On the first play after Blake Horvath’s 95-yard touchdown run, OU quarterback Michael Hawkins fumbled, giving the Midshipmen the ball at the Sooners 26. It was the first turnover of the day for either team. Blake Horvath’s 95-yard touchdown run tied it late in the third quarter.

The Navy Midshipmen staged a huge rally in the second half and then held on for deal life to bet the Oklahoma Sooners.

Danny Stutsman won’t play in the bowl game, so Kobie McKinzie will get the start alongside Kip Lewis at linebacker. McKinzie has had a really good season taking on a bigger role in year two with the Sooners and will be asked to take on a bigger role against Navy.

The Navy Midshipmen held on for the 21-20 win in the Armed Forces Bowl, denying the Oklahoma Sooners on a last minute 2-point conversion attempt.

The Navy Midshipmen get their chance to join some of the best teams in program history as they prepare to face the Oklahoma Sooners in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Navy heads into its first bowl game since before the pandemic with a good deal of momentum, having upset Army in its annual rivalry game on Dec. 14. Oklahoma, on the other hand, is coming off a loss as it tries to avoid a second losing season in three years under head coach Brent Venables.

The Oklahoma Sooners face a unique challenge when they take on the Navy Midshipmen, who come into the game 9-3 on the season. Their latest win came over the No. 19 ranked and AAC champion Army Black Knights.

FORT WORTH — Brent Venables has suffered his second losing season at Oklahoma. Michael Hawkins Jr.’s improvisation scored the Sooners’ second touchdown of the day with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter, but little did the crowd at Amon G. Carter Stadium know, those would almost be OU’s final points of the day.