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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Game Primer: OU vs. Ohio State
September 16, 2016 | Football
14 Oklahoma
3 Ohio State
September 17 / 6:30 p.m. CT / Memorial Stadium / Norman
OPENING KICK
• In one of the most anticipated regular season games of the Bob Stoops era, No. 14/14 Oklahoma hosts No. 3/4 Ohio State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT at newly renovated Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
• The Sooners are coming off a 59-17 win over ULM in their home opener last Saturday. QB Baker Mayfield completed 14 of 20 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns in one half of work, while RBs Joe Mixon (117), Abdul Adams (91) and Samaje Perine (58, two TDs) combined for 266 rushing yards. OU outgained ULM 640-350 on the night in front of the largest crowd to ever watch a sporting event in Oklahoma (87,037).
Ohio State is the highest ranked opponent to come to Norman since No. 2 Texas Tech departed Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium with a 65-21 loss in 2008.
• In a game that included a lightning delay and second-half rainstorm, Ohio State dealt Tulsa a 48-3 defeat last Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes capitalized on six Golden Hurricane turnovers and outgained TU, 417 yards to 188. QB J.T. Barrett was 14 for 22 passing for 149 yards and no touchdowns. OSU ran for 268 yards on the day (5.6 average) and four TDs. Up 6-3, the Buckeyes returned two interceptions for scores in the final 3:02 of the first half to lead 20-3.
• Ohio State is the highest ranked opponent to come to Norman since No. 2 Texas Tech departed Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium with a 65-21 loss in 2008. The other top-three AP team to come to Norman during the Stoops era was No. 1 Nebraska in 2000. The Sooners won that game 31-14 en route to a 13-0 record and national championship in Stoops' second season.
• Oklahoma is 41-2 (.953) at home under Stoops against non-conference opponents, winning the last seven (46-15 average score) and 25 of the last 26.
• OU is 132-77-5 (.629) all-time in top-25 matchups, with a 50-24 (.677) record under Stoops. When OU is the lower ranked team in such matchups, OU is 33-39-2 (.459) all-time and 11-11 under Stoops.
• The Sooners are 1-1 all-time against Ohio State and 60-44-3 against teams currently in the Big Ten. Most of those games occurred against Nebraska when Oklahoma and the Huskers were intraleague foes (OU is 45-38-3 against NU). The Sooners' last regular season game against a team in the Big Ten at the time of competition was versus Northwestern in 1997 at Soldier Field in Chicago (Northwestern won 24-0). Stoops is 7-2 against teams currently in the Big Ten (6-2 vs. Nebraska, 1-0 vs. Iowa).
• OU has three players from the state of Ohio on its roster: junior linebacker Emmanuel Beal (Reynoldsburg; Everest HS), redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Alex Dalton (Troy; Troy HS), and redshirt senior offensive lineman Sam Grant (North Royalton; St. Edward HS). Beal has nine tackles on the season while Dalton started at right guard against Houston in OU's opener.
• The Sooners are 50-7 (.877) in September under Stoops, outscoring teams by an average of 42 to 17. OU has won 20 of its last 22 September games dating back to 2009.
TV INFORMATION
• Saturday's game will be televised by Fox, with Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Shannon Spake (reporter) announcing. The Fox College Football Kickoff Show, featuring host Rob Stone and analysts Matt Leinart, Robert Smith and Dave Wannstedt, will originate from inside Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
FOR THE FANS
• Two hours before each home game, head coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners will disembark from the team buses at the intersection of Lindsey St. and Jenkins Ave for the "Walk of Champions." A pep rally, conducted by OU Spirit, will be held 15 minutes prior to the team's arrival. This week's pep rally will be at 4:15 p.m. with the team arriving at 4:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to cheer on the team upon arrival and watch as Coach Stoops and the squad walk the final yards to their temporary locker room facilities. Fans may begin lining up on Jenkins Ave. starting at 3:30 p.m.
