Oklahoma football: How to watch, betting lines, injury report for OU vs. Kansas
By Chip Rouse
The Oklahoma football matchup with Kansas is one of the more intriguing games on the national college football schedule this weekend.
Looking at the historical series between these two schools — covering 113 games dating to 1903 — it would not appear that the Kansas Jayhawks should pose much of a challenge to the Sooners. After all, we’re not talking basketball here.
Oklahoma has dominated the all-time series against Kansas with a record of 80-27-6, including wins in the last 18 meetings. The Jayhawks have not beaten OU in this century. Kansas fans, however, will proudly tell you that the past does not dictate the present, and they are right.
This is not the same Kansas team the Sooners have been beating up on for the better part of the past half-century. Lance Leipold 2023 Jayhawk team is fully capable of handing 6th-ranked Oklahoma its first loss of the season. The good news for OU fans is the Sooners are fully aware of this possibility and will not come into Saturday’s game at Kansas overlooking the 5-2 Jayhawks, who just a couple of weeks ago were ranked in the nation’s top 25.
A sellout is expected on Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, which seats 47,000-plus. It is homecoming at Kansas. Adding to all the excitement and pageantry, the FOX “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show broadcast team will appear live before the game, again at halftime and in the postgame.
How to watch
The Oklahoma-Kansas game will be televised by FOX with Jason Benetti, Brock Huard and Allison Williams doing the announcing. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. This will be the fifth time in eight games this season that Oklahoma has been scheduled for the early morning television window and the third road game.
Weather forecast
The weather for Saturday’s game could get ugly. The temperature is expected to be 43 degrees at kickoff and stay close to that for the entire game. Rain is also forecast — 30 to 40 percent chance — for the later stages of the game.
Betting information
Oklahoma is a 9.5-point favorite, according to Betsided, part of the FanSided.com network. The over/under is 66. Money line: Oklahoma -380, Kansas +300.
Injury Report
Oklahoma
McKade Mettauer, OL — Questionable
Kaden Helms, TE — Questionable
Jovontae Barnes, RB — Out
D.J. Graham, WR — Out
Andrel Anthony, WR — Out for season
Justin Harrington, Cheetah — Out for season
Phil Picciotti, LB — Out for season
Jayden Rowe, DB — Out for season
Kansas
Jalon Daniels, QB — Doubtful (back)
Billy Conaway, RB — Out for season
Key players
For Oklahoma, Dillon Gabriel will always be the key player for the Sooners. The OU starting QB ranks in the top-seven nationally in several major statistical categories. Any and all of the OU running backs who play on Saturday are also key to a Sooner win. The Sooners have to be able run the football effectively to avoid the upset.
Defensively, the key players to watch are LBs Danny Stutsman and Jaren Kanak, DL Ethan Downs and safety Peyton Bowen. The Sooners lead the country in tackles for loss, averaging 9.3 per game.
Kansas running backs Devin Neal and Daniel Hinshaw Jr. are one of the best running back combinations in college football. Between them they have run for over 1,000 yards and a dozen touchdowns this season. If they get going against a very good OU front seven, it could be a long day for the Sooners. On defense, Kenny Logan Jr. is one the country’s best defensive backs. His 336 career tackles are the seventh most in FBS history. Defensive end Austin Booker leads the Jayhawks with five sacks.
Who wins?
The weather is likely to have an impact on the outcome of this game. Cold and wet conditions are anticipated with a forecast of 43 degrees at kickoff. The team that adjusts best to weather limitations will likely come away with the victory. Oklahoma is a 10-point favorite in the game, but I think it will be closer than that. The Sooners will need to play a mistake-free game and, conversely, take advantage of Kansas miscues to come away with a win and extend the streak against the Jayhawks to 19 games. That win streak, incidentally, is the longest active streak nationally against one opponent. Oklahoma 31, Kansas 27.