The gambler: Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly took quite a few risks Saturday. They included going for it five times on fourth down, a wide receiver pass and attempting a fake punt from the Bearcats’ 23-yard line.

The fake punt, according to the Cincinnati coach, was an act of desperation. OU had just gone up 35-20 a couple plays earlier and a three-and-out would have given the Sooners momentum he didn’t believe his team could overcome.

“I felt that we were slipping a little bit,” Kelly said. “I thought that Oklahoma had controlled the football two consecutive drives there and I felt that we had the opportunity to pick it up.”

Cincinnati had what amounted a to screen pass called, but OU backup linebacker J.R. Bryant tipped the pass from punter Kevin Huber. The game turned into a rout afterwards. Sam Bradford hit Jermaine Gresham for a 23-yard touchdown on the next play and OU took firm control of the game.

The fake punt was a surprise considering the field position, but OU was expecting the fourth-down attempts. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said that was a tendency the Bearcats had shown during Kelly’s tenure.

“We pretty much told our guys plan on having to stop them for four downs if they’re on our side of the 50,” Venables said.

Bradford milestones: OU quarterback Sam Bradford set a career high with 395 passing yards and 29 completions. His five touchdown passes also moved him into third all time for career touchdown passes at OU with 43. He passed Nate Hybl and Cale Gundy, who both had 40.

Aching QBs: By the end of Saturday’s game, the Bearcats were down to what amounted to their fourth-string quarterback. Dustin Grutza, who started, played well. He was 19-for-29 for 219 yards and a touchdown.

But he left the game with a broken fibula early in the fourth quarter.

Tony Pike, who was Grutza’s replacement, started the preseason fourth on the Bearcats’ depth chart. Ben Mauk was the expectant starter, but lost his long battle with the NCAA for a sixth-year of eligibility. Notre Dame transfer Demetrius Jones is also out with an arm injury.

Getting the ball: After failing to get a turnover against Tennessee-Chattanooga, the Sooners rebounded nicely with two interceptions against Cincinnati.

Cornerback Dominique Franks swiped his first career interception to stop a potential scoring drive midway through the second quarter. Safety Lendy Holmes added another early in the fourth quarter.