One play into their second drive on Saturday, it looked like Oklahoma was going to roll Houston. The Sooners scored on their opening possession and seemed prime for another touchdown after Baker Mayfield found Joe Mixon for a 60-yard completion.
But that promising drive stalled -- Mayfield attempted to save the drive with one of his patented scrambles, only to be planted by a Cougars linebacker -- and Oklahoma settled for a 10-3 lead. Their next touchdown was a gift, a 64-yard catch-and-run to a wiiiiiiiide open tight end Mark Andrews.
Oklahoma did not score again until the game was out of reach. And even that drive was a gift from Houston quarterback Greg Ward, Jr., who fumbled going into the end zone as the Cougars strived for a 40-17 lead.
Three days after the Sooners’ 33-23 loss, Mayfield raised his proverbial hand in the air and took the blame for the loss.
“That’s all on me,” Mayfield told ESPN. "[The receivers] got open. That’s all on me as the leader of the team and the captain. It’s my job to deliver the ball. They got open for me. They did their part.
“Now, it’s my responsibility to just deliver it to them.”
OU head coach Bob Stoops tried to not blame Mayfield, but blamed Mayfield anyway.
“I only have one quarterback. I don’t like to throw players [under the bus] or name names, but at times, Baker held on [to the ball] and instead of taking what was open and what was there in his first read, was waiting for something different,” Stoops said. “Something that takes a little longer to progress, and that’s not how the offense operates. We had guys in certain spot that would have been easier throws and would’ve helped us.”
For the record, Mayfield went into halftime with a perfect passing ledger and finished the day by connecting on 24-of-33 throws for 323 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Imagine how good his numbers will look when Mayfield actually plays well. Chances are, Louisiana-Monroe will find out Saturday.
