It’s strange that a team that is ranked No. 4 in the nation and is undefeated is being labeled as an underachiever but that is the case for Oklahoma following a hard-fought 23-16 over unranked Nebraska Saturday in Norman.

It was the lowest point total in the Coach Lincoln Riley era but it was also a stellar defensive effort by a maligned Sooner defense.

The media and OU fans expected a blowout. OU was favored by 21 points in the game, which was played on the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Game of the Century between OU and NU.

Nebraska coach Scott Frost admitted his strategy was to slow the game down and it nearly worked.

“We had a plan going into the game,” Frost said. “We wanted as few of possessions as possible for both teams in the first half. And we knew the only way we’d do that is if we controlled the ball and get some first downs on offense. That meant getting some third downs. I thought we did that well. I thought the defense played a great first half.”

OU 23 points were its fewest in a victory since 2013 (20-17 home win vs. TCU). It was OU’s lowest point total overall since the 2016 season opener vs. Houston (lost 33-23).

“I’m proud of our team for finding a way to win,” said Riley. “I thought we gave them a fight the whole way. I think our mentality is starting to take shape a bit … I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen out of our mentality. Right now, it’s about just, moving forward, seeing how good of a team we can get (to be).

“We still made a few too many mistakes on the offensive side of the ball that held us back, and when you get into a low possession game like that, you have to get ready. Possessions mean so much. You always get those in the Big 12, and in some ways, I had flashbacks to the Army game a few years ago.”

OU had a streak of 65 games in which they scored at least 27 points and that ended Saturday. The last time OU did not score at least 27 points in a game was Sept. 17, 2016 in a 45-24 loss vs. Ohio State.

“I can’t say enough good about Oklahoma,” said Frost. “That was our bitter rival for so many years. But I’ve talked to people that came down, and they say how well they were treated here. I have a ton of respect for Coach (Alex) Grinch (the defensive coordinator). And Coach (Lincoln) Riley and this program. He inherited it from Coach Stoops, and it was in good shape, and he kept it rolling and improved it. We’re trying to get back to that level. I think we showed today that we’re close.

“I root for Oklahoma every time they’re playing unless they’re playing us. I think a lot of this team and this place, and the people here.”

OU quarterback Spencer Rattler scored his second rushing touchdown of the season and the eighth of his career. He has scored a rushing TD in six of his last eight games. He hit 24 of 34 passes (70%) for 214 yards and one touchdown. He has thrown at least one TD pass in all 14 of his career starts.

“I thought he played pretty smart,” OU coach Lincoln Riley said of Rattler. “I think he felt the game a little bit. There’s an art to playing quarterback because you have so much control of the game with your decision-marking. All of these games unfold differently.

“You don’t always know how they’re going to play out. There’s executing plays but there’s also a feeling of how the game’s going and how the rest of the team is playing. I thought he had a good feel for that.”

OU wideout Jadon Haselwood tied his career high with six catches and a season-high 61 receiving yards.

OU running back Kennedy Brooks scored one touchdown in the fourth quarter. Brooks, who sat out last year to the pandemic, has scored in all three games so far this year.

OU will host West Virginia on ABC at 6:30 p.m. Saturday for their fourth home game in a row.

The Sooners didn’t play West Virginia in 2020. The game was rescheduled for December 12 in Morgantown but was canceled due to the Chinese coronarvirus.

West Virginia (2-1) opened 2021 with a 24-30 loss at Maryland of the Big Ten and then beat the Long Island University Sharks 66-0. Last Saturday, the Mountaineers upset then-No. 15 Virginia Tech 27-21 at home.

Quarterback Jarret Doege has hit 61.3% of his passes for 536 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back Leddie Brown leads UWV with 104 yards on 32 attempts and wideout Sean Ryan has six catches for 125 yards with one score.

This season, Rattler  has completed 77% of his passes (50 of 65) for 547 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.

Eric Gray leads the Sooners in rushing with 185 yards on 33 carries (5.6 yard average) while Kennedy Brooks has 135 yards on 20 carries (6.8-yard average) and two touchdowns. Fifteen Sooners have caught passes. They are led by Marvin Mims with six catches for 136 yards (22.7-yard average).