Oklahoma football: Sooners’ offense flourishes on West Texas plains
By Chip Rouse
In this year of uncertainty, the one thing we can count on is plenty of points this weekend when the Oklahoma football team travels to Lubbock, Texas.
In the Sooners last three trips to Texas Tech, all won by Oklahoma, the two teams have combined for 294 points and an average score of 53-45.
One of those games was the classic 2016 matchup between two future NFL starting quarterbacks, OU’s Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech. The two teams combined for an NCAA record 1,708 yards of offense (the two teams splitting the difference with 854 yards apiece). Mahomes passed for a remarkable 734 yards and five touchdowns, while Mayfield aired it out for 545 yards and seven TDs.
Oklahoma owns a 21-6 record against Texas Tech, including a current eight-game winning streak. The Sooners are just 7-4 in Lubbock, though, since the Red Raiders became members of the Big 12. All four OU losses came consecutively between 2005 and 2011.
Oklahoma Sooners Football
The Sooners are coming off a 33-14 win at TCU, which elevated them back into the top 25, at No. 24, after an uncharacteristic three-week absence. Texas Tech is also riding some momentum after a 34-27 home win over West Virginia.
The game represents a homecoming of sorts for OU head coach Lincoln Riley, who graduated from Texas Tech and walked on to the football program as a quarterback. He also spent seven seasons on Mike Leach’s coaching staff at Tech before being named offensive coordinator at East Carolina.
Riley is making his third trip to Lubbock as a member of the Oklahoma coaching staff. He was the Sooners’ offensive coordinator in the epic 2016 game and returned as head coach in 2018, when Kyler Murray led OU to a 51-46 comeback win.
Saturday’s game will be played under the lights at Jones AT&T Stadium. The game will be broadcast nationally by FOX, beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Tim Brando will do the play-by-play with former Oklahoma player Spencer Tillman providing analysis.
What to watch for from Texas Tech
The Red Raiders will be without starting quarterback Alan Bowman for a second straight week. His replacement, Henry Colombi, got his first start with Texas Tech last weekend and led the Red Raiders to a 34-27 win over West Virginia. The Utah State transfer completed 22 of 28 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown and also picked up 40 yards on the ground.
The Red Raiders are in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 offensively. They average 149 yards per game rushing and 282 yards passing. They are a pass-first team that leads the Big 12 in third-down efficiency, converting 47 percent of their third-down situations.
When Texas Tech throws the ball, the prime targets are Erik Ezukanma and KeSean Carter. Between them they have seven touchdown catches. Running back SaRodorick Thompson averages 70 yards rushing per game, fifth best in the Big 12.
The Texas Tech defense is better than it was several years ago, but is still not on a par with the rest of the Big 12. The Red Raiders are last in the conference in total defense, allowing opponents 486.8 yards per game, most of that through the air, where they give up 338 yards per contest.
Texas Tech field-goal kicker Trey Wolff has missed all three of his tries this season, but the Red Raiders have the best punter in the Big 12 in Austin McNamara, who is averaging 46.5 yards per kick with a long of 87.
Keys to an Oklahoma victory
For the first time all season, the Sooners played a solid game on all three facets in taking care of business last weekend at TCU. They are looking to continue that momentum against Texas Tech.
As head coach Lincoln Riley jokingly pointed out in his weekly press conference on Tuesday, the Sooners are getting very used to playing on the road. This will be the fourth consecutive game Oklahoma has been away from home.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler leads the Big 12 and ranks in the top-10 nationally in passing offense (303.6 yards per game), passing yards (1,518) passing efficiency (180.1) and passing yards per attempt (10.1). His accuracy rate is 69.5 percent, 16th best in the country and second in the Big 12. If Rattler has a big day, that means the Sooners will thrive offensively and that generally means trouble for the opponent.
True freshman Marvin Mims has emerged as the Sooners big-play threat and primary receiving target, but OU has three other receivers who rank in the top 20 in the conference (Austin Stogner, Theo Wease and Charleston Rambo). Mims has six touchdown catches, tied for first in the Big 12, and is averaging 17 yards per catch.
The Sooners need another strong performance from their running backs. T.J. Pledger is averaging five yards per carry and true freshman Seth McGowan has shown good promise as well. The OU rushing attack will get a huge boost when senior Rhamondre Stevenson is cleared to return to action. Stevenson is one of three Sooners who have been suspended for the past six games. Stevenson led the nation last season, averaging eight yards per carry.
The OU defense is getting better with every game, and it has been particularly stingy against the run this season. The Sooners lead the Big 12 in rushing defense, allowing opponents under 100 yards per game. If they are able to stop the Texas Tech running attack and make the Red Raiders one-dimensional, it could be a long night for the home team. Oklahoma ranks second in the Big 12 in sacks with 15 through five games.
Stat line(s) to watch
- Oklahoma ranks seventh among FBS teams in pass offense (353 yards per game). Texas Tech ranks 97th nationally defending the pass (338 yards allowed per game.
- Texas Tech is 40-15 in night games dating back to the start of the 2002 season.
- Texas Tech is tied for the national lead with three defensive touchdowns this season.
- The Sooners own a huge time of possession advantage over the Red Raiders (34:26, first in the Big 12, compared with 27:49, last in the conference).
Bottom line
All the numbers, including a -14.5 betting line, favor the Sooners. The talent edge in this game is pretty dramatic and Oklahoma’s young players are starting to find their mojo. Look for the Sooners to keep the streaks going, exceeding 28 points — maybe even two times over — for a 58th consecutive game and beating the Red Raiders for a ninth straight time.
Oklahoma 45, Texas Tech 27