Telling the story: Top 10 OU plays from 2023 season

Every play mattered in an OU football game but some did a better job of explaining the outcomes than others. Here are the top 10 plays of Oklahoma’s 2023 season, a bounce back year for head coach Brent Venables.

No. 12 OU (10-2 overall, 7-2 Big 12)

Play No. 10: Jackson Arnold to Nic Anderson (Tulsa)

What we said then?

If you wanted one play to tell you what happened in this one, it’s the 50-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Arnold to Nic Anderson to make it OU 59-17.

This was a beauty.

“All my teammates, all my coaches, they all did it for me,” Anderson said. “They put their trust in me and they kept me in the loop when I was down. So I dedicate this to them.”

Arnold put it absolutely on the money. Catching Anderson in stride and letting him do the rest to cap off his three-touchdown performance.

What we’re saying now?

Eh, nothing new. Just a pretty, pretty play that gives you an idea of what Arnold can do and will do for OU going forward.

Play No. 9: Danny Stutsman forces the fumble (BYU)

What we said then?

It still wasn’t enough. BYU drove right back down the field and scored to make it 24-24. We’re now nearly midway through the fourth quarter when linebacker Danny Stutsman is about to have that moment again.

Fighting through food poisoning, Stutsman had just enough left in the tank to be able to come off the edge and earn a strip-sack fumble. Defensive tackle Jacob Lacey was there for the recovery, and OU was in business.

“Everything that Danny’s been through — food poising last night — his toughness both mentally and physically and his commitment to the team,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. “That’s what you saw. You saw some belief and some resiliency and some competitive toughness.”

What we’re saying now?

Stutsman had to make this list somehow. So many great plays during the season, but this one is selected because it showed again his value. OU needed Stutsman in Lawrence and Stillwater and didn’t have him. But the Sooners had him in Provo to make this game-changing play.

Play No. 8: Jayden Gibson’s ‘dragging’ TD (TCU)

What we said then?

We’ve had a few of these here lately where not only has it been big, but it’s been pretty. This was pretty, pretty good.

OU was up 7-6 midway through the first quarter when Gabriel aired it out to Jayden Gibson for a 59-yard touchdown. All the talk of Gabriel’s throws being underthrown went out the window here. This was picture perfect placement.

“It’s just a football play. My team needed me,” Gibson said. “Put the spark in the team, to spark us off and get the momentum going. I feel like that was really big, a really cool moment.”

A really cool moment that Gibson made borderline legendary by dragging the defender into the end zone. And celebrating and pointing to the OU crowd before he even reached the end zone. The confidence, ha.

“Oh no, that was on purpose,” Gibson said. “I ain’t gonna lie. Just being real. That was on purpose. I knew I wasn’t in the end zone yet, but I knew he wasn’t gonna tackle me.”

What we’re saying now?

Just fun. Senior day was a fun, fun day to say goodbye to so many and say hello to guys who are the future. Gibson is in that latter category.

Play No. 7: Peyton Bowen blocks another punt (Iowa State)

What we said then?

We’re midway through the second quarter, and it’s now OU 28-20. It feels like we’re going to be going back and forth all evening.

Except we don’t. And ISU is forced to punt, but Peyton Bowen is ready to make his name known once again in special teams.

Bowen dang near just tackles the punter. He didn’t have time to really block it because he was right in his face.

“What I love about Peyton is he comes in every day,” Venables said. “He’s hungry, willing to do whatever. He wants to help in any way. He’s really a selfless guy and an instinctual guy. Good football players just make plays. But scheme-wise and stuff, he understands the details and the precision that’s required. And then he’s skilled on top of that.”

Trace Ford attempts the scoop-and-score but can’t corral it. Instead, it’s a safety to give the Sooners a 30-20 lead and the ball back.

What we’re saying now?

Man, if only Bowen could have been healthy the second half of the season. Just a dynamic player and a highlight waiting to happen. Think of how many games he came up huge and realize he wasn’t even close to 100 percent for the final six games.

Play No. 6: Gentry Williams INT (Texas)

What we said then?

Let’s get weird. You knew this was going to be a fun one right from the initial drive of the game. On just the second play of the game, Gentry Williams picked off Quinn Ewers. Game on in Dallas.

“Nah. I’d say that first interception. It felt great just to set the tone like that,” safety Peyton Bowen said. “Second play of the game, we get a pick, go down there and score like, tone set! That was probably the best one.”

After 49-0 the previous year, coming out with a takeaway on the first drive of the game sent the message that this Oklahoma team is so, so different compared to 2022. Buckle up, time to have some fun.

What we’re saying now?

Copy/paste Bowen for Williams in terms of being healthy. Still, this play let us know that this edition of the Red River Rivalry was going to be a great one. No blowouts, no embarrassment. Let’s see who can bring it the most.

Play No. 5: Dillon Gabriel to ‘best friend’ Drake Stoops (WVU)

What we said then?

Right out of the halftime gate, here comes the OU offense. This would be the first of three second-half touchdown connections between Gabriel and wide receiver Drake Stoops.

