Oklahoma football: Notable numbers from an OU KO of Kansas
By Chip Rouse
The last time an Oklahoma football team lost to Kansas was 23 years ago, in 1997.
There was no danger of that happening on Saturday, as the Sooners completely dominated the Jayhawks in handing hapless Kansas its worst loss in a so-far winless season, 62-9.
Oklahoma’s oft-criticized defense took over the game in the early going with interceptions on back-to-back Kansas possessions, and the Big 12’s highest-scoring offense took over from there, burying the wounded Jayhawks in an avalanche of points — 31 in each half — that uncharacteristically reached its highest point in the final quarter.
For just the second time this season against six Big 12 opponents the Sooners outscored a team in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma scored 21 points in the final quarter, orchestrated by backup quarterbacks Tanner Mordecai and Chandler Morris. Kansas scored its lone touchdown on the last play of the game, culminating 15-play, 75-yard drive that ate up the final eight minutes of the game.
Seven different Sooners caught at least two passes in the game, including true freshman Marvin Mims, who caught his seven touchdown pass of the year, a 14-yard scoring pass from Mordecai early in the fourth quarter. That ties Mims with former OU players Mark Andrews and CeeDee Lamb for the most TD receptions in a season by a freshman.
Oklahoma did not win all of the statistical categories against undermanned Kansas, however. The Jayhawks led in time of possession (32:48 to 27:12). This is the first time all season that the Sooners have not possessed the ball longer than their opponent.
Here are some of the other notable numbers that tell the story of OU’s win over the Jayhawks:
2 — Oklahoma’s two interceptions in the first quarter marks the second straight game the Sooners picked off a pair of passes. They also had two interceptions last week against Texas Tech.
3 — Redshirt outside linebacker Nik Bonitto recorded a career-high three of Oklahoma’s nine sacks against Kansas.
6 — Rushing touchdowns by the Sooners against Kansas. This is the second straight game in which Oklahoma has scored six rushing TDs.
9 — Number of sacks by the Oklahoma defense against the Kansas quarterback, which tied a single-game school record.
10 — Oklahoma has held Kansas to fewer than 10 points seven times in 18 meetings during the Big 12 era and is 16-2 against the Jayhawks during that time.
59 — The Sooners extended their streak of scoring at least 28 points to 59 consecutive games.
60 — This is the first time since 2015, Lincoln Riley’s first season on the Oklahoma coaching staff, that the Sooners have scored 60 or more points in back-to-back games.
103-10 — Oklahoma led 14-0 at the end of one quarter on Saturday. The Sooners have outscored their seven opponents this season by a margin of 103-10 on the opening quarter.
104 — Senior running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 104 yards on 11 carries, an average of 9.5 yards per carry, and scored two more touchdowns, giving him five in two games.
148 — The OU defense allowed Kansas just 44 yards of offense in the third quarter. Over the last four Oklahoma games, all wins for the Sooners, OU has given up a total of 148 yards of offensive in the third quarter.
200 — OU quarterback Spencer Rattler threw for 212 yards and a touchdown on Saturday. He has passed for 200 or more yards in all seven Sooner games this season.
294 — Number of yards by which OU outgained Kansas on Saturday (540 to 246).