Late Tulsa Comeback Comes Up Just Short in OT Against North Texas, 45-44

Thursday, October 1

Tulsa, Okla.

8 p.m.

University of Tulsa

3-2 , 0-1

North Texas

3-2 , 1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final F
North Texas	3	7	21	7	7	45
Tulsa	0	17	7	14	6	44

Final Book (PDF)

Photo by: BRETT ROJO, For the University of Tulsa

Photo by: BRETT ROJO, For the University o

Photo by: BRETT ROJO, For the University of Tulsa

10/2/2026 1:08:00 AM | Football

Box Score Post Game Notes Photo Gallery

TULSA, Okla. — Trailing by as many as 14 in the second half, Tulsa rallied late to force overtime but came up inches short of the goal line on a game-winning two-point conversion attempt in a 45-44 defeat to North Texas on Thursday night at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

After missing the last two games, Baylor Hayes completed 25-of-43 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns and added two rushing touchdowns. Oran Singleton posted 11 receptions for 104 yards and added 22 rushing yards on two carries. David Wells Jr. caught four passes for 28 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Thompson Jr. recorded a team-high 14 tackles.

Tulsa moved across its 40 on the opening series with Baylor Hayes' 11-yard completion to David Wells Jr. on third-and-4, but Max Tulen punted two plays later. North Texas also went three-and-out on its first possession. Tulsa's next drive stalled, and North Texas put together a 15-play, 66-yard drive with two fourth-down conversions, ending with Dominic De Freitas' 26-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead at 3:06.

Tulsa started its next possession with two Damari Alston runs, then Singleton gained 15 yards on third-and-4 before Dexter Williams II converted fourth-and-1 at the North Texas 45. Tulsa finished its carryover drive early in the second quarter when Baylor Hayes ran in from 4 yards at 13:15, and Owen Carey's extra point put Tulsa ahead 7-3.

On North Texas' next series, Kyran Duhon sacked Tayven Jackson, and Arias Nash recovered the fumble at the North Texas 18. Hayes hit Javon Ross for an 18-yard touchdown on the very next play, pushing Tulsa's lead to 14-3. North Texas turned a long drive over on downs at the Tulsa 22, but later scored with Jackson's 11-yard touchdown pass to Max Reese at 4:18, making it 14-10. Thomas Davis intercepted Jackson at the North Texas 47 with 1:55 left, and Alston converted fourth-and-1 at the North Texas 38. Carey closed the first half's scoring with a 45-yard field goal for a 17-10 Tulsa lead.

North Texas opened the third quarter with a 75-yard drive, as Tayven Jackson completed passes of 29 yards to Max Reese and 19 yards to Corri Milliner before finding Justin Stevenson for a 14-yard touchdown, tying the game at 17. After Tulsa punted, Jahiem White broke an 84-yard run to the Tulsa 5, and Jackson later hit Kyle Koch for a 5-yard touchdown, putting North Texas ahead 24-17. North Texas added another touchdown on its next possession, using a 39-yard Jackson completion to Koch and a 14-yard White scoring run to move in front 31-17.

Tulsa answered with a 75-yard drive led by Baylor Hayes, who completed three passes to Singleton for 53 yards before throwing a 5-yard touchdown to David Wells Jr. North Texas held a 31-24 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Tulsa turned a North Texas punt into a 13-play, 85-yard drive, with Baylor Hayes completing key throws to Christopher Gacayan and Singleton before finding David Wells Jr. for a 4-yard touchdown on fourth down at 8:17, and Carey's kick tied it at 31-31. North Texas answered with a four-play, 75-yard drive, including a 41-yard completion from Tayven Jackson to Max Reese and a 13-yard touchdown pass to Justin Stevenson, putting Tulsa behind 38-31.

After Tulsa punted, JD Drew intercepted Jackson at the Tulsa 46 and returned it 16 yards to the North Texas 38 with 2:38 left, giving Tulsa a short field. Hayes kept the tying drive alive with a 6-yard fourth-down completion to Jewlyen Roberts, then scored on a 10-yard run at 31 seconds before Carey's extra point tied the game at 38-38 entering overtime.

North Texas struck first in overtime when Tayven Jackson hit Grayson O'Bara for 22 yards to the Tulsa 3. After Tulsa stopped two runs near the goal line, Jackson scored from 1 yard out before Dominic De Freitas' kick made it 45-38. Tulsa answered with Baylor Hayes completing an 11-yard pass to Gacayan and Alston running twice to set up fourth-and-6 at the North Texas 10. Hayes converted that fourth down with an 8-yard pass to David Wells Jr. to the 2, and Alston scored on the next play, but the conversion pass failed as North Texas won 45-44.

Up next, the Tulsa football team travels to Annapolis, Md., to face Navy on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2:30 p.m.

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