• Sooner Fan Fest will be held in the Rhyne Hall parking lot directly east of McCasland Field House. It opens at 3:30 p.m. off Jenkins Ave. and concludes at 6 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Boomer and Sooner and have their photos taken with the Sooner Schooner, the mascots and members of the OU spirit squads at the OU Marketing trailer. Activities include a live band, a jumbotron showing games from around the country and interactive booths. Burgers, brats and hot dogs from Homeland and Red River Ranch will be available for purchase. And the Sooner Radio Network (flagship 107.7 The Franchise) will be broadcasting live from Fan Fest with Toby Rowland, Merv Johnson, Chris Plank, Ted Lehman and Rufus Alexander.
• Also at Sooner Fan Fest this week will be the Nissan Heisman House. OU Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims and two-time Butkus Award winner Brian Bosworth, as well as ESPN's Neil Everett, will appear before the game. The Heisman House will be open from noon to 6:30 p.m. CT. Bosworth, a two-time All-American at OU (1985, '86), will appear from 3 to 4:30 p.m., participating in both a Chalk Talk session with Everett from 3 to 3:30 and in an autograph session from 3:30 to 4:30. Sims, the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner, will participate in a Chalk Talk session from 4:30 to 5 p.m. and will sign autographs from 5 until 6. Fans may also take pictures with the Heisman Trophy and engage in various games, competitions and activities.
• Please note the following terms and conditions ("Terms") that apply to all Oklahoma Athletics ticket purchases, including but not limited to single game, mini-plan, and season ticket purchases. All of the rights herein inure to the benefit of the Original Purchaser only. The rights and remedies of ticket holders who purchase their tickets as Secondary Purchasers, through ticket resellers or other secondary markets may be limited as provided herein. Oklahoma Athletics expressly reserves the right not to refund or reissue any ticket purchased through ticket resellers or secondary markets.
WEATHER FORECAST
Conditions should be excellent Saturday night, with partly cloudy skies and the temperature around 80 degrees predicted at kickoff. Winds will be out of the ENE at approximately 5 mph. The temperature is expected to drop to the low to mid-70s by game's end, and a 15-percent chance of rain exists as the game wears on.
FIVE TOP STORYLINES
• Saturday's game will feature the top two programs in the Associated Press' all-time top 25 that was revealed on Aug. 2. Ohio State was slotted No. 1 and Oklahoma No. 2. According to the AP, its formula for determining its all-time ranking counted poll appearances (one point) to mark consistency, No. 1 rankings (one point) to acknowledge elite programs, and gave a bonus for AP championships (10 points). Ohio State, which has five national titles, accumulated 1,112 points while Oklahoma, which has won seven national championships, racked up 1,055 points. Joining the Sooners and Buckeyes in the top 10 were Notre Dame (1,042 points), Alabama (933), Southern California (974), Nebraska (901), Michigan (894), Texas (822), Florida State (714) and Florida (674).
Oklahoma is 2-0 against top-3 teams and 5-1 in top-15 matchups at home under Stoops.
• Oklahoma is 97-8 (.924) at home under Bob Stoops with all 105 of those games sellouts. It is the best home winning percentage among Power 5 schools during the time period (Ohio State is next at .877). OU has outscored its foes by an average of 42-16 in those games.
• Stoops hails from Youngstown, Ohio, and Saturday's game will mark the first for him against Ohio State since his time at the University of Iowa in the 1970s and '80s. Stoops went 0-2 against the Buckeyes as a player (lost in 1979 and '80; the programs did not meet in 1981 or '82) and 2-3 after graduating. The Hawkeyes beat OSU in 1983 and lost in 1984 while Stoops was a graduate assistant, and went 1-2 against the Buckeyes when Stoops was an Iowa volunteer coach (lost in 1985 and '86, won in 1987). OU defensive coordinator Mike Stoops is also from Youngtown, Ohio, while inside linebackers coach Tim Kish hails from Westerville, Ohio.
• Since Lincoln Riley was named offensive coordinator prior to the 2015 season, OU is 7-0 at home and has averaged 49 points and 602 yards of total offense per game in the process.
