Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: OU’s Week 2 matchup with SMU by the numbers

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma's Jovantae Barnes (2) carries the ball as Walter Rouse (75) blocks Arkansas State's Gavin Potter (13) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. Oklahoma won 73-0.
Oklahoma's Jovantae Barnes (2) carries the ball as Walter Rouse (75) blocks Arkansas State's Gavin Potter (13) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. Oklahoma won 73-0. /
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The Oklahoma football team comes into its Week 2 matchup against Southern Methodist University brimming with confidence. What team wouldn’t be after a 73-0 shellacking of its opponent in the season opener.

This weekend, however, is expected to be a whole different matter. SMU is not as good as Oklahoma nor as talented, but the Mustangs are certainly capable of coming into Norman and pulling off the upset.

While the Sooners were beating up on hapless Arkansas State, SMU was posting a convincing 24-point win over Louisiana Tech (38-14).

Oklahoma comes into the game as the No. 18 team in the Associated Press Top 25, up four spots from the previous week. The Sooners are ranked 17th in this week’s Coaches Poll.

Here are some other comparative and compelling numbers to get you set for Saturday’s game:

  • Oklahoma is 5-1-1 all-time against SMU.
  • After ranking 49th nationally last season in third-down conversion percentage (.409), the Sooners converted 11 of 14 third-down offensive opportunities against Arkansas State for a .846 percentage, the nation’s top mark in Week 1.
  • SMU received 3 votes in the Coaches Poll this week. That would place them No. 50 in the rankings in the Coaches Poll went that high.
  • SMU running back L.J. Johnson, a transfer from Texas A&M rushed for 128 yards in Week 1. That ranks tied for 24th among NCAA FBS teams.
  • In seven previous games with SMU, Oklahoma has scored 30 or more points just twice with a high of 35.
  • The Sooners have won 83 of their last 84 games when holding the opponent to 23 or fewer points.
  • Since the start of the 2012 season, OU is 85-7 when scoring at least 35 points and 74-4 when scoring at least 40.

Week 1 statistical comparisons (national ranking in parentheses)

                                                     OU                SMU

Scoring                                   73.0 (2)          38.0 (39)

First downs                          36.0 (11)        24 (45)

Rushing yards                     220.0 (26)      209.0 (32)

Passing yards                      422.0 (6)        248.0 (57)

Total offense                       642.0 (7)         457.0 (41)

Total defense                      208.0 (15)      269.0 (39)

3rd down offense              85% (1)            39% (69)

3rd down defense             17% (T1)          36% (67)

Red zone offense              100% (T1)        75% (79)

Red zone defense              0.0%                100% (T1)

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