Oklahoma football: Notable numbers scoring Buckeye rematch
By Chip Rouse
Three spots separate Lincoln Riley’s Oklahoma football team and the Buckeyes of Ohio State in this week’s Associated Press Top 25, but the number that gnaws at the Sooners more than anything is 21.
That number represents the victory margin by which Ohio State defeated the Sooners last season and a deep dagger to the pride of OU football players. It is also the largest losing margin of any Bob Stoops-coached Sooner team in 18 seasons playing at home at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
The results of last year’s game no longer matter. It is a new year and with a relatively new cast of characters and, importantly, a rare opportunity for the Sooners for a nonconference redo. The numbers may be in Ohio State’s favor, but if the numbers were always right, there wouldn’t be any need to play the game.
Here are some numbers that help provide a context for what fans can expect when Ohio State hosts Oklahoma in a primetime national game on Saturday night:
1 — Ohio State’s plus-three turnover margin ranks first in the nation after one week of play.
1 — Margin of victory for Oklahoma the last time the Sooners played Ohio State in Columbus. Uwe von Schamann kicked a 41-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining in the game to give No. 3 OU a 29-28 victory over the then-No. 4 Buckeyes in 1977.
1-2 — The ranking of Ohio State and Oklahoma, respectively in the Associated Press All-Time Top 25.
5 — The Buckeyes recorded five sacks in their win over Indiana in Week 1. That ranks No. 5 in the country.
“To be the best, you have to play the best.” –Former OU head coach Bob Stoops
.733 — OU’s winning percentage in regular-season games against top-10-ranked opponents since the 2000 season.
.950 — Completion percentage by OU Baker Mayfield in completing 19 of 20 passes against UTEP. The Sooner quarterback led the nation last season with a completion percentage of close to 72 percent.
34 — Home wins in 36 games with Urban Meyer as the Ohio State coach.
44.2 — Oklahoma’s scoring average in the past two seasons, third best in the country and No. 2 among Power Five teams.
51 –Number of weeks since the Sooners last lost a football game. Since losing to Ohio State, 45-24 on Sept. 17 last season, Oklahoma has won 11 consecutive games, currently the longest active winning streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision of college football. OU also owns a current winning streak of 11 consecutive games on the road.
181 — Yards rushing by Ohio State freshman J.K. Robbins against Indiana.
1,760 — All-time wins by Oklahoma and Ohio State combined (873 for OU, 887 for Ohio State).
2000 — The last time Oklahoma faced a No. 2-ranked team on the road. The Sooners beat second-ranked Kansas State 41-31 in their undefeated (13-0) national championship season in 2000.