Oklahoma football: Seven things Sooner fans should know about K-State game

Sep 26, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back Keyon Mozee (6) runs with the ball as Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Pat Fields (10) chases during the second half at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back Keyon Mozee (6) runs with the ball as Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Pat Fields (10) chases during the second half at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma football is off to a nice start as one of 33 unbeaten FBS teams as we move into the second quarter of the 2022 season and the all-important conference schedule.

First up for the Sooners in the Big 12 opener are the Kansas State Wildcats, Brent Venables’ alma mater and where he began his coaching career some 29 years ago under the legendary Bill Snyder.

Oklahoma has opened the season with four straight wins 17 times since 2000 and are seeking to go 4-0 for the 18th time during that span.

Two of the past three Oklahoma head coaches have come from the Bill Snyder coaching tree at K-State. Bob Stoops was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Kansas State for seven seasons (1989-1995) and brought Venables with him when he took the head coaching job at OU in 1999.

Oklahoma is 77-21 -4 (.775) all-time against Kansas State, one of the Sooners’ highest winning percentages against any one team over a minimum of 50 games.

Here are seven more things fans should know about Saturday’s game:

  • The first thing to know about the Kansas State game is that it is under the lights, a 7 p.m. CT start. The game will be televised on FOX with the announce team of Jason Benetti, Brock Huard and Allison Williams.
  • Oklahoma has won 12 of its last 14 Big 12 openers, and the two the Sooners did not win were against Kansas State and both times the game was played in Norman (2012 and 2020).
  • The road team in the OU-Kansas State series has won eight of the last 11 games.
  • Oklahoma is tied for 6th nationally, having committed just one turnover in three games. K-State, a team known for not beating itself, has committed just two turnovers in its first three games.
  • The Sooners lead the nation in tackles for loss (32) and ranks fourth in quarterback sacks (13).
  • The Kansas State defense has seven interceptions in three games, which leads the Big 12 and ranks second nationally.
  • The average margin of victory in the last three games between OU and Kansas State is 5.3 points.