Here's another thing to consider.
A common thought going in was that if the OU defense could get 3-4 holds, and hold UGa to FGs rather than TDs a couple of times, we'd probably win.
By that standard, low as it is, the defense more than did its job.
FIRST HALF
Got a stop on UGa's 1st possession.
Held UGa to a missed FG attempt on its 3rd possession.
Got a stop on UGa's 5th possession.
Got a stop on UGa's 6th possession.
"Held" UGa to a 55-yard FG at the end of the 1st half.
2ND HALF
Got a stop on UGa's 2nd possession.
Got a stop on UGa's 5th possession.
Returned a fumble for TD on UGa's 6th possession.
Got a stop on UGa's 7th possession.
1ST OT
Held UGa to a FG.
2ND OT
Gave up a TD.
Here's the real problem.
2ND HALF, OKLAHOMA OFFENSE
1st possession: 3-and-out, 48-yard punt returned 21 yards.
2nd possession: 3-and-out, 57-yard punt, no return.
3rd possession: 8 plays, 22 yards, 47-yard punt, no return.
4th possession: 2 plays, 0 yards, 3rd play, interception returned to the OU 4. 2 plays later, UGa scores, so our defense "gave up" a TD.
5th possession: 3-and-out, 28-yard punt, no return.
7th possession: With a 7-point lead and 5:00 left in the game, 3-and-out, 29-yard punt to the UGa 41.
8th possession: With a tie game and 0:55 left in regulation, 4 plays, 20 yards, 30-yard punt.
OU had 8 possessions in the 2nd half, in which the offense scored a grand total of 7 points. That is a total collapse.
Meanwhile, the defense in the second half got 3 stops and scored a TD (matching the offense's production).
So, over the course of the game, including both OTs, the OU defense got 6 stops, 3 possessions held to a FG attempt (if you count the one at the end of the 2nd quarter), and a defensive TD.
Did anyone think going in that the defense would do better than that? I sure didn't.
Our defense--bad as it was--performed about as well as was expected. Better in terms of getting stops, worse in terms of allowing huge plays. But the offense and special teams performed worse than expected.
You hear, "The offense scored 38 points--that ought to be enough to win." Well, in a game in which each team got 14 possessions, and each team has a powerful offense, 38 points is not a guarantee of a win. You can't let up just because you have a 17-point lead in the 2nd quarter. There's still way too much football to be played.
I said it after the 2008 OU-Texas game. OU led by 2 scores at one point, but the game turned into a shootout, and the Sooner offense stopped scoring. That was not all on the defense. That 2008 offense was record-setting in terms of points per game. The defense wasn't particularly good, especially after losing the starting MLB against Texas. When you've got a team like that, like we did this year, the offense can't rest on its laurels just because it's built a nice lead. It has to keep scoring, because the other team is probably not going to quit.
OU's defense stinks. And I believe that the buck stops with Mike Stoops. But that was no surprise going into the Rose Bowl. The surprise was that the offense at the Rose Bowl didn't come out ready to compete with a tough, interactive opponent after halftime.