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Oklahoma football: Sooners seek to avoid slip-up in Stillwater

By Chip Rouse

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys and head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners meet on the field before the game at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 62-52. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys and head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners meet on the field before the game at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 62-52. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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WACO, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 16: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the ball against the Baylor Bears in the second half at McLane Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 16: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the ball against the Baylor Bears in the second half at McLane Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Keys to an Oklahoma Bedlam win

Oklahoma has won eight of the last 10 games with Oklahoma State in Stillwater and 40 of 52 games there overall. The Sooners are still looking for a complete game, both offensively and defensively, for four quarters, and they may need it to defeat a well-coached and tough-minded Cowboy team on Saturday night.

Although the Sooners’ nation-leading yards per play total on offense has dipped slightly the past couple of weeks, they are still averaging 8.4 yards per play for the season, which is just below their NCAA record 8.6 yards per play last season.

The strength of the Oklahoma offense is its balance, mixing a strong run game with a passing attack that targets multiple receivers. The last two games, the Sooners have leaned more toward running the football and going to the air when necessary. The Oklahoma State rushing defense is much stronger than its pass defense. Look for the Sooners to try to exploit this weakness and attack more through the air this week.

When the Cowboys drop eight in pass defense, that’s when Kennedy Brooks, Jalen Hurts and Rhamondre Stevenson will take advantage of what the OSU defense gives them on the ground.

Defensively, Oklahoma must limit the rushing yards of Chuba Hubbard, the Big 12 leader, and force back-up quarterback Dru Brown to beat them by throwing the football.

The Sooners have been their own biggest enemy in the close games they’ve encountered in recent weeks (average victory margin of 2.7 points in the last three games) because of poor ball security. Oklahoma committed four fumbles and had two passes intercepted in the last two games. That can’t happen going forward if OU wants to continue winning.

If the Sooners eliminate turnovers in this game, they should win by double digits.

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