NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma coach Brent Venables took an unfamiliar question after a big game.

Instead of answering questions about a loss, he described how it felt to be lifted onto his players' shoulders.

John Mateer ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, and No. 18 Oklahoma beat No. 15 Michigan 24-13 on Saturday night. Afterward, as the late Toby Keith's “How Do You Like Me Now?!” played, some players lifted him up.

“I’m embarrassed," Venables said. “This is a players' game, and a lot of other people were responsible for getting to that moment. And again, I don’t want to take away -- celebrate, man. What we do is too hard. You only get 12 opportunities guaranteed at the beginning of the year.”

But much of it was about Venables, who got a much-needed signature win. The Sooners (

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