• Quarterback Baker Mayfield has completed 68.8 percent of his pass attempts in his seven home games as a Sooner for an average of 302.9 yards with 20 touchdowns and two interceptions (10-to-1 ratio). He has amassed those numbers despite not seeing the field for 24 of OU's home possessions during the stretch. He has been pulled early in four home games because of comfortable leads (did not play in the second half Saturday against ULM), and missed the second half versus TCU last year due to injury.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
• No. 3/4 Ohio State is 2-0 after posting home wins over Bowling Green (77-10) and Tulsa (48-3) to start the season.
• Head coach Urban Meyer is in his fifth year at the Ohio State helm. He is 52-4 at OSU, having won at least 12 games in each of his first four seasons, and is a perfect 18-0 in true road games. Meyer led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2014. The title was the third of career (won with Florida in 2006 and 2008 [beat Oklahoma]).
Head coach Urban Meyer is in his fifth year at the Ohio State helm. He is 52-4 at OSU, having won at least 12 games in each of his first four seasons, and is a perfect 18-0 in true road games.
• OSU returned just six starters from its 2015 team that went 12-1 and defeated Notre Dame, 44-28, in the Fiesta Bowl. OSU had 12 total players selected in the 2016 NFL Draft, including five in the first round. In OSU's season opener against Bowling Green, 26 freshmen saw action (17 redshirt and nine true).
• Ohio State was dominant in its first two contests. The Buckeyes are tied for third in the nation in total defense, allowing just 216.0 yards per game, and rank first in turnover margin at +7. OSU has also been prolific on offense, using a balanced attack to rank fifth nationally in total offense at 596.5 yards per game (313.5 rushing, 283.0 passing).
• Junior quarterback J.T. Barrett has passed for 498 yards and six touchdowns on 66.0 percent passing while throwing one interception. He's also added 85 yards and three scores on the ground. All six of Barrett's TD passes came in the opener against Bowling Green. He set the school record for touchdowns responsible for in that game (seven).
• Ohio State ranks ninth nationally in rushing yards per game. The Buckeyes are led by redshirt freshman running back Mike Weber, who has piled up 228 yards on 36 attempts (6.3 ypc). Junior Curtis Samuel is a dangerous weapon OSU uses all over the field. Samuel leads the Buckeyes in receiving with 14 catches for 239 yards and two touchdowns, and has also rushed for 162 yards on 21 carries (7.7 ypc).
• The Ohio State defense has already forced nine turnovers this season, seven of them interceptions. The unit has also logged four sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Raekwon McMillan leads the team with 12 tackles, while sophomore safety Malik Hooker has a nation-leading three interceptions (70 yards) to go along with eight tackles.
SERIES WITH THE BUCKEYES
• The Sooners are 1-1 all-time against Ohio State, winning 29-28 in Columbus on Sept. 24, 1977, and losing 24-14 in Norman on Sept. 17, 1983. Both programs were ranked in the top six of the AP poll in both games.
• The first meeting resulted in one of the most iconic endings in OU history, as Uwe Von Schamann kicked a 41-yard field goal with less than 10 seconds to play to give the No. 3 Sooners a 29-28 road win over the No. 4 Buckeyes. Oklahoma raced out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead after Elvis Peacock ran in a Thomas Lott fumble for a touchdown and Billy Sims scored from 14 yards out. The lead grew to 20-0 early in the second quarter, but Ohio State scored four consecutive touchdowns to lead 28-20 with under seven minutes to play in the third quarter. Oklahoma lost Lott and Sims to injuries in the contest but managed to cut the deficit to 28-26 with less than two minutes to play on a touchdown run by Peacock. The two-point conversion try was no good, so OU attempted an onside kick, which Mike Babb successfully recovered. OU gained 27 yards over the next four plays, setting up Von Schamann's dramatic kick.
