Arizona football vs. Oklahoma: Arizona wins the Alamo Bowl 38–24.
In the 2023 Alamo Bowl, Arizona faced the Oklahoma Sooners. This is a drive-by-drive summary of what happened on Thursday.
The No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2, 7-2) will play their final game of the season on Thursday night in San Antonio, Texas at the Valero Alamo Bowl against the No. 14 Arizona Wildcats (9-3, 7-2). This will be the Sooners’ first game back on the field after a month off.
The Sooners have a chance to win their 11th game of the season and win a bowl game championship after improving more in the second year under Brent Venables than in the first.
This is a drive-by-drive summary of the events.
Once again, the Sooners prevailed in the opening coin toss, their 11th consecutive victory.
On the game’s second play, Noah Fifita connected with Tetairoa McMillian over the middle for a forty-yard touchdown. Arizona now has the ball on OU’s end of the field as a result. Nonetheless, Arizona was limited to a field goal by the Sooners. Tyler Loop hit a field goal from 29 yards out. It put Arizona ahead 3-0 with 10:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Genesis Smith picked off Jackson Arnold on his third pass. The following play, Jacob Cowing was the recipient of a 35-yard touchdown pass from Noah fifita. It put Ariz
OU was forced to punt during the drive after Arnold found Luke Elzinga with his first completion of the game. Luke Elzinga punted 58 yards to stop Arizona at the 11-yard line.
Arizona found its way back into OU territory. However, they had to punt after a holding call and a Sooners defensive stop.
ona ahead 10-0 with 10:33 remaining in the first quarter.
However, Arnold threw his second interception, to Gunner Maldonado this time. Arizona then had the ball on its own 34.
The Sooners managed to compel one more halt. However, Ariona’s Loop made his second field goal of the game, this one coming from 38 yards out.
When they started their first drive of the second quarter, the Sooners had just 36 yards in total. Jackson Arnold led the Sooners down the field after he eventually found his rhythm. Gavin Sawchuck ran an 18-yard touchdown run to seal the victory. A 75-yard drive in 10 plays.
On Arizona’s second play of the drive, Kani Walker picked up an interception, which marked a formal change in momentum. The Sooners now had the ball in Arizona territory as a result.
But, OU immediately regained possession when Jalil Farooq fumbled a crucial pass play.
Arizona made another huge play from McMillan to move the ball down the field. However, they were held in check by the Sooners. Marcus Stripling’s big sack moved Arizona out of field goal range. The QB was also under pressure from Isaiah Coe during the play. Gavin Freeman fielded the punt from Arizona at the 8-yard line.
However, Gavin Sawchuk’s 62-yard gain on the drive gave OU a strong start. And then things got even better when OU took the lead thanks to a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Arnold to Nic Anderson in the endzone’s corner. Anderson had a toe-tapping catch.
With a sack by R Mason Thomas on second down, the Sooners’ significant momentum shift continued. OU requested a break. After that, OU made Arizona punt. It was returned to the 28-yard line by Freeman.
On the drive’s second play, Jackson Arnold found Brenen Thompson for a 63-yard touchdown pass. As a result, OU led 21–13 in the third quarter.
