Oklahoma Wins Wild One

The first game between Oklahoma and Alabama since 1970 proved to be worth the wait.

Capping a wild second half when Alabama rally from a three-touchdown deficit, second-ranked Oklahoma scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes to win, 37-27, Saturday at Norman, Okla.

Kejuan Jones’ eight-yard run with 2:11 remaining capped an 80-yard drive that gave the Sooners a 30-27 lead. With 24 seconds left, safety Eric Bassey picked up a fumble and returned it 45 yards for the clinching score.

It was only the third meeting between schools that have combined for 13 national titles--Oklahoma has seven, Alabama six--and the first in the regular season. They had previously played in the 1963 Orange Bowl and the 1970 Astro Bluebonnet Bowl.

Oklahoma (2-0) seemed to have control after taking a 23-3 halftime lead, but Alabama (1-1) stormed back in the second half. The Crimson Tide tied it with 10:16 left on a fake field goal at the 3-yard line, with holder Lane Bearden running for the touchdown. Michael Ziife’s extra point made it 24-23.

Oklahoma lost quarterback Jason White late in the first quarter when he tore a ligament in his right knee.

White was replaced by Nate Hybl, who started 11 games last season. Hybl threw for 162 yards and a touchdown in the first half, and also scored from on a one-yard run. But he was sacked six times in the second half.

Oklahoma tailback Quentin Griffin, who had 237 yards rushing last week, was held to nine yards in nine carries.

No. 9 Nebraska 44, Utah State 13--Quarterback Jammal Lord threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores for the Cornhuskers (3-0) at Lincoln, Neb. Utah State is 0-2.

No. 20 Texas A&M; 14, Pittsburgh 12--At Pittsburgh, the Aggies (2-0) needed two long completions to Terrence Murphy to set up short touchdown runs by Derek Farmer. Pittsburgh is 1-1.

Texas Tech 24, Southern Methodist 14--Quarterback Kliff Kingsbury bounced back from a brief first-half benching to lead two long fourth-quarter touchdown drives for the Red Raiders at Dallas. Kingsbury was 32 for 49 for 369 yards and three touchdowns. SMU is 0-2.

Missouri 41, Ball State 6--Quarterback Brad Smith ran for 105 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown scramble, and threw for another score for the Tigers (2-0) at Columbia, Mo. Ball State is 0-1.

Iowa State 58, Tennessee Tech 6--Seneca Wallace threw three touchdown passes and Hiawatha Rutland ran for 138 yards for the Cyclones (2-1) at Ames, Iowa. It was the most points for Iowa State since a 64-9 victory over Indiana State in 1986. Division I-AA Tennessee Tech is 0-2.

Kansas State 68, Louisiana Monroe 0--Marc Dunn threw three touchdown passes and Terence Newman scored on offense and special teams for the Wildcats (2-0) at Manhattan, Kan. Louisiana Monroe (0-2) lost 62-7 at Kansas State in 1998.

Baylor 50, Samford 12--Sophomore Jonathan Golden scored a school-record six touchdowns at Waco, Texas as the Bears (1-1) bounced back from a 48-point loss to California. Division I-AA Samford is 1-1.

Nevada Las Vegas 31, Kansas 20--Quarterback Jason Thomas ran for two touchdowns for the Rebels (1-1) at Las Vegas. Kansas is 0-2.