FORT WORTH, Texas — — TCU quarterback Max Duggan outran the Oklahoma protection for an extended landing and lofted passes to wide-open receivers for different prolonged scores.
Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel by no means received a lot of an opportunity to match him.
Duggan went 67 yards for one in all his two speeding TDs and threw for 3 scores, main the Horned Frogs to a 55-24 rout of the 18th-ranked Sooners on Saturday in a second consecutive loss for first-year coach Brent Venables.
“We’re not excellent clearly proper now,” Venables mentioned. “We’ve received lots to get higher at. We’ve received to present them solutions and we’ve received to assist get them higher rapidly.”
Gabriel was knocked out of the sport within the second quarter when he was hit within the head whereas sliding by TCU linebacker Jamoi Hodge, who was ejected for concentrating on.
Gamers needed to be separated after Hodge’s hit whereas Gabriel stayed down for a number of minutes, surrounded by the medical workers, earlier than the Central Florida switch walked off the sphere on his personal.
Gabriel remained on the sideline with out his helmet, and Venables mentioned after the sport his quarterback was being evaluated for a concussion. Pittsburgh switch Davis Beville changed Gabriel and struggled.
There was a fair longer delay within the fourth quarter when Oklahoma defensive again Damond Harmon was carted off after being immobilized on a stretcher. Harmon flashed a thumbs-up as he was placed on the cart in an emotional scene that included Oklahoma linebacker Kelvin Gilliam, a childhood buddy and highschool teammate, showing to battle again tears.
Venables mentioned a surgeon on web site believed Harmon’s neck was steady, and a precautionary MRI was deliberate. The coach mentioned Harmon had a historical past of again points.
When Lincoln Riley shocked the Sooners by leaving for Southern California, they employed their former defensive coordinator after Venables gained two nationwide titles in that position at Clemson.
His protection was no match for Duggan and firm as Oklahoma misplaced consecutive regular-season video games for simply the second time since 1999. The Sooners (3-2, 0-2 Massive 12) opened convention with a house loss to Kansas State.
“We’re simply not taking part in with nice cohesion proper now,” Venables mentioned. “Giving up huge performs on protection and turning the ball over, or simply not being environment friendly on offense, are recipes for catastrophe.”
It’s essentially the most factors Oklahoma has allowed since a 63-28 loss to LSU within the 2019 nationwide semifinals. The Horned Frogs (4-0, 1-0) had 4 touchdowns of at the very least 62 yards, topped by Taye Barber’s 73-yard catch throughout a 27-point first quarter.
TCU led 41-17 at halftime with 479 yards whereas ending with 668 yards in coach Sonny Dykes’ Massive 12 debut after 4 seasons at crosstown rival SMU.
Kendre Miller ran 69 yards for a landing to place TCU up 48-17 early within the second half and completed with 136 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. The energetic FBS profession chief in yards per carry elevated his mark by averaging 10.5 yards.
“Had a bunch of massive performs on offense,” Dykes mentioned. “That is the system for us proper now could be if we will make huge performs and handle the ball, then good issues are going to occur for us.”
Duggan took off to the right and beat everyone to the sideline on the lengthy rating, then added a 35-yard run earlier than capping the ultimate TD drive with a 2-yard run, ending his day within the third quarter.
“I don’t suppose actually (it is about) the best way we gained, it’s simply that we gained,” mentioned Duggan, who had 302 yards passing and 116 speeding mentioned. “It doesn’t matter how a lot you win by, the way it seems to be. You get the win, that’s a giant deal, particularly on this league.”
Each groups had dedicated only one turnover apiece coming in, however Oklahoma opened with a mistake that might be an indication of issues to come back. The Sooners gained the toss and determined to take the ball as a substitute of deferring, however receiver Marvin Mims fumbled on the third play of the sport. TCU took benefit and opened the scoring when Duggan’s 19-yard scoring cross to Savion Williams completed a 46-yard drive.
When the Sooners weren’t being penalized for defensive cross interference (thrice within the first quarter), they have been leaving receivers extensive open within the secondary. Taye was alone on his lengthy TD, as was Gunnar Henderson on a 62-yard rating.
Jovantae Barnes had 100 yards speeding and two touchdowns for the Sooners.
THE TAKEAWAY
Oklahoma: That is the second time in three seasons the Sooners have began 0-2 within the Massive 12. They rallied to win the league within the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, however have been by no means manhandled like this.
TCU: The Horned Frogs averaged 10.2 yards per play whereas constructing their huge halftime lead and completed at 8.9 after coming in second nationally at 8.1 yards per play.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Oklahoma’s 31-week streak of being within the High 25 is in jeopardy, whereas TCU has a very good probability to get in for the primary time since a one-week displaying at twenty fifth early within the 2019 season.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma: The Sooners come again to the Dallas-Fort Value space for the Pink River rivalry in opposition to Texas on the Cotton Bowl subsequent Saturday.
TCU: The Horned Frogs will go for his or her first 2-0 begin within the Massive 12 since 2017 with a go to to resurgent Kansas subsequent Saturday.
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