MANHATTAN — The Oklahoma Sooners were steaming mad, having plunged from No. 3 to No. 11 in last Sunday’s rankings by The Associated Press, along with having their BCS title hopes damaged.
Reeling from a 41-38 loss to Texas Tech at home a week ago, Oklahoma bounced back with a record-setting performance against No. 10 Kansas State on Saturday afternoon at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The Sooners accumulated a season-high 690 yards of total offense, including a school-record 505 passing yards and five touchdown strikes from quarterback Landry Jones, and trounced the previously unbeaten Wildcats 58-17 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
“This was as complete of a team win as we have had in a long, long time,” said Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, whose team improved to 7-1 overall, 4-1 in the Big 12 Conference. “There were so many players offensively that stepped up and made big plays. Jaz (Reynolds), Dejuan Miller and James Hanna … the list goes on and on. Trey Franks and Roy Finch. … Ryan Broyles, always.
“You have to catch the ball, and I thought our precision was better with Landry throwing it and all of the execution was there.”
Jones’ passing performance, which included completions to nine different receivers, was one for the ages. He broke his own yardage mark of 468 while also shattering former Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford’s school-record 88 touchdown passes in the process. Jones had five scoring passes against the Cats and now has 90 for his career.
“Landry was throwing the ball well all game,” said Stoops of Jones, who completed 35 of 47 for 505 passing yards. “We were confident that he would continue to throw well.
“It was pretty amazing, really. How many yards? 505, that’s big. I think the receivers, tight ends and everyone around them were making big plays. During the game, there were so many that I couldn’t keep up with all of them.”
NCAA career receptions leader Ryan Broyles finished with 14 catches for 171 yards in a high-wire act for the Sooners, who had five players with 51 or over receiving yards. Broyles also broke the Big 12 record for career receiving yards, passing the previous record of 4,414 yards by Oklahoma State’s Rashuan Woods (2000-2003). Broyles now has 4,499 yards for his career.
Stoops insisted his team wasn’t trying to make it a statement game after last week’s setback.
“I get tired hearing about that,” Stoops said. “It’s about winning, and now I’m just worried about next week.”
Oklahoma moved into a tie with Kansas State for second place in the Big 12 with 4-1 records. Both teams are now 7-1 overall, sitting one game behind Oklahoma State (5-0) in the conference race.
The Sooners entertain Texas A&M on Saturday, while Kansas State travels to Stillwater, Okla., to take on Oklahoma State.