NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma football team had arguably its best win of the season Saturday at Kansas State.
It was the best the offense has looked since October. The defense made all the necessary adjustments in the second half. Jalen Saunders and the special teams were close to perfect. It all resulted in a 41-31 victory that pushed OU to 9-2 on the season.
Now, the Sooners have an off-week. They'll play at Oklahoma State, which had arguably its best win in school history on Saturday against Baylor.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops met with the media on Monday to go over last week's win and talk about next week's game.
Here's three things we learned on Monday.
1. Damien Williams is done at Oklahoma but LaColtan Bester will be back against OSU
Stoops announced Monday Williams, who has rushed for more than 500 yards this season and has 18 touchdowns in the past two seasons, would no longer be with the team. That means Williams will miss the game at Oklahoma State as well as the bowl game.
Williams was suspended last week. It was the second time he has been suspended this season. Bester was also suspended last week, but Stoops said he will be able to play Dec. 7 at Oklahoma State.
Meanwhile, there won't be much worrying about missing Williams, despite his big-play ability. Senior Brennan Clay was spectacular against Kansas State running for 200 yards on 31 carries – both career highs. And with the Oklahoma running game playing its best ball of the season, now would be the perfect time for the Sooners to move seamlessly into the future without Williams.
Oklahoma ran for 301 yards against Kansas State and 405 yards against Iowa State the previous week.
2. Bob Stoops is really Bobby Stoops
Yeah, if you're trying to come up with someone who looks less like a "Bobby" and more like a "Bob," well, Stoops would seem to fit that description.
But Monday we learned differently.
Kansas State coach Bill Snyder referred to his former assistant as, "Bobby" after Stoops beat him on Saturday giving Stoops the school record for most wins, passing Barry Switzer.
But Snyder isn't the only one who calls him, "Bobby." "When I was a player, it was on my uniform," Stoops said.
"My wife said, 'When did you become Bob Stoops?'" Stoops said.
There was no indication if Stoops prefers Bobby over Bob.
3. Saturday's win was more than just a win
Saturdays' 41-31 victory over Kansas State had to be a great feeling for the Oklahoma coaching staff.
Not only did the team avoid losing and falling to 8-3 with a road game to go at Oklahoma State, the win provided the coaching staff with a solid foundation for the rest of this season and next season, too.
Trevor Knight was good at quarterback and that's all coaches needed to see. Not only did he play well in place of the injured Blake Bell, he was so good he earned the start for next week and for next season. The last thing OU coaches want to do is continue to make quarterback changes. Knight's performance against K-State shows they won't have to.
"The opinions of the world change on a weekly basis," Stoops said. Last week, Stoops said he wasn't going to ride the roller coaster like everybody else. He didn't name Knight the starter until about 30 minutes before the game against Kansas State, despite the fact Bell didn't suit up for the game.
Bell's status is still unclear heading into this week. Stoops wouldn't say anything about him, including whether he was cleared to practice Monday. However, there's just no way Knight won't start the rest of the season.
"It's just one game, but hopefully we can build on it," Stoops said. "What's obvious is the inconsistency offensively. We executed well. Sthere's no magic to the offense. It's blocking, timing, execution. Players making it happen."
Knight did. He was 14-of-20 passing for 171 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Anything less than a convincing performance at quarterback and the Sooners would have faced another few weeks of questions about who should be the quarterback against OSU and beyond.
For now, we know it will be Knight. Past that?
"I'm just trying to get to Thanksgiving," Stoops said.
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK
