No. 8 Oklahoma relies on defense to silence No. 22 Missouri

John Mateer threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns and No. 8 Oklahoma's defense bottled up running back Ahmad Hardy as the Sooners beat No. 22 Missouri 17-6 on Saturday in Norman, Okla.

The Sooners (9-2, 5-2 SEC) moved another step closer to their first College Football Playoff berth since 2019 with their third consecutive ranked win. The Tigers (7-4, 3-4) lost for the third time in four games.

Oklahoma has been outgained in every game during the winning streak as the Tigers won that battle, 301-276. But the Sooners have won the turnover margin 8-2 during this stretch, including 2-0 against the Tigers, as Jacobe Johnson and Eli Bowen intercepted Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula.

Pribula, returning to the lineup after missing the last two games with a dislocated ankle, finished 20-of-36 passing for 231 yards.

Neither offense was particularly effective in the second half after Oklahoma opened with a field goal to go up 17-6.

The Tigers were still within striking distance late, driving to the Sooners' 21 with just less than six minutes remaining.

But on fourth-and-2, Pribula's pass fell incomplete. Missouri's offense never again threatened to make it a one-possession game.

Hardy came into the game leading the nation in rushing (1,346 yards) and coming off a 300-yard game last week against Mississippi State.

But after gaining 43 yards on the first two drives, Hardy found it hard to find space against Oklahoma's run defense. He finished with 57 yards on 17 carries.

A promising eight-minute Missouri opening drive stalled out after 14 plays, forcing the Tigers to settle for a 39-yard field goal from Robert Meyer.

Peyton Bowen blocked Meyer's 35-yard field-goal attempt to prevent the Tigers from adding to their lead in the second quarter.

Oklahoma's offense was lifeless for much of the first half, gaining just 17 yards on its first three drives combined. After the blocked field goal, the Sooners finally showed some life.

Isaiah Sategna III caught a pass over the middle from Mateer and took it 87 yards for a touchdown to put Oklahoma on top for the first time on the longest play of the season for the Sooners' offense.

A shanked punt gave Oklahoma a short field two minutes later and it took advantage. Mateer hit Javonnie Gibson for an 8-yard touchdown to put the Sooners up 14-3 with 2:22 left in the half.

Missouri put together a quick drive capped by Oliver Robbins' 21-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 14-6 at the break.

Kevin Coleman Jr. finished with seven catches for 115 yards for the Tigers.

--Field Level Media