NORMAN — Last November in Morgantown, Oklahoma's offense repeatedly saved its defensive counterparts, embarrassing series after embarrassing series, in a high-scoring shootout with West Virginia.

The exact opposite was true Saturday night on Owen Field, where Oklahoma's sputtering offense turned the ball over four times inside West Virginia's 35-yard line, starting quarterback Trevor Knight was replaced to loud cheers early in the fourth quarter and the Sooners still managed to escape with a 16-7 victory in their Big 12 Conference opener.

Each time the Sooner offense made a critical mistake, the defense bailed it out with a timely turnover or a three-and-out.

“Some of the red-zone turnovers, they went right out and forced a three-and-out,” said OU coach Bob Stoops. “That was big. That's showing some attitude, as opposed to being down about it, they know they have to go do their job and get off the field.”