Sooners need bounce-back performance; better not be looking past scrappy Tulane

The last time Tulane played at Oklahoma, a hurricane was bearing down on the Gulf Coast. That was three years ago, and as fate would have it, the same scenario is unfolding again this week.

Sooner football fans are nervously hoping for a strong statement to ease the anxiety and despair from the offensive misfire in last weekend's too-close-for comfort win over a Houston team picked to finish 15th out of 16 Big 12 teams this season. At the same time, Oklahoma needs to be mindful of what happened the last time these two teams met under similar circumstances.

The 2021 contest between the Sooners and the Green Wave out of the American Athletic Conference was the season opener for both teams and was originally scheduled to be played in New Orleans, but was moved to Norman because of Hurricane Ida. Oklahoma had to hold off a fourth-quarter Tulane rally, managing to narrowly escape with a 40-35 victory.

This is a different Tulane team with different players as well as a new head coach. Jon Sumrall is in his first season leading the Green Wave, and he came very close to upsetting No. 17 Kansas State last Saturday in his first game as the Tulane head coach. The Green Wave led K-State 20-10 at the half.

Saturday's game is the last of a three-game series between OU and Tulane that was first announced in 2015. Oklahoma won 56-14 at home behind Baker Mayfield in 2017 and followed that with the five-point win at home in 2021. The Sooners were ranked No. 2 in the AP poll in both of the previous meetings.

The Sooners have won 15 straight nonconference home games and 59 of the last 62.

The game with Tulane is the second game this season with a team from the American Athletic Conference. The season opener against Temple, also a member of the AAC, was a replacement game after it was known that Oklahoma would be a member of the SEC beginning this season. The Sooners were originally scheduled to open the 2024 season at home hosting Georgia.

How to watch

The Tulane-Oklahoma game will be televised on ESPN beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Dave Pasch will do the play-by-play with former Sooner All-American and two-time All-Big 12 selection Dusty Dvoracek providing analysis. Taylor McGregor will be on the sidelines.

What fans need to know about the Tulane Green Wave

• Tulane was projected to finish third in the American Athletic Conference, behind Memphis and University of Texas-San Antonio, in the AAC Preseason Poll.

• The Green Wave outgained Kansas State last week 491-396 and has outrushed its opponent in 21 of the last 28 games.

• Redshirt sophomore Makhi Hughes rushed for a career high 128 yards against K-State and averages 5.3 yards per attempt.

• The Green Wave are fourth in the AAC in passing behind freshman QB Darian Mensah, who completed 66 percent of his passes for 342 yards against Kansas State. Former Oklahoma Sooner Mario Williams, who played at OU his freshman season in 2021 before transferring to USC and now to Tulane, leads the Green Wave in receiving with 10 catches for 252 yards. That ranks 9th nationally.

• Tulane comes into the game with Oklahoma sporting a 1-1 record. The Green Wave defeated Southeastern Louisiana 52-0 in Week 1 before losing to Kansas State 34-27 last weekend. Both games were at Tulane.

What to watch for from Oklahoma

• Oklahoma ranks a highly uncharacteristic 108th in the nation in total offense, averaging 314 yards per game, and ranks 57th in scoring, averaging 33.5 points in two games.

• QB Jackson Arnold is struggling through the first two games behind a seriously banged up offensive line. The sophomore signal caller has competed just 63 percent of his pass attempts, He does, however, have six touchdown passes in two games.

• The Sooner hope to have redshirt-sophomore wide-receiver Nic Anderson back from injury, which should help the Sooners' struggling passing game, which currently ranks 109th among FBS teams.

• OU ranks near the bottom of the SEC in both rushing (12th) and passing yards (13th) and has just one running back averaging more than 36 yards per game. The Sooners need to be much better in both of these areas with Tennessee coming to down a week from Saturday.

• Nothing epitomizes the troubles the Sooners are experiencing on offense better than their third-down conversion percentage. OU is just 5 of 36 in third-down attempts through the first two games. That ranks 131 out of 133 FBS teams. And here's the killer: On only two of Oklahoma's 26 third-down attempts have been for fewer than four yards. When you are constantly in third-and-long situations, your chances of making a first down go way down.

• On the bright side, Oklahoma is 15th in the nation in scoring defense (7.5 per game) and leads the country in turnover margin (plus-7).

Key matchups

Tulane is averaging close to 200 rushing yards per game. Oklahoma has held its last three opponents (Arizona in the Alamo Bowl last December and the first two games this season) to under 70 rushing yards.

Coming into the 2024 season, the Oklahoma receiving corps was perceived to be one of the deepest and most talented group in the country, but injuries have depleted the group as well as the anticipated production. It will be interesting to see how the Sooners' passing game (ranked 109th in the nation) fares against a Tulane defense that has limited its two opponents to 140.0 passing yards per game (35th best in the country).

Prediction

Before the season started, the Tulane game was considered a potential trap game on the schedule. The way the Oklahoma offense has underperformed through two games, this game is more than a trap game. The Sooners could be prime for an upset if they aren't able to get the offense back on track. Given the circumstances, I don't believe OU will be looking past Tulane, and I'm certain the Sooners won't be taking them lightly. Look for the Sooner defense to continue doing its thing -- which this year means something much more positive - and for OU to turn it up a notch or two on offense, but still not reveal the full playbook. Oklahoma 34, Tulane 17