Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: OU’s 5 best season openers since 2000

By Christopher Dukes

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 01: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to throw against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Owls 63-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 01: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to throw against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Owls 63-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

A 63-14 victory over Florida Atlantic, 2018

Just a year ago there was some quiet concert among Sooner faithful that a season opener against Florida Atlantic could turn into a handful.

The Owls were led by head coach Lane Kiffin, had former Sooner Chris Roberson playing quarterback and future third-round NFL pick Devin Singletary as a running back. Not only were those weapons supposed to test a shaky Sooner defense, but quarterback Kyler Muray was an unproven commodity and replacing Heisman winner Baker Mayfield’s production was an impossible task.

As it turned out, none of those were reasons to be concerned. The Sooners dominated every phase of the game, rushing out to a 56-0 lead before coasting to a 65-0 win. Murray was outstanding – be it in limited action – connecting on 9-of-11 passes for 209 yards and two scores.

Rodney Anderson reached the 100-yard mark on just five carries – two of which went for touchdowns – on a day when the Sooners averaged 8.1 yards per rush.

The defense was stellar as well, pitching a shutout until midway through the third quarter when the game was well in hand and the backups were in. They recorded nine tackles for loss, two sacks and picked off a pass.

Even the special teams got in on the action, blocking a punt and recovering it for a touchdown.

It was as close to a complete team victory as you can get and a great sign of things to come. Though the defense would see harder times that year and eventually part ways with coordinator Mike Stoops midway through the season, Murray would go on to win the Heisman Trophy and the Sooners the Big 12, appearing in a third college football playoff in four years.

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