Oklahoma's Steven Parker deflected a pass on a two-point conversion try with less than a minute remaining to preserve a 30-29 win over TCU on Saturday. The victory keeps the Sooners within reach of the College Football Playoff.
Running back Samaje Perine led the OU offense with 188 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown, a performance made even more important by an injury to Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield. He did not play in the second half after taking a hard hit from TCU linebacker Ty Summers, who was ejected for targeting.
"We'll see. It was due to a blow to the head," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "(We) just didn't feel he was quite what he needed to be."
Mayfield threw two touchdown passes before leaving the game and giving way to backup Trevor Knight, the former Sugar Bowl MVP who lost the starting job to Mayfield.
Five NFL clubs were credentialed to scout the game. Among the top NFL draft prospects in the game was Oklahoma receiver Sterling Shepard, who caught eight passes for 111 yards and a score.
TCU played without its star offensive combination of quarterback Trevone Boykin and wide receiver Josh Doctson, but still managed to give itself a chance to tie the game with an extra point with 51 seconds remaining. However, instead of attempting an extra-point kick, the Horned Frogs attempted to go for the win in regulation, but backup quarterback Bram Kohlhausen's pass on the two-point try was batted down by Parker. TCU coach Gary Patterson said a short upcoming practice week for next week's Baylor game was one reason an overtime game with the Sooners would have been ill-advised.
With the win, Oklahoma remains in the hunt to win the Big 12 title and, perhaps, earn a CFP berth.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
