With an exciting 9-8 victory, the Oklahoma Sooners set attendance records and completed a historic sweep of top-ranked Texas.

In a game that encapsulated the drama, intensity, and raw emotion of one of college sports’ most storied rivalries, the Oklahoma Sooners delivered a statement victory—one that will echo in Norman and beyond for years to come. With a thrilling 9-8 win over the top-ranked Texas Longhorns on Sunday, the Sooners not only completed a dramatic sweep of their Red River rivals, but they did so before a record-breaking home crowd, etching this series into the annals of college baseball history.

The game was a rollercoaster from start to finish, with both teams exchanging blows in a back-and-forth slugfest that had fans on the edge of their seats for nine innings. But it was Oklahoma’s resilience, timely hitting, and unwavering poise under pressure that sealed a monumental victory—a win that could redefine the Sooners’ trajectory for the rest of the season.

Oklahoma’s historic weekend culminated in front of 5,623 fans at L. Dale Mitchell Park—shattering the previous attendance record and demonstrating the surging passion surrounding Sooners baseball. The atmosphere was electric, with fans filling the stadium well before first pitch, chanting, cheering, and draping the stands in crimson and cream. By the time the final out was recorded, the ballpark had transformed into a scene of joyous chaos as students and fans alike erupted in celebration.

“This was more than just a win,” said head coach Skip Johnson. “This was a message to our team, to our fans, and maybe to the country—that Oklahoma baseball is here, and we’re not backing down from anyone.”

The Sooners entered the series unranked and largely overshadowed by a Texas team that had been dominant all season. But by the time Sunday’s dust had settled, Oklahoma had not only taken all three games of the series—they had done so in exhilarating, heart-pounding fashion.

The series finale was the most dramatic of them all. With both teams having exchanged victories in previous high-stakes battles over the years, this one stood out for its sheer unpredictability and emotion.

Texas jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning, taking advantage of a pair of walks and an error. But Oklahoma responded with five runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a towering three-run home run from sophomore first baseman Blake Robertson.

Texas would not go quietly. The Longhorns tied the game at 6-6 in the sixth inning and again at 8-8 in the eighth, fueled by their star slugger Dylan Campbell, who launched a two-run shot off the scoreboard to keep the game knotted.

But in the bottom of the eighth, with two outs and the crowd roaring, Oklahoma junior outfielder Kendall Pettis delivered the decisive blow—a sharp RBI single into left-center that brought home what would become the game-winning run.

Closer Aaron Calhoun then took the mound in the ninth and, despite a leadoff walk, slammed the door with a pair of strikeouts and a game-ending grounder to second.

“Unreal,” said Calhoun after the game, beaming amid a sea of reporters. “That’s the kind of game you dream of as a kid. Beating Texas, sweeping them, doing it in front of a record crowd—this is something I’ll remember forever.”

This marked the first time Oklahoma has swept Texas in a three-game series since 1998—and never before had the Sooners done it with Texas ranked No. 1 in the country. In fact, Sunday’s win represented only the fourth time in school history that Oklahoma has beaten a No. 1-ranked team in a series sweep.

For context, the Longhorns entered the weekend as the consensus No. 1 team in all major national polls, boasting a 31-5 record and one of the most dominant pitching staffs in the country. But Oklahoma’s bats came alive across the weekend, combining for 26 runs in three games and exposing vulnerabilities in the Texas bullpen that few had seen all year.

Game 1 saw the Sooners overcome a 5-2 deficit to win 7-6 in extra innings, thanks to a walk-off double by catcher Easton Carmichael. Game 2 featured a gritty 10-9 win highlighted by a five-run seventh inning. By the time Game 3 rolled around, belief had spread like wildfire through the Oklahoma dugout.

“We knew we could compete with them,” said shortstop Jackson Nicklaus. “But after Game 1, we didn’t just want to compete—we wanted to sweep. We believed we could do it, and we went out and proved it.”

The significance of this sweep goes beyond the box score. The Red River Rivalry, typically dominated by football headlines, found new life on the baseball diamond this weekend. In a sport where momentum matters and confidence can snowball, Oklahoma’s sweep of Texas could serve as the inflection point for a team aiming to make noise in the NCAA postseason.

More importantly, the wins came at a critical time in the Sooners’ season. Entering the weekend with a middling conference record and needing a boost to their NCAA tournament resume, Oklahoma may have just punched their ticket to the national conversation. Not only did they beat the No. 1 team—they did it in clutch moments, high-pressure situations, and before a national television audience.

“This is the kind of weekend that changes everything,” said Johnson. “For our RPI, for our confidence, for our fans. We just took down the best team in the country. Now we’ve got to build on that.”

While the sweep was a team effort, several players elevated their games in the spotlight:

• Blake Robertson: The first baseman went 6-for-11 in the series with two home runs and six RBIs, delivering clutch hits in all three games.
• Easton Carmichael: The catcher’s walk-off double in Game 1 set the tone and his work behind the plate kept the Texas base runners in check.
• Kendall Pettis: The junior outfielder’s game-winning single in Game 3 and multiple highlight-reel defensive plays made him a fan favorite.
• Braden Davis: The freshman lefty pitched 4.2 innings in relief on Saturday and earned the win with poise far beyond his years.

The sweep immediately vaults Oklahoma into the spotlight. The Sooners will almost certainly crack the next round of national rankings and see a significant jump in RPI—metrics critical for NCAA Regional seeding. It also raises questions about the invincibility of Texas, who had seemed destined for a national top seed but now faces scrutiny about bullpen depth and defensive lapses.

For the Sooners, the path ahead looks dramatically different than it did just one week ago.

“We’ve turned a corner,” said Johnson. “And we did it the hard way—by beating the best.”

Sunday’s record crowd wasn’t just a backdrop—it was a force. Players repeatedly credited the atmosphere with lifting their performance. Fans stood for nearly every inning, waved signs, and serenaded Longhorn pitchers with chants that reverberated through the ballpark.

University officials said the program had sold more tickets over the weekend than any other three-game home series in school history. Multiple student organizations hosted tailgates, and social media lit up with photos and videos of the unforgettable weekend.

“This is what it’s all about,” said OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione. “Moments like these remind us why we invest in baseball, why we build great facilities, and why we compete at the highest level.”

With the sweep behind them, Oklahoma (now 24-14, 9-6 Big 12) will look to maintain their momentum heading into a pivotal stretch of conference play. The Sooners next travel to Waco to face Baylor, followed by a showdown against in-state rival Oklahoma State.

If the Sooners continue to play with the same fire, discipline, and confidence they showed against Texas, the rest of the Big 12—and the nation—will be on notice.

“We’re just getting started,” said Robertson. “This weekend was special. But we’ve got bigger goals.”

Indeed, the Sooners made more than just headlines—they made history.