3, 2, 1: Split Emotions

There are a lot of mixed feelings following a 66-59 victory.

Half of your team has to be ecstatic with their performance.

Baker Mayfield set a school-record with seven touchdown passes, while throwing for over 500 yards and no interceptions, but wasn't even his own conference's player of the week. Neither was Dede Westbrook, who had over 200 yards through the air and two touchdowns. It was Joe Mixon who earned Co-Big 12 Player of the Week honors by rushing for 263 yards and two touchdowns, while catching four passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns.

The other half of your team must be extremely disappointed, however.

The other Co-Big 12 Player of the Week was Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback facing Oklahoma, who set an NCAA record for total offense in a game with 819 yards.

As the Sooners attempt to sort through the emotions following such a bittersweet win that, almost unbelievably, has them at 4-0 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2004, the 3, 2, 1 feature breaks down what was learned on the field and off about the 2016 Oklahoma football team during this week's media availability.

1. Third downs continue to haunt Oklahoma.

In week one, the Sooner defense allowed Houston to convert nine of 18 third down attempts and it was a facet of the game that completely devastated Oklahoma.

Fast forward six weeks and not only has the problem not improved, but OU allowed Texas Tech to convert a staggering 20 of 25 third downs. It was something head coach Bob Stoops pointed out as a key factor in the Sooner defense allowing 59 points.

"Big story of the game I thought was 3rd downs. We played well enough to put them in 25 3rd downs... but couldn't get off the field."

It's hard to blame a coach for attempting to put a positive spin on such an ugly statistic, but Stoops almost comes off numb to the defensive frustrations in his continued 'Oh so close' attitude that was repeated.

"First thing Coach Riley says to me after the game is, 'I can't believe we got them in 25 third downs.'"

Stoops did say that Oklahoma specifically works on third downs differently in practice and that there is major emphasis placed on how to handle those situations. None of it seems to be translating to the field, though, as the Sooners still boast one of the nation's worst defenses at getting off the field on third downs.

Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops reiterated those frustrations and at least seemed to have an answer as to what specific problems Texas Tech was giving them on third downs.

"I thought we played relatively well on first and second down throughout the game. Not to be able to make a play on third down was probably the most disappointing part of the whole night. To scramble around and throw alley-oops, that was disheartening. They stretched us out on third downs. They went to five-wide a little bit more and the match-ups got extreme."

Stoops must find an answer to this problem, however, as every offensive coordinator left on Oklahoma's schedule will have the film from this game and will try to spread the Sooner defense out as much as possible.

2. Mayfield, Mixon, and Westbrook get the headlines, but the offensive line is leading the way.

Stoops announced Monday that despite the ridiculous and record-setting performances of Mayfield, Mixon, and Westbrook, the Oklahoma coaches felt that the offensive player of the game honors deserved to be shared amongst the offensive linemen.

The unit hasn't allowed a sack in OU's last two games, which has lead the way for Mayfield to average over 400 yards passing per game, 11 touchdowns, and just one interception.

One quality that stands out for this corps is their depth. Bill Bedenbaugh's group has lost guys to injury, shuffled positions, and played over 10 guys in meaningful minutes. Just last week the Sooners put in Alex Dalton in the middle of the game at guard for Dru Samia, and Oklahoma didn't miss a beat.

"Dru (Samia) is fine. That's just how Bill Bedenbaugh wanted to play it."

Offensive center Erick Wren, himself entering the lineup after a Jonathan Alvarez injury, appreciates how tight this offensive line unit is from top to bottom, regardless of the depth chart.

"We're comfortable with anybody. It doesn't matter what the rotation is, it doesn't matter who the starting five is, we all have that chemistry and tight bond with each other."

Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley knows they have been a gift to him as a play-caller and praised the unit's cohesiveness when asked about why they have gelled so well together, no matter what the lineup.

"Their continuity together, recognizing defenses, blitzes, and working together to pick them up."

3. Du'Vonta Lampkin has been a boost for a banged up defensive line coming off suspension.

If you weren't paying attention, you may not have seen No. 57 sneak into the game along Oklahoma's defensive front, but redshirt freshman Du'Vonta Lampkin was finally able to play in his first game as a Sooner, following a six-game suspension to start the season.

His head coach was more than pleased with the way Lampkin was able to contribute right away.

"Du'Vonta Lampkin had a heck of a game."

The 6-foot-4, 335-pounder was one of six OU defenders to record a quarterback hurry and Oklahoma center Erick Wren believes there is more to come for the young Lampkin.

"I'm happy that he's back on the field. He's definitely showing that he deserves to be out there. Strong, strong guy. Has a lot of potential. I'm definitely looking forward to playing with him for the rest of my years here."

1. Watching Texas Tech film was a sobering experience for Jordan Evans

The senior linebacker, along with the rest of the Sooner defense, has received criticism for their effort during the Red Raiders' 59-point onslaught. Evans had a chance to respond to the resolve he saw in Lubbock on Saturday.

"I can speak for myself and it was terrible. That's not what a captain should do. That's not what a football player should do. That has to change and it's going to change. That's never going to be shown again."

Evans said the lack of effort was something he couldn't even perceive himself until he was forced to sit down and go over tape from the game.

"It's never fun watching film like that. Especially with what the coaches might have to say. It's tough film to watch, but we learned a lot."

It was an impressive moment of self-awareness by one of the team's senior leaders to do what leaders do and take responsibility for their mistakes.

"For me, it was just a lot of things that weren't talent issues that I can definitely change."

2. The offense did not give the defense any friendly ribbing after the game.

Walking into the Oklahoma locker room Saturday night had to be a strange dichotomy.

The defensive players are happy the team won, but it's just human nature for the guys who scored 66 to have a different mentality than the ones who gave up 59.

Anybody who has been on a team knows that sometimes friendly jabs are exchanged between teammates, but center Erick Wren said there was none of that following the game in Lubbock.

"No, most definitely not. We're a team. You don't tell your teammates that. You pick up your teammates when they're down and that's the chemistry and bond of this team."

1. No major changes are coming on defense.

Bob Stoops quickly denied any notion that the power structure of the defense would change or that his brother, Mike, needed any further help as Oklahoma's defensive coordinator.

"All of our coaches are responsible. The coordinator doesn't coach everybody."

Stoops also doesn't lay blame on defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks or any of the position coaches for that matter, instead spreading it amongst the entire staff and team.

"A year ago, everybody was raving about our secondary coaches... I still have confidence in all of those guys... It's not all the coaches or all the players. It's all of us."

Such a large swath of blame is probably more accurate, but fails to put the spotlight on any one area of change. It also leads one to believe that the continued economy of how the defense runs will stay the same.

Both Stoops have pointed to re-evaluating personnel and schemes, but Mike said on Tuesday night that sophomore safety Will Sunderland, who impressed with an interception and pass break-up against Texas, is still struggling to find playing time because "you have to find the right spot for him."

If the defensive coordinator can't make room for a young, talented defensive back after allowing 734 passing yards, then when can he? For all the talk about possible changes coming, that quote is pretty telling as to how resistant this Oklahoma defensive staff is to actually making the switch to more inexperienced players.

Bob Stoops also gave a pretty revealing quote defending this scheme and it's exactly why you should not expect any major adjustments.

"It works and it will work again."