Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
NORMAN, Okla. -- Cincinnati is right in the thick of this game, and the Sooners fans are a little stunned about it.
Oklahoma looked like a machine its first two drives but has been able to manage only one score since. It says a lot about the coaching ability of Brian Kelly and his staff to make the adjustments to get this thing back under control.
No longer are Oklahoma's blitzes wreaking havoc, because the Bearcats have effectively used some rollout passes and quick-hit plays. Mardy Gilyard looks like the best player on the field, as the Cincinnati receiver has two huge punt returns, plus seven catches for 119 yards. He's getting open at will.
Dustin Grutza has played well for most of the half but made a critical error with his team down 21-7. Cincinnati had first and goal from the 6, and as Grutza rolled out to pass, nobody was open. He needed to just throw it away and take another shot, but instead he forced the ball into heavy coverage and it was intercepted in the end zone by Dominique Franks.
But the defense got a stop on fourth down, and Grutza made up for it with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dominick Goodman.
Total yards: Oklahoma 275, Cincinnati 245. Total huddles I've counted: 0.
Cincinnati has done exactly what it needed to do in the first half, and that's stay close and not get overwhelmed.
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
