OU fans have blinders on right now. They don't want to come to the realization their team could struggle this year. To the Sooner fans credit, this is on Fox Sports' website on the UAB team page:
UAB has never played at Oklahoma in its 10 years of Division I-A football, but it's been in this position several times before. Just two years ago, the Blazers lost 16-13 at No. 4 Georgia even though redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Williams had to replace injured starter Darrell Hackney. In last year's opener, the Blazers lost 17-10 at No. 3 Tennessee, missing a chance to tie the game in the final minutes when Hackney's fourth-down pass sailed through the hands of a UAB receiver.
(take the comment about losing to Tennessee for what it's worth considering how TN season ended)
Still doesn't dismiss the fact Peterson had to bail them out in the 2nd half. If AD had gotten hurt or didn't play, there was a real strong possibility OU would have lost.