With nine minutes left in the game, Oklahoma found itself with a blown double-digit lead and an offense struggling to move the ball.
Florida State found itself with all the momentum and a backup quarterback about to engineer the upset.
But junior quarterback Landry Jones found something different.
Florida State had just scored a 56-yard touchdown to tie the game. The Seminoles smelled blood, and Doak Campbell Stadium was rocking.
With the Sooners standing 83 yards from the end zone, Jones walked over to his teammates and delivered a simple message.
“Big players make big plays in big games,” he said.
And nobody took those words to heart more than the messenger. In the subsequent drive, Jones completed five of six passes for 73 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown throw to sophomore receiver Kenny Stills that put OU on top for good.
After stumbling in similar situations a year ago, Oklahoma validated the national-title talk behind a championship-caliber performance on the road.
It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but when it mattered most, the Sooners made the plays they needed to win.
“We won ugly, but that’s OK,” Jones said. “That’s what No. 1 teams do.”
On a night when the offense wasn’t clicking, OU showed enough resolve to grind out a tough victory in a hostile environment — that’s what No. 1 teams do.
After the Seminoles punched the Sooners in the mouth late in the game, Oklahoma bounced back with a knockout blow — that’s what No. 1 teams do.
That’s what the Sooners have lacked in recent years. That’s what plagued Jones’ otherwise standout career. (For goodness sake, the guy passed Sam Bradford on Saturday night to become OU’s career passing leader.)
Last year, when things got tough against Missouri, Jones failed to complete a pass in the fourth quarter. Last year, when Texas A&M bullied OU, Jones was unable to direct a scoring drive in the fourth quarter.
But that was last year. This year, Jones saved his best stuff for the fourth quarter.
OU coach Bob Stoops said Saturday was the Sooners’ best display of fourth-quarter character since 2000, the last year Oklahoma won the national title.
“I’m really proud of them,” Stoops said. “Our kids really answered the bell when they had to.”
It was a team win, no doubt, but it was Jones who led the charge — as any leader should.
With nine minutes left in a big game, Jones found himself with the opportunity to prove his toughness in the fourth quarter.
After converting a crucial first down, Jones then found Stills streaking down the sideline and made a big play.
When it mattered most, Jones remained calm, poised and productive.
Big player? You betcha.
Chris Lusk is a journalism senior and the editor in chief of The Daily. You can follow him on Twitter at @ChrisLusk.
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macwin 8 months, 1 week ago
With all the comments on the game and how Oklahoma performed in the final quarter of the game, nobody mentioned, with more than a minute to play they were on about the 10 yard line and could at that stage of the game, scored another touchdown to make the score 30-13.....and even more impressive victory. But, instead they chose a a degree of respectful humility for their opponent!