Oklahoma defense has allowed only 3 TDs in 3 games; 2 of which came vs. Tulane

We were told all offseason that the 2024 Oklahoma defense would be the best in Brent Venables' three season as head coach of the Sooners -- even to go as far as to label it as the strength of the team.

That has certainly been the case in Oklahoma's three nonconference wins to begin the new season, the Sooners' first as a new member of the all-powerful SEC.

The Oklahoma defense had six takeaways, leading to 27 points, in the 16-12 season-opening win over Temple. In Week 2 against Houston, the defense forced a safety late in the fourth quarter to preserve a 16-12 OU win. The Sooner defense also played a key role in the 34-19 win against Tulane on Saturday.

Safety Billy Bowman intercepted a pass to shut down a Tulane possession late in the game, and DL R Mason Thomas was credited with three sacks, a pass breakup and a forced fumble on consecutive Tulane possessions in the final five minutes of the game.

Through three games, the much-improved Oklahoma defense has allowed a total of 34 points and just three touchdowns, two of which came versus Tulane.

Here are a dozen other telling numbers from the Tulane game

3/7 -- The Sooners registered three sacks and 7 tackles for loss in the Tulane game, giving them 11 sacks and 23 tackles for loss through three games.

7 -- Wide receiver Deion Burks had seven receptions for 80 yards against Tulane. No other Oklahoma wide receiver had more than one catch in the game.

9 -- Oklahoma has at least one interception in its last nine games.

10 -- S Billy Bowman recorded his 10th career interception. He is the 21st Oklahoma player all-time to have as many as 10 career interceptions.

12 -- Tackles by preseason All-American candidate Danny Stutsman against Tulane to lead the Sooners.

16 -- The win over Tulane was OU's 16th consecutive nonconference home win, 23 of the last 24, 43 of 45 and 60 of the last 63.

19 -- Oklahoma has started the season 3-0 19 out of 26 times since the 1999 season and for three consecutive seasons under Brent Venables.

33 -- Oklahoma held Tulane to a 33 percent success rate in converting third-down possessions. The Sooner defense has held each of its last 17 Oklahoma opponents to a 44 percent or lower third-down conversion rate dating back to 2022.

50 -- Oklahoma's third-down conversion percentage (8 of 16) vs. Tulane. The Sooners had successfully converted just 5 of 26 third-down attempts in their first two games.

97 -- Jackson Arnold's net rushing yards for the game on 14 attempts, a career and single-game high.

155 -- Saturday's game was the 155th straight sellout of a regularly scheduled Oklahoma home football game.

167 -- Oklahoma's passing yardage vs. Tulane. The Sooners have yet to exceed 200 passing yards in a game this season.