Dede Westbrook had three touchdown catches longer than 40 yards while setting an Oklahoma single-game record with 232 yards receiving, and the No. 20 Sooners held on for a 45-40 victory over Texas in the Red River rivalry on Saturday.
Samaje Perine added 214 yards and two touchdowns rushing on 35 carries for the Sooners (3-2, 2-0 Big 12), who rolled up 672 total yards against Longhorn coach Charlie Strong's beleaguered defense.
Texas (2-3, 0-2) led after two long TD passes by freshman quarterback Shane Buechele in the first 4 1/2 minutes after halftime. But Oklahoma went ahead for good when Baker Mayfield's 4-yard TD run, right after his 51-yard completion to Dahu Green, made it 28-27.
Mayfield was 22-of-31 passing for 390 yards and easily made up for two early interceptions with the three TDs to Westbrook .
D'onta Foreman ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns for Texas.
TAKEAWAYS
Oklahoma: While far from perfect (four turnovers that Texas turned into only 3 points), the Sooners are off to a good start in their pursuit of a 10th Big 12 title. The Sooners are also on the way to overcoming the disappointment of those two early non-conference losses that quickly eliminated any realistic chance of returning to the College Football Playoff for the second year in a row. Mayfield and Westbrook have developed quite a connection (five touchdowns, all of at least 40 yards, in two Big 12 games).
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Texas: A loss increases the heat on Strong, who is now calling the defensive plays. The Longhorns have given up more than 40 points in four games this season, and now have allowed more than 500 yards in three consecutive games. But the Longhorns need to keep taking shots down the field with Buechele, who had TD passes of 63 yards (to Devin Duvernay) and 45 yards (to Dorian Leonard) in the second half.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma: The Sooners are home next Saturday for another 11 a.m. kickoff, against Kansas State.
Texas: The Longhorns are home for the first time since Sept. 10 when they host Iowa State next Saturday.
