NORMAN, Okla. — By the time he’s done, Sam Bradford may erase Josh Heupel’s name from the Oklahoma record books entirely.
Bradford passed for an Oklahoma-record 468 yards and had three touchdowns passes to help the No. 4 Sooners bounce back from their first loss by beating No. 16 Kansas 45-31 on Saturday.
Bradford cleared the Oklahoma record of 429 yards set by Heupel in 1999 against Louisville. Bradford has already matched a record held by Heupel and Jason White with five touchdowns in a game, and he passed Heupel’s career touchdown total earlier this season.
“I’m really impressed with Sam Bradford. He’s everything they said he would be and more,” Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. “Just pinpoint accuracy, good poise.”
Kansas’ Todd Reesing was able to keep the Jayhawks (5-2, 2-1 Big 12) in the game into the third quarter by dodging pressure but Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1 Big 12) sacked him on three of the next four drives in forcing four straight punts.
Jeremy Beal got the first hand on Reesing, knocking the ball free to force a long third down, and two of the next three drives ended after Gerald McCoy and Auston English sacked Reesing on third-down plays.
With the defense starting to click, Bradford and the offense were able to create some breathing room.
DeMarco Murray scored his second touchdown of the game on an 8-yard run in the third quarter, and Bradford found reserve tight end Kolby Smith for a 2-yard touchdown pass as Oklahoma stretched its lead to 45-24 with 12:02 to play.
The win was Oklahoma’s 21st straight at home, matching the second-longest streak in school history — a run that occurred during Barry Switzer’s back-to-back national championship seasons in 1974 and 1975. The only longer streak was a 25-game span that was part of Oklahoma’s NCAA-record 47-game win streak under Bud Wilkinson in the 1950s.
No. 7 Texas Tech 43,
Texas A&M 25
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Graham Harrell completed 44-of-56 passes for 450 yards as the Red Raiders (7-0, 3-0 Big 12), off to their best start in 32 years, beat A&M for the seventh time in eight meetings.
Jerrod Johnson completed 26-of-39 passes for 283 yards for the Aggies (2-5, 0-3), who led 23-20 at halftime. A&M gained outgained Texas Tech 274-254 in the first half, but mustered only 32 yards and five first downs in the second.
No. 8 Oklahoma State 34, Baylor 6
STILLWATER, Okla. — Playing their first game as a top 10 team since 1985, the Cowboys made quick work of the Bears, scoring on four straight first-half possessions.
Dez Bryant had a career-high 11 catches for 212 yards and two TDs and Keith Toston added two scoring runs for OSU (7-0, 3-0 Big 12).
OSU has won eight straight games since an eight-game streak spanning the 1986 and 1987 seasons.
