to be a work in progress after plenty of shuffling last week.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

12:28 left in 2Q: OU 14, Houston 3 | Jake Roberts scores first TD with hometown Sooners

The Sooners needed a big third-down conversion.

They got it early in the second quarter, when Jackson Arnold floated a pop pass to tight end Jake Roberts for an 11-yard touchdown on third-and-2.

It was the first Sooners catch for Roberts, a Norman native who transferred from Baylor in the offseason.

OU missed on its first two third-down tries after going 1 for 12 on third down against Temple last week.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

4:29 left in 1Q: OU 7, Houston 3 | Cougars get on the board

After a dominating performance last week, OU’s defense struggled on their opening drive against Houston.

The Cougars converted on a pair of third-and-shorts, got help by a pass interference penalty on Woodi Washington and had the ball at the OU 15 after the second of those conversions.

But then the Sooners’ defense bowed up, including on a third-down sack by Damonic Williams that forced Houston to settle for a 43-yard field goal by Joseph Kim.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

12:59 left in 1Q: OU 7, Houston 0 | Sooners strike first after muffed punt

Lewis Carter was paying attention.

After OU punted after the first series of the game, Houston punt returner Mekhi Mews let the ball bounce in front of him.

As it bounced past him and looked to be headed out of bounds, Mews didn’t react like he’d touched it.

OU defender Jacobe Johnson stood by Mews as well, not reacting.

But Carter dove on the ball as it stayed in bounds and officials quickly signaled that the Sooners had recovered the ball.

After a review, the call stood, as officials ruled there was no clear evidence Mews had not touched it.

On the first play of the drive, Jackson Arnold hit Brenen Thompson for a 10-yard touchdown to put the Sooners ahead.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

Joshua Bates starts at center for Sooners

After not playing last week, redshirt freshman Joshua Bates made his first start for the Sooners.

Bates started at center after starter Branson Hickman was injured in the opener.

Both Hickman and Geirean Hatchett are dressed out for the game, but neither went through warmups as Bates worked with starting quarterback Jackson Arnold.

With Hatchett out, Jake Taylor started at right tackle.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

Pregame update: Nic Anderson, Dasan McCullough among Sooners not dressed out

OU will be without wide receiver Nic Anderson and linebacker Dasan McCullough once again when the Sooners take on Houston on Saturday night (6:45 p.m., SEC Network).

Both missed last week’s season opener vs. Temple.

Other players not dressed out include wide receiver Jalil Farooq, who was injured last week, Troy Everett, and Isaiah Autry-Dent.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

More:Why is OU football wearing alternate uniforms in Week 2 game vs Houston?

Oklahoma vs Houston time today

Date: Saturday, Sept. 7
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Location: Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

What channel is the Oklahoma vs Houston game on today?

TV channel: SEC Network
Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
Radio: KRXO-FM 107.7

Oklahoma vs Houston will broadcast on ESPN’s SEC Network in Week 2 of the 2024 college football season. Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Jordan Rodgers (analyst) will call the game from the booth at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, with Cole Cubelic reporting from the sidelines. Disney’s content, which includes ESPN, has been pulled from DirecTV amid a contract dispute. But streaming options for the game include ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

More:Why Brent Venables’ consistency, intense preparation will help lead OU football in SEC

Oklahoma vs Houston history

Series record: Oklahoma leads, 3-1
Oklahoma’s last win: Sept. 1, 2019 (49-31)
Houston’s last win: Sept. 3, 2016 (33-23)

More:Hudl highlights landed Tyler Keltner at ETSU. Here’s how he won OU football kicking job.

Oklahoma vs Houston predictions

Ryan Aber, OU beat writer: OU 41, Houston 6

SECRET OF SIX-CESS

The Sooners’ defensive front once again swarms an opponent as OU finishes with six turnovers and six sacks in back-to-back games as Sooners cruise to yet another blowout victory.

Justin Martinez, trending reporter: OU 42, Houston 7

HOUSTON, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM

Houston is unable to generate much offense against Oklahoma’s defense, which gets three takeaways. Meanwhile, Jackson Arnold and Deion Burks connect for two touchdowns in the Week 2 win.

Joe Mussatto, columnist: OU 49, Houston 17

‘CHUK ROAST

Gavin Sawchuk has a big day on the ground, easing some concerns about OU’s offensive line. OU cruises in this strange SEC/Big 12 battle.

Oklahoma vs Houston betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

Spread: Oklahoma by 27.5
Over/under: 49.5
Moneyline: Houston (+1800), Oklahoma (-10000)

More:Who has edge in OU football vs Houston game? Breaking down key matchups in Sooners-Cougars

Oklahoma vs Houston injury updates

Oklahoma wide receiver Nic Anderson is expected to miss the game, as will receiver Jalil Farooq.

Oklahoma vs Houston weather update

Temperate us expected to be around 77 at kickoff, with a 9 mph northeast wind. There is no chance of precipitation in the forecast.

More:OU football vs Houston: Score prediction for Sooners-Cougars in Week 2

Oklahoma football 2024 schedule

Friday, August 30: Oklahoma 51, Temple 3
Saturday, Sept. 7: Oklahoma vs. Houston | 6:45 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Saturday, Sept. 14: Oklahoma vs. Tulane | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN or ESPN2 (Fubo)
Saturday, Sept. 21: Oklahoma vs. Tennessee* | 2:30-3:30 p.m. or 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 28: Oklahoma at Auburn* | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct 5: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 12: Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas)* | 2:30 p.m. | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)
Saturday, Oct. 19: Oklahoma vs. South Carolina* | 11 a.m.- noon
Saturday, Oct. 26: Oklahoma at Ole Miss* | 11 a.m.- noon
Saturday, Nov. 2: Oklahoma vs. Maine | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN+/SEC Network+
Saturday, Nov. 9: Oklahoma at Missouri* | 2:30-3:30 p.m. or 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23: Oklahoma vs. Alabama* | 2:30-3:30 p.m. or 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30: Oklahoma at LSU* | 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m.

Houston football 2024 schedule

Aug. 31: UNLV 27, Houston 7
Sept. 7: at Oklahoma, 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 14: vs. Rice, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21: at Cincinnati
Sept. 28: vs. Iowa State
Oct. 4: at TCU, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 19: at Kansas
Oct. 26: vs. Utah
Nov. 2: vs. Kansas State
Nov. 15: at Arizona, 9:15 p.m.
Nov. 23: vs. Baylor
Nov. 30: at BYU

More:How has Trace Ford adjusted in Year 2 with OU football, ‘very complicated’ defense?

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