Big 12 statement? No. 15 Houston stuns No. 3 Oklahoma 33-23

The hype around Houston is real.

Throughout the offseason, Houston was regarded as the Group of Five team that could shock the college football world and on Saturday it started with a surprising 33-23 win against No. 3 Oklahoma.

No. 15 Houston had not defeated a team from the Big 12, a conference it’s trying to join, since 2009. The Cougars also beat their highest-ranking opponent since knocking off Texas in 1984.

The game was close throughout, but turned in the Cougars favor early in the third quarter when returner Brandon Wilson fielded a missed 53-yard field goal. Wilson, who nearly stepped out of the back of the end zone, ran the ball up the right sideline, past a stunned OU defense, hurdled one of his own players and into the end zone. The run was about 109 yards and put the Cougars up 26-17.

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Houston with a Kick Six. What a play! pic.twitter.com/4tPy4L9zM5 11:26 AM - 3 Sep 2016

The momentum had clearly swung in Houston’s favor because on Oklahoma’s next possession, Jarvis Baxter fumbled and Houston turned it into another touchdown to extend its lead to 16 points.

But Oklahoma wasn’t going to go away quietly. It too had College Football Playoff aspirations on the line. As Houston was driving into the end zone in the fourth quarter for a score that likely would have sealed the game, quarterback Greg Ward Jr. dropped the exchange and the ball rolled into the end zone where the Sooners recovered it. Oklahoma drove 80 yards in less than two minutes, but missed the two-point conversion and still trailed by 10.

With about two minutes remaining, OU failed to recover an onside kick and Houston was able to run out the clock for the victory.

While there’s a long season remaining, Houston has definitely piqued the attention of national pundits and likely the College Football Playoff committee. This was the toughest test for Houston until perhaps the Navy game on Oct. 18. As of right now, the Cougars have just one remaining ranked foe on the schedule — No. 19 Louisville on Nov. 17.

As for Oklahoma, its season isn’t over. We’ve seen several teams rebound from early losses and still make either the College Football Playoff or a New Years Six Bowl. However, the margin for error becomes very small. The Sooners still have to play Ohio State in two weeks and then have a bear of a conference schedule in front of them. The road back to the Top 4 is now a very steep climb.

Greg Ward Jr. #1 of the Houston Cougars celebrates a touchdown pass in the first half of their game against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Advocare Texas Kickoff on September 3, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Getty Images)