ESPN.com - 3 Up, 3 Down: Oklahoma 24, TCU 17

ESPN.com: Oklahoma Sooners

Sunday, December 2, 2012
3 Up, 3 Down: Oklahoma 24, TCU 17

By Jake Trotter

Who was up and who was down in the Sooners' 24-17 win at TCU:

THREE UP

1. Mike Stoops. After three consecutive miserable outings, the Stoops' defense reverted to early-season form with a strong performance in Fort Worth. The 80-yard TD pass to Brandon Carter hurt. But the Sooners mostly dominated the line of scrimmage, forced a turnover that led to an OU touchdown and came up big on the final drive.

2. RB Damien Williams. Williams had his best game since turned his ankle against Notre Dame. He rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown, and had 39 yards receiving and another TD. Williams' 66-yard rushing score gave him four touchdowns this season fo 60 yards or more. Williams is a big-play threat, when he's healthy.

3. Offensive line. How do these guys do it? The same number of injuries up front capsized the '09 offense. But this group continues to plug along. Adam Shead (ankle, back) was the latest to go down, but Ty Darlington came in at center, and Gabe Ikard still to left guard and the line continued to not miss a beat.

THREE DOWN

1. Special teams. They were awful. Justin Brown's fumble led to a TCU field goal in the fourth quarter. Then Michael Hunnicutt missed a 42-yard field goal attempt late that would have all but put the game away. OU's special teams kept TCU in the game.

2. QB Landry Jones. We were getting accustomed to those 500-yard performances. Jones finally cooled off in Fort Worth, but he still had one of his best throws of the year, a 24-yard TD strike to Jalen Saunders on third-and-long just before halftime. Jones is ending his college career with a bang, and then some.

3. Recruiting of Brandon Carter. The Sooners lost Carter to TCU because he wanted to play WR (OU wanted him as a DB). OU is loaded at receiver. But Carter, a freshman, would surely have a place in Norman.