Clemson Rolls Past Oklahoma 37-17 To End The Sooners Season

If I had told you at the beginning of the season that Oklahoma would finish 11-2 with a College Football Playoff appearance and a Big 12 Championship, most fans would be happy with it. But now that it's all over with, it seems like the Sooners were destined for more. It was a magical season, from the Tennessee win to the Bedlam blowout, but this team couldn't hold it together for four quarters against the now 14-0 Clemson Tigers. The Sooners shouldn't feel too bad about their season despite the sour ending. An 11 win season after starting out as #19 in the country is nothing to scoff at or be ashamed of. But the Sooners sour ending to a good season shouldn't take away from the great season that Oklahoma had.

Baker Mayfield and the Sooners drove down the field and scored the first touchdown, but Clemson outscored them 37-10 after that. That 37-10 run included a 21-0 run in the second half after the Sooners were winning by a point at the half.

Many thought Deshaun Watson's arm would be the reason why Clemson would win this football game, but he was just 16/31 with 187 yards. His legs however, rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown. The Sooners knew the quarterback could run, but Watson still found holes in the defense. Clemson's running back Wayne Gallman had 150 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

The game felt very much like the 2012 Cotton Bowl. Where Oklahoma had a one point advantage at halftime but the Texas A&M Aggies ran away with it in the second half behind a scrambling quarterback. This Oklahoma team showed fight unlike that Cotton Bowl game, but Clemson dominated the entire second half. It was capitalized by a fourth quarter interception in the red zone, the first kind of momentum Oklahoma had in the second half. That interception sealed the deal, and Clemson held on to win the game 37-17.

The Sooners finished the year 11-2 and return many key players from this year's team. Oklahoma should be a preseason top 5 team next season and the Big 12 favorites.