• In the rematch six year later, Ohio State quarterback Mike Tomczak connected with tight end John Frank for two touchdowns for an early lead and the sixth-ranked Buckeyes posted a 24-14 upset over the second-ranked Sooners. OU played most of the game without star running back Marcus Dupree, who was sidelined with a bruised knee with nine minutes left in the first half. Dupree gained just 30 yards and had fumble that OSU converted into a touchdown. It was the only turnover of the game for the Sooners. Spencer Tillman gained 83 yards on 13 carries for Oklahoma, 37 of them on a touchdown run.
SOONERS DOMINANT AT HOME UNDER STOOPS
• The Sooners are 97-8 (.924) at home under Bob Stoops and have outscored their opponents by an average of 42-16 in those games. Included was a school record 39-game home winning streak, as well as a pair of 19-game strings. The .924 home winning percentage is the best among Power 5 schools over the last 18 seasons.
• OU owns a 41-2 (.953) home non-conference record under Stoops and has outscored those opponents by an average margin of 45-14. The Sooners' only two home non-conference losses came to TCU in 2005 (17-10) and Notre Dame in 2012 (30-13).
• Oklahoma is 453-105-22 (.800) all-time at home and 381-84-15 (.809) at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
MAYFIELD PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
• Junior quarterback Baker Mayfield is picking up where he left off in 2015 when he finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting and was named national player of the year by Sporting News. Mayfield, who completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns against only seven interceptions last year, is 38 for 53 (71.7 percent) this season with five TDs and no picks.
• Mayfield is averaging 283.5 passing yards through two games, but he did not play in the second half against ULM on Saturday after directing the Sooners to six touchdown drives and a 42-0 halftime lead. He is averaging 189.0 passing yards per half, which equates to a 378.0 average per game.
• Mayfield's 192.7 passing efficiency rating leads the Big 12 and ranks fourth nationally among quarterbacks who have played at least two games (ranks second among Power 5 players with at least 50 attempts).
• Mayfield is the only Big 12 starting signal-calller who has not thrown an interception this season.
• In first-half play so far this season, Mayfield has completed 79.3 percent of his passes (23 for 29) for an average of 203.0 yards. He started 11 for 11 against Houston and 11 of 12 against ULM.
• Mayfield has thrown 41 touchdown passes as a Sooner, the most by a player in the first 15 games of an OU career. Mayfield and Josh Heupel also rank first at OU with their 48 TDs accounted for through their first 15 games.
MARK ANDREWS: TOUCHDOWN MACHINE
• As a redshirt freshman last year, receiver Mark Andrews scored seven touchdowns on his 19 receptions (37 percent TD rate). That TD-to-catch ratio has actually increased through two games this season, as Andrews has registered three more scoring grabs (64 and 25 yards against Houston; 39 yards vs. ULM) on five total receptions.
• The 6-5, 250-pounder from Scottsdale, Ariz., now has 10 TDs on 24 career catches (41.7% TD rate), which equates to 2.5 points per total reception. He recorded his 10th career TD catch on his 23rd reception, making him the fastest player to reach double-digit receiving TDs.
• Andrews' 10 TD receptions are tied for the most in OU history through the first 15 games of a career (All-American and former Detroit Lion Ryan Broyles also accomplished the feat).
• Of all active FBS players with at least 10 career TD receptions, Andrews has the best TD-to-catch ratio at 41.7 %. The next closest players are Michigan State's Josiah Price (17 TDs on 67 catches; 25.4%), North Carolina's Mack Hollins (17 on 69; 24.6%), SMU's Courtland Sutton (13 on 61; 21.3%) and West Virginia's Shelton Gibson (11 on 53; 20.8%).
EXTRA POINT
• Quarterback Austin Kendall made his collegiate debut Saturday against ULM and has already set the OU single-season record for most yards by a true freshman in the Bob Stoops era. Kendall's 12 completions and two touchdowns have him tied for most completions and passing TDs in a season by a true freshman in the Stoops era. Paul Thompson completed 12 passes and threw for two TDs in five games as a true frosh in 2002. Other true freshman QBs to play under Stoops were Jason White in 1999 (3 games; 1 for 2 passing; 9 yards; 0 TDs) and Keith Nichol in 2007 (3 games; 2 for 7 passing; 15 yards; 0 TDs).
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