Yes he was acquitted and oj was found innocent. Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It is on tape. The other 5 suspects plead guilty to the crime.
Whether or not the jury should have acquitted him, it did so. To my mind, it looks as though the prosecutor and original sentencing judge didn't like that acquittal. In sentencing, they thus sought to punish the defendant for the rape they continued to believe he committed (despite the juror's acquittal).