Mateer's final-drive heroics lift Oklahoma over No. 1 Texas 27-24 on last-play field goal

John Mateer had been thinking about this moment for exactly a year. With 19 seconds left, an interception in hand, and Oklahoma sitting at its own 39-yard line, he finally got his chance to erase it.

Mateer completed passes of 13 and 20 yards to Isaiah Sategna — on opposite sides of the field, both upheld on replay review — to set up Tate Sandell's 47-yard field goal on the game's final play. Oklahoma beat No. 1 Texas 27-24 on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, ending a rivalry that had gone badly wrong for the Sooners and their quarterback twelve months earlier.

I thought about this game for 365 days. I think that was the longest fourth quarter I've ever been a part of. It was awesome and I'll never forget it. But I knew 19 seconds left that this was the time.— John Mateer, Oklahoma quarterback

In the Red River Rivalry, Mateer had thrown three interceptions in a 23-6 loss — a performance made more painful by the fact that it came shortly after thumb surgery. On Saturday he was turnover-free, finishing 18-of-26 for 155 yards. The Sooners improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference.

The win was Oklahoma's first over a top-ranked Texas team; the Sooners had previously gone 0-4-1 against No. 1 Longhorns squads. It was also their first victory over any top-ranked opponent since a 38-17 win over Missouri in 2007, according to CBS Sports.

Oklahoma's path to 27 points owed almost nothing to its offense for most of the afternoon. The Sooners went three-and-out seven times and finished with only 238 total yards — well below their SEC-last average of 321 entering the game. Their touchdowns came from everywhere but the huddle: Danny Okoye blocked a punt at the start of the second quarter, and Dakoda Fields recovered the ball in the end zone for a score. Then, with 10:07 remaining and the game tied, safety Peyton Bowen returned an Arch Manning interception 42 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. Oklahoma's lone offensive score was a 2-yard Lloyd Avant run early in the fourth quarter.

Manning, who threw three touchdowns on 19-of-31 passing for 260 yards, answered Bowen's pick-six with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Bishop Jr. to tie the game at 24. Texas then had two chances to win it outright: Gianni Spetic missed a 53-yard field goal attempt wide right with 1:55 left, and after Oklahoma went three-and-out again, Manning's final pass was intercepted by Courtland Guillory with 19 seconds on the clock — handing Mateer the ball and the moment he had spent a year imagining.

It's obviously a level of disappointment, there's a level of anger and frustration because we know we have issues that need to be fixed and we're working on those issues and trying to get them fixed.— Steve Sarkisian, Texas head coach

For Texas, the loss ended a seven-game winning streak that included four wins over ranked opponents. The Longhorns had held the No. 1 ranking since their comeback win over then-No. 1 Ohio State on September 12; they will learn Sunday how far they fall. Their inconsistency — no first downs on their first four drives Saturday — had already raised questions about whether the ranking was deserved.

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables, whose program had lost 41-13 at No. 2 Georgia two weeks earlier and faced pointed public criticism, was direct about what the win meant inside the locker room.

People questioning the commitment and the coaches can't coach and the players stink, it comes with the arena. But at the same time, sometimes that fuels you.— Brent Venables, Oklahoma head coach

I want these guys to experience victory, certainly in this game, (it) was incredibly important.— Brent Venables, Oklahoma head coach

After the final gun, the Sooners celebrated with the Golden Hat trophy — the prize that travels with the Red River Rivalry winner. Oklahoma avoided a third consecutive loss in the series; the Sooners have not lost three straight to Texas since 1997-99.

Oklahoma hosts Kentucky next Saturday in its first SEC home game of the season. Texas returns home to face No. 16 Florida, which has lost two in a row.

Why it matters — Oklahoma's upset of the nation's top-ranked team — built on special-teams and defensive touchdowns, a turnover-free Mateer, and a 19-second final drive — reshapes the SEC standings and raises immediate questions about whether Texas belongs at No. 1.

Reported by oklahoman.com, soonerswire.usatoday.com, 247sports.com, on3.com, dallasnews.com, cbssports.com, profootballnetwork.com