The game was a low-scoring affair until the fourth quarter, which had 35 combined points and most notably ended on a missed conversion.
The game stood like that until the third quarter, when Mike Richardson scored on a one-yard run for SMU, but the extra point missed, trailing 7–6.
The rarely used backup, Mickey Ripley, came in to lead the Sooners for the remainder of the game, proving largely ineffective until the action-packed fourth quarter.
Steve Owens threw a touchdown pass to Johnny Barr making the lead 14–6 for Oklahoma going into the fourth.
When Sooner defensive sparkplug Steve Zabel also went down with an injury in the third quarter, Chuck Hixson finally had some breathing room and was able to generate some offense for SMU as he threw a touchdown pass to Jerry LeVias.
They managed to recover the ensuing onside kick, and Ripley was able to move them down into field goal range.
As time expired, the kick by Bruce Derr went wide left, and the Mustangs emerged with the victory.