Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma vs. Ohio State: Tale of the Tape

By Chip Rouse

Sep 10, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops talks to his players prior to action against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops talks to his players prior to action against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Week 3 in the college football season is typically when the quality of the matchups begins to get juicy, and Oklahoma vs. Ohio State in Norman this Saturday could be the juiciest of all, not just on this weekend but for the entire 2016 season.

Sep 10, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) carries the ball for a touchdown as he is shoved by Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Craig Suits (28) in the second half at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) carries the ball for a touchdown as he is shoved by Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Craig Suits (28) in the second half at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

There are a myriad of ways to break down this matchup of two of college football’s biggest brand names, and this week Sooner fans are going to be flooded with information that will leave them drowning in analytical comparisons.

At the risk of adding to all the rhetorical chaos, allow me to cut through the clutter and provide some clarity on the numbers that really matter as the fans go through their own preparation in the buildup to this classic confrontation of college gridiron powers.

Here are a dozen meaningful numbers to keep in mind on Saturday:

0 – Number of offensive touchdowns given up by the Ohio State defense in two games this season.

1,2 – Saturday’s game between Oklahoma and Ohio State features the No. 1 (Ohio State) and No. 2 (Oklahoma) teams in the Associated Press All-Time Top 25. This is based on the number of weeks the two teams have been ranked No. 1 since the AP poll began in 1936.

1st vs. 78th – Where the two teams rank nationally in turnover margin (Ohio State, plus 7, 1st; Oklahoma, minus 1, 78th).

6 – Returning starters for Ohio State, the fewest of any team from a Power Five conference.

6.5 – Average points allowed by Ohio State this season, third best in the nation.

9 – Turnovers forced by Ohio State in a pair of blowout wins preceding the road battle at Oklahoma.

20 – When allowing 20 or fewer points by an opponent in the Bob Stoops era (1999-present), Oklahoma is a combined 115-6. When allowing 10 or fewer points, the Sooners are 66-1 under Stoops.

66.5 – Average penalty yards by Ohio State in the Buckeye’s first two games.

72 – Baker Mayfield’s completion percentage in two games this season, tied for 13th in the nation.

112 – Margin of victory in Ohio State’s two wins this season (77-10 over Bowling Green and 48-3 over Tulsa).

602.5 – Oklahoma’s average offensive yardage (256.9 rushing, 345.4 passing) in the seven home games that Lincoln Riley has been the Sooners’ offensive coordinator.

2008 – The last time an opponent ranked in the top three nationally played at Oklahoma. That team was Texas Tech, and the final score in the game was OU 65, Texas Tech 21. The Sooners played host to No. 1 Nebraska in 2000 and came away with a 31-14 victory in that one after trailing at one point 14-0.

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