This was just a thing of beauty. First-and-10 at the OU 40 yard line, Gabriel stood firm in the pocket. Waited for the pressure and delivered a strike to Stoops.

Then Stoops, somehow, tiptoed the sideline to stay inbounds. Turned upfield and took off. Gets to the goalline, and here’s Jalil Farooq to help Stoops power his way into the end zone. Well done by all.

“I think it’s a mixture,” Gabriel said. “I think he’s really good at getting open, so naturally you get to him in your progressions or how we play things out. But you watch the tape and you can go on every single play and he’s open somehow. Our connection started there. Some things that are off script, I think it’s truly just chemistry and us growing at our passer-to-receiver relationship. But also trust, that’s huge.”

What we’re saying now?

Who knew Stoops would leave such a mark? He was one of the best players in the conference in the final month of the season. This play epitomizes a lot about who Stoops is. One of his three touchdowns that night.

Play No. 4: Kendel Dolby & the two-point stuff (UCF)

What we said then?

But an eight-point advantage in this one wasn’t good enough. UCF is tough as nails, converting for a touchdown on fourth down with 1:16 left.

All that’s left is the two-point conversion. We know how that worked out, with Kendel Dolby getting to play hero.

“You just can’t be scared of the moment,” Bowen said. “Like some people might be like, ‘All right, I’m going to stay back, like I don’t want to go get that, even though it’s a play right in front of you.’ That can get you hurt sometimes. Sometimes you’ve got to take those leaps of faith, those chances, and that’s when they pay off big.”

Dolby did, and he snuffed out the trickeration from the Knights. And OU remains undefeated. 

What we are saying now?

Well, it didn’t lead to an OU playoff berth. But it was still one heck of an individual effort to keep OU unblemished at the time. Dolby ended up having a pretty big impact on the season.

Play No. 3: Billy Bowman caps THE goalline stand (Texas)

What we said then?

OK, we’re going to keep this one a little brief. SoonerScoop is going to dig more into the goal line stand for the ages later.

But you cannot talk about this game without what Billy Bowman did on fourth down.

The Sooners are up 27-20 in the early minutes of the fourth quarter. It was first-and-goal at the 1 yard line. Four cracks at it, and no cigar for Texas.

Three runs? Nothing. Ewers finds Xavier Worthy for a quick reception, and Bowman stops him inside the 1 yard line. That. Close.

“I knew he was short,” Bowman said.

What we’re saying now?

It’ll live forever. The four-play goalline stand vs. Texas will be talked about by OU fans for years and years to come. Kip Lewis, Dasan McCullough, Danny Stutsman and Bowman will always get their mentions for what they did here.

Play No. 2: Billy Bowman goes goalline to goalline (BYU)

What we said then?

The defense was gashed in the run game time and time again. But if OU was going to win this game, the defense was going to need to make some plays.

Enter Billy Bowman to save the day, initially. BYU was knocking on the doorstep to take a 24-17 lead in the third quarter. Bowman flipped the script.

From one goalline to the other. Bowman went 100 yards on the pick-six interception return to give OU the 24-17 lead and help freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold breathe a bit.

Add it to Bowman’s ever-growing resume this season.

“I’ve been playing this game for a long time and I’ve had a few like that,” Bowman said. “But this was probably one of my most favorites and definitely a memory, for sure. It was great.”

What we are saying now?

Giving Bowman his flowers. Six interceptions, three of them returned for touchdowns. The rare 100-yard pick-six here. He was the definition of a playmaker. OU, obviously, doesn’t win this game without this play.

Play No. 1: Welcome to your Red River Rivalry moment: Gabriel, Anderson, Rouse (Texas)

What we said then?

Wonder what play this will be? Hmm.

Texas is up 30-27 in the final minute. It’s time for quarterback Dillon Gabriel to have his legacy made in the Red River Rivalry. And get a little assist from wide receiver Nic Anderson.

With the clock running, Gabriel kept his poise to snap the ball and wait for Anderson to come free. Corner of the end zone, three yards, history made. Fifteen seconds left on the clock.

“Me and Stog (Austin Stogner) actually ran into each other, and I was the one that came open,” Anderson said. “I saw the ball. That’s the last thing I remember. And then just seeing the fans and looking into their eyes, it was a crazy, electric moment. I’m glad they were pointing to me.”

Any words to describe that moment?

“I remember it slowed down a lot,” Anderson said. “After that, it was just blank. I don’t even know.”

From losing 49-0 in this battle a year before to earning one of the wildest and fun installments in the history of the Red River Rivalry. No OU fan will forget this one and what it means to head coach Brent Venables.

#OU OT Walter Rouse describing blocking two Texas players on the final TD as only Rouse can.

Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/6slyF8zTq1

— Bob Przybylo (@BPrzybylo) October 10, 2023

What we are saying now?

The best moment. Walter Rouse blocking two guys. Dillon Gabriel standing in there and waiting for the right moment. Nic Anderson getting open and letting out a primal scream after catching it.

No play will be shown more for years to come when talking the 2023 season and Team 129.