GAINESVILLE (Interstat) — Oklahoma leaned on a controlled passing game, timely special teams and a disruptive defense to defeat Florida 23-7 on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The NCAA Football Bowl Division game drew an announced crowd of 90,442. The Sooners improved to 5-4, while the Gators fell to 5-4. Oklahoma, the visiting team, scored in multiple phases and kept Florida out of the end zone after the first quarter. Florida’s only touchdown came in the opening period, but the Gators could not generate consistent offense against Oklahoma’s pressure. The Sooners protected their lead with two fourth-quarter scoring drives and a pair of interceptions. Oklahoma finished with enough balance to overcome a Florida defense that received a heavy workload from its linebackers. The game was played in Gainesville.

Oklahoma opened the scoring with Tate Sandell’s 41-yard field goal in the first quarter. The Sooners added to the lead in the second quarter when John Mateer found Hayden Hansen for a 3-yard touchdown pass, and Sandell later connected from 48 yards. Florida answered with its only score of the game in the first quarter, a touchdown set up by its running game and finished by Jadan Baugh. Baugh ended the game with eight carries for 35 yards, one reception for 7 yards and one touchdown. The Gators moved the ball at times through Duke Clark, who had six carries for 28 yards and four receptions for 70 yards, and Dallas Wilson, who caught four passes for 48 yards. Tramell Jones Jr. completed 10 of 22 passes for 133 yards and rushed 11 times for 7 yards. Bailey Stockton added one reception for 8 yards and three punt returns for 39 yards. Florida’s offense struggled to finish drives, and Oklahoma’s defense made the lead stand.

Mateer was the top star for Oklahoma. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 207 yards and rushed 14 times for 56 yards, accounting for two touchdowns. Mateer’s first scoring pass went to Hansen from 3 yards out. His second went to Isaiah Sategna III from 6 yards in the fourth quarter. Sategna finished with one carry for 5 yards, four receptions for 34 yards, one punt return for 2 yards and one touchdown. Rocky Beers led Oklahoma’s receivers with four catches for 72 yards. Jacob Jordan had four receptions for 36 yards, Parker Livingstone three for 26, Manny Choice three for 21, and Elijah Thomas one for 9 yards. Tory Blaylock carried seven times for 30 yards, and Jonathan Hatton Jr. ran four times for 7 yards. Hayden Hansen added one reception for 3 yards and a touchdown. Oklahoma also got a 31-yard field goal from Sandell in the fourth quarter after Mateer’s 5-yard touchdown run was nullified by an illegal shift penalty. Jacob Ulrich punted four times for 173 yards.

Oklahoma’s defense produced pressure throughout. Owen Heinecke made 10 tackles and added half a sack. Kip Lewis recorded seven tackles and one sack. Michael Boganowski had six tackles. Danny Okoye added five tackles and one sack. Reggie Powers III finished with four tackles, half a sack and one quarterback hit. Courtland Guillory and Peyton Bowen each intercepted a pass. Omarion Robinson made three tackles, while Eli Bowen and Jayden Jackson had two tackles apiece. Ben Anderson, Markel Ford, Lebron Bauer, Niko Jandreau, Trystan Haynes, Xavier Robinson and James Nesta each made one tackle. Oklahoma’s secondary and linebackers combined to limit Florida’s passing attack and prevent the Gators from building momentum after their first-quarter touchdown.

Florida’s defense was led by Myles Graham, who made 15 tackles, added half a sack and recorded one quarterback hit. Aaron Chiles had nine tackles and two quarterback hits. DJ Coleman made seven tackles. Jayden Woods had five tackles and one quarterback hit. Joseph Mbatchou had four tackles and one quarterback hit. Kanye Clark made four tackles. Ben Hanks III, Ty Jackson and Brendan Bett each had three tackles. Emmanuel Oyebadejo had three tackles and one quarterback hit. Bryce Thornton, Alfonzo Allen Jr. and Cormani McClain each made two tackles. Kofi Asare had two tackles and half a sack. Stive-Bentley Keumajou-Yondui added three tackles. The Gators’ defense kept Oklahoma out of the end zone for long stretches, but the Sooners’ field goals and late touchdown pass put the game out of reach.

Oklahoma’s victory moved the Sooners to 5-4. Florida also moved to 5-4 after the loss. The Sooners’ previous game was a loss to South Carolina, and Florida had dropped its previous game to Georgia. Oklahoma is scheduled to host Ole Miss, then Texas A&M, and then visit Missouri. Florida is set to visit Kentucky, host Vanderbilt and visit Florida State. Oklahoma’s special teams contributed three field goals from Sandell, while Florida’s return game got 39 yards on three punt returns from Stockton. The Sooners’ offense finished with enough production from Mateer, Beers, Sategna and Jordan to support the defense.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Oklahoma 30, Florida 28. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Florida with a 54.2 percent probability to win. Florida had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -4.5. The total of 30 went over the over/under line of 45.5.