There have been many words written and spoken this week, and for a number of months now, about the Week 2 Big 12-SEC showdown pitting Oklahoma vs. Tennessee.
Here’s what the numbers have to say about this nonconference clash between two ranked teams:
1 – Jersey number of speedy Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara, a junior-college transfer who originally signed to play football at Alabama. Kamara led the Volunteers in their Week 1 win over Bowling Green with 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He averaged a phenomenal 9.6 yards per carry in Tennessee’s season opener. The 144 rushing yards are the most ever by a Tennessee player in his first game.
Sep 5, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara (6) rushes against Bowling Green Falcons defensive back Clint Stephens (2) and Falcons defensive back Eilar Hardy (4) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
4 – This is the 4th game ever between Oklahoma and Tennessee. The Sooners have won two of the previous three, including a 34-10 win last season in Norman.
6 – Jersey number of Tennessee starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs. The potent Volunteer offense runs through Dobbs.
10 – Number of different Oklahoma receivers who caught passes last week in the Sooners’ win over Akron
17 – Oklahoma’s ranking this week in the Amway Coaches Poll Top 25. Tennessee is ranked No. 23. Both teams moved up two spots from their preseason ranking.
20 – Tennessee has won 20 consecutive home openers. The game with Oklahoma is the Volunteers’ 2015 home opener.
50 – Oklahoma wins over teams ranked in the AP top 25 under Bob Stoops (50-27).
78 – Jersey number of Oklahoma offensive tackle Orlando Brown, who originally committed to Tennessee in 2013 but now is a redshirt-freshman starter for the Sooners.
Nov 22, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Orlando Brown (78) during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
88 – Passing yards allowed by Oklahoma in a Week 1 victory over Akron. The Sooners ranked 117th in the country last season in passing yardage allowed per game (276.2).
95 – Jersey number of Tennessee starting defensive tackle Danny O’Brien, who has been suspended for the OU game for a violation of team rules. O’Brien had a quarterback sack in the win last Saturday over Bowling Green.
106.4 – Average rushing yards gained by OU opponents last season, No. 1 in the Big 12.
112 – OU wins under Bob Stoops (against 6 losses) when the Sooners hold opponents to 20 or fewer points.
158 – Wins under Bob Stoops in 166 games when the Sooners lead after three quarters.
261 – Consecutive games Tennessee has gone in football without being shut out. That streak dates back to September 1994. It is the 4th longest active streak and the 10th longest in college football history.
399 – Rushing yards last weekend by Tennessee in a 59-30 blowout win over Bowling Green, fourth most in the nation last weekend.
439 – Passing yards by Oklahoma in last week’s season-opening victory over Akron. That is more than in any OU game in the 2014 season.
851 – All-time wins by Oklahoma in 121 years of college football, 6th most in the nation. Tennessee ranks 9th on the list with 812 all-time wins.
105,000 – Expected crowd attendance Saturday night at Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium. Neyland is the fifth largest college football venue, according to CollegeExpress.com, behind 1. Michigan, 2. Penn State, 3. Texas A&M and 4. Ohio State.