College football fans would be hard pressed to find a better showing of defensive fortitude than the jaw-dropping effort No. 12 Oklahoma displayed against No. 3 Texas on Saturday.
With the Sooners up 27–20 early in the fourth quarter, Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks attempted to power in a 1-yard touchdown to even the score. After getting stuffed for no gain on his first two attempts, Brooks, with fourth down looming, geared up for another plunge.
However, Brooks’s third attempt would instead go for a loss of a yard, amazingly setting up a incomplete pass from quarterback Quinn Ewers that resulted in a turnover on downs.
OKLAHOMA STOPS TEXAS FOUR TIMES ON THE GOAL LINE 😱 pic.twitter.com/pxp5udUPyw
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 7, 2023
Following the phenomenal surge led by its defensive line, Oklahoma sent observers across social media into a frenzy, with many, including the likes of Michael Irvin and Skip Bayless, incredulous over the tenacious goal-line stand.
Although Brooks would later score to tie the game, his failed TD run on Texas’s previous drive still garnered plenty of attention as the game came down to the wire:
Can you win a National Championship if you get four plays from the one yard line…and you get …NO NOTHING!!!!!!
— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) October 7, 2023
WHAT AN ALL-TIME GOAL-LINE STAND BY THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS VS THE VAUNTED TEXAS LONGHORNS OFFENSE. HOOK 'EM!
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 7, 2023
If Oklahoma goes on to win this game, both Sooners and Longhorns fans are going to be talking about that goal line stand for quite some time. Absolutely need to get in the end zone there if you're Texas. #RedRiverRivalry
— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) October 7, 2023
What a goal line stand by Oklahoma. Epic epic epic. First and goal at the 1 and Texas gets nada.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) October 7, 2023
The story of the game.
— Jett Beachum (@JetthroTV) October 7, 2023
Texas got straight up bullied. https://t.co/thz8fvKqFs
This is in @CoachVenables bag! What a job he is doin this year. #BoomerSooner https://t.co/uKiZeuygvK
— Michael S. Foster (@Foster_Football) October 7, 2023
Oklahoma really imposing their will on the goal line here…
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) October 7, 2023
Couldn’t have been 3 more vanilla calls for Texas right there. Hate that.
Oklahoma would score the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Dillon Gabriel to Nic Anderson in the final minute and held on to beat the Longhorns, 34-30.