After leading the Sooners at the end of the first quarter, the Tigers fell to top-ranked Oklahoma 38-28 on Saturday night.
The Tigers (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) pounced early to take a 14-3 first-quarter lead, breaking a streak of 20 straight home games in which Oklahoma (3-0, 1-0) never trailed. It didn’t last long, though.

The Sooners roared back with 28 straight points to avenge a loss in Columbia last year when they were first in the BCS standings and move their home winning streak to 38 straight games.

Oklahoma’s Landry Jones threw for 448 yards and three touchdowns to Ryan Broyles. With two starting receivers out of the lineup, Broyles had to play up to his usual All-American standard without proven sidekicks. Kenny Stills, who caught the go-ahead touchdown in a win at then-No. 5 Florida State last week, was out with a head injury and Trey Franks is suspended indefinitely.

Missouri also had a hot start in last season’s upset, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but then was able to close strong with 16 straight fourth-quarter points for a 36-27 victory.

This time, the Sooners were able to prevent any late heroics by the Tigers.

Henry Josey took an option pitch and raced 47 yards down the left sideline for a score to make it 31-21 with 6:44 left in the game, and it could have been even closer if not for a pair of missed 46-yard field goals by Grant Ressel.

The Sooners eliminated any drama by answering immediately with a 62-yard scoring drive, capped by Broyles’ twisting 4-yard grab in the back of the end zone. Broyles finished with 13 receptions for 154 yards, helping Jones to his fifth career 400-yard passing game.

“Against a great football team like this, certainly every opportunity you get, you’ve got to take advantage of,” Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel said.

Broyles, who had 110 yards receiving despite playing with two injured ankles in last year’s game, did much of the damage.

He got Oklahoma’s rally started by scoring from 25 yards out on a throw that initially went through his arms. Broyles was able to cradle it along his leg and then secure it long enough before falling out of bounds that the touchdown call was upheld on review.

He followed that three drives later with a 4-yard TD catch in the right side of the end zone, and the Sooners never looked back.

Dominique Whaley added 150 total yards–82 on five catches and 68 on 16 rushes–and Jaz Reynolds contributed a career-high 93 yards receiving on five catches.

James Franklin scored on a 1-yard sneak and found L’Damian Washington open with a seam up the middle for a 45-yard touchdown pass to stake Missouri to an 14-3 lead. Only Texas Tech in 2006 had a larger lead at Oklahoma during its home winning streak, and Baylor had been the only opponent to hold a lead in Norman since Mizzou led by one in the fourth quarter in its last visit in 2007.

“We thought we could beat them. Everybody talked about how this place was crazy and people don’t win in Norman,” Missouri receiver T.J. Moe said. “We didn’t come out with a victory, but it wasn’t any different than any other place I’ve played.”

But after completing his first five passes, Franklin–the son of former Sooners tight end Willie Franklin–misfired on 15 of his next 19 attempts and finished with 291 yards on 16 for 33. He also had another 1-yard TD sneak with 32 seconds left to provide the final margin.

Michael Egnew, the Tigers’ All-American tight end, didn’t make his first catch until his team was down 17 in the fourth quarter. He ended up with two catches for 40 yards.

“I would say we beat ourselves tonight. We know we’re way better than that and can bring more to the table,” said Josey, who finished with 133 yards on 14 carries.

“It’s just those little things that we have to fix.”

Missouri lost its 18th straight game on Owen Field, with its last win coming in 1966.

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