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NORMAN, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- It lived up to the hype. In the season's first matchup of Top 10 teams, third-ranked Oklahoma built a huge lead before holding on for a thrilling 38-37 victory over ninth-ranked Kansas State. Last season, Oklahoma defeated the Wildcats twice en route to winning the national title, including a victory in the Big 12 Conference championship game. The defending champions were in control in the first meeting this season between the conference rivals, taking a 35-14 early in the third quarter after Nate Hybl threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Antwone Savage. But the Wildcats tried to rally, pulling within 35-27 entering the final quarter on touchdown runs of 37 and one yard by quarterback Ell Roberson. After Tim Duncan kicked a 33-yard field goal with 4:16 remaining to give the Sooners a 38-27 lead, Roberson again tried to bring Kansas State back by throwing a 57-yard TD pass to Ricky Lloyd with 2:02 left. Trailing 38-35, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder did not elect for an onside kick. With one timeout left, the Wildcats held Oklahoma, which took an intentional safety when Duncan ran out of the end zone with seven seconds left. The Wildcats received the free kick at midfield and Roberson threw incomplete before the ball reached the end zone on the game's final play. Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 Big 12 South) extended the nation's longest winning streak to 17 games. The Sooners also have won 16 in a row at home. "Kansas State is a very tough team and showed it today," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. "We weren't playing the "Little Sisters of the Poor." We knew we weren't going to be spoiled every week by having easy games. Without these close games, it wouldn't be much fun anyway." Hybl, replacing Josh Heupel, who led the Sooners to the national title last season, completed 17-of-38 passes for 283 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. "Nate, at times, looked awesome," Stoops said. "I was particularly impressed with his precision and poise down the stretch. He led the offense that punched out enough yards to get that decisive field goal." Roberson tried to carry the Wildcats, rushing for 115 yards and three touchdowns while passing for 257 yards and a score. Kansas State (2-1, 0-1 Big 12 North) had a 32-game winning streak in September stopped. The Wildcats were hurt throughout by penalties, committing 17 for 139 yards. "You're never happy if you lose," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "We made a lot of mistakes and had a substantial number of penalties." With one of nation's top defenses, the Sooners sent their home crowd into a frenzy early in the first quarter after a huge play by that unit. Roberson went the wrong way on option down the line and was hit by linebacker Jimmy Wilkerson, who jarred the ball loose. Fellow linebacker Roy Williams scooped up the fumble and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown. The Sooners' offense came through with a big play to extend the lead 14-0 with 5:35 left in the opening period. Faced with a 3rd-and-14 from the Kansas State 37, Hybl found Savage a post-pattern for a 63-yard touchdown pass. Savage, a speedster, got behind cornerback DeRon Tyler for the score. Looking like they would get run off the field, the Wildcats responded with a 10-play, 80-yard drive to get back into the game. Josh Scobey kept the march alive with a 10-yard run on 4th-and-1 from the Oklahoma 20, and he capped the drive moments later with a seven-yard run for a score around left end that pulled the Wildcats within 14-7 with 11:46 left before halftime. The Sooners, however, responded with a six-play, 63-yard drive. Quentin Griffin provided the points with a six-yard run. Griffin struggled to find room on the ground all afternoon, carrying 17 times for 28 yards. Roberson continued the offensive fireworks in the second quarter, running 22 yards for a touchdown to pull the Wildcats within 21-14 with 9:22 left in the half. But the Sooners resorted to some trickery in the waning moments of the half to open a 28-14 bulge. On a fake punt, Savage took a pass behind the line of scrimmage. Backup quarterback Hunter Wall snuck out to the left sideline, and Savage found him wide open for a 33-yard touchdown pass. Savage, whose only two catches went for touchdowns, scored on his 75-yard reception 7:45 into the third quarter for a 35-14 lead before the Wildcats attempted to rally. "I've been working real hard on beating my man. I got the chance a couple of times and made plays," Savage said.
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