In a hard-fought battle, No. 14 Oklahoma emerged victorious against BYU with a 31-24 score on Saturday. The Sooners showcased their dominance by forcing three turnovers and capitalizing on those takeaways, scoring 21 points off them. Despite facing adversity in the second half without quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma managed to secure the win.

During the first half, Gabriel demonstrated exceptional accuracy, throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns. However, just before halftime, he suffered a head injury, which sidelined him for the rest of the game. Gavin Sawchuk stepped up for the Sooners on the ground, rushing for an impressive 107 yards, including a crucial 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

With this victory, Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2 Big 12, No. 14 in CFP) keeps its hopes alive for reaching the Big 12 Championship Game, proving their determination and resilience throughout the match.

BYU, though falling short, put up a strong fight. Aidan Robbins led the team's rushing efforts with a season-high 182 yards, displaying his exceptional skills on the field. Jake Retzlaff, despite throwing for 173 yards and two touchdowns, also experienced a couple of fumbles and an interception that contributed to BYU's defeat. The Cougars' record now stands at 5-6, with a 2-6 record in the Big 12.

Both Gabriel and Retzlaff had notable moments before the halftime whistle. Gabriel's touchdown passes to Nic Anderson and Jayden Gibson gave Oklahoma a 14-7 lead. Retzlaff, on the other hand, made impressive plays, including a crucial 4th-and-1 completion to Chase Roberts for a touchdown and a 29-yard pass to Kody Epps, setting up a 1-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Rex, making it 14-14.

In the third quarter, BYU had an opportunity to take the lead as they reached the Oklahoma 2-yard line. However, Billy Bowman of Oklahoma intercepted a short pass from Retzlaff at the goal line, returning it 100 yards for a touchdown, swinging the momentum in favor of the Sooners. Retzlaff retaliated by converting another 4th down with a 26-yard pass to Epps, and then scoring a 10-yard touchdown to tie the game at 24-24 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Cougars' hopes of taking the lead were dashed when Retzlaff fumbled at the BYU 25-yard line following a third-down sack. Oklahoma's Jacob Lacey recovered the fumble, leading to Sawchuk's decisive touchdown just three plays later.

Oklahoma's defense played a significant role in securing the victory as they forced three turnovers, which resulted in 14 crucial points for the Sooners. Although Gabriel's absence in the second half posed a challenge for the team, they rallied together and overcame the odds.

On the other side, BYU's offense displayed improvement, racking up a season-high 390 total yards, with 217 of those coming from their robust rushing game.

Despite the tough contest, Oklahoma's performance may not significantly impact their ranking. The Sooners are set to face TCU on Friday, while BYU is scheduled to visit Oklahoma State on Saturday.

In a well-fought game, No. 14 Oklahoma emerged victorious against BYU, proving their resilience and ability to capitalize on turnovers.