Never Satisfied

Given the circumstances, it would have been understandable if the Oklahoma football team had to find its way through some early fog on a picture-perfect Saturday morning against West Virginia.

The contest came one week after the Sooners' key victory against rival Texas at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Given the magnitude of the Red River Showdown, the potential existed for an emotional lull against the Mountaineers, which is why Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said he paid close attention to his team's mentality all week during practice.

Adding to the potential early haze, Saturday marked OU's fourth straight 11 a.m. kickoff and another one awaits next Saturday at Kansas State.

The fifth-ranked Sooners heeded their head coach's warning and posted a 52-14 victory over West Virginia before the 127th consecutive sellout at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

OU (7-0 overall, 4-0 in Big 12) is now 7-0 for the first time since 2004 and has won 20 of its last 21 games the week after Texas — the lone exception being a 31-30 loss at home to Kansas State in 2014.

The Sooners also have scored at least 34 points in 17 straight games, the longest streak in school history.

"I don't think we're really satisfied with what we've done so far. We all know there's so much room for improvement around here."
- Creed Humphrey

"Thought our guys handled the week well," Riley said afterward. "We continue to take strides and continue to get better. We've got to keep that rolling. That's our goal right now is to maintain our improvement."

Asked about Riley's emphasis on having the right mentality, OU sophomore center and All-America candidate Creed Humphrey said, "I thought for the most part everybody was pretty tuned in. Everybody knows we can do a lot of things a lot better. We were ready to prove that and just keep attacking. I don't think we're really satisfied with what we've done so far. We all know there's so much room for improvement around here."

Clinging to a 28-14 halftime lead after allowing a touchdown with 20 seconds left in the second quarter, the Sooners dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Mountaineers (3-4, 1-3) 21-0 with a 190-27 advantage in total yardage while averaging 12.7 yards per play to 1.8.

"Certainly in that third quarter, we really took control," Riley said.

Riley's most emotionally charged moment came midway through the period when backup H-back Brayden Willis blocked a punt, which was recovered in the end zone by tight end Austin Stogner.

Riley said he is particularly pleased with how players are sharing the wealth on all three sides of the ball.

"We're a pretty unselfish team right now," Riley said. "Great to see all three sides rising. It's a fun team to coach right now. We'll stay that way if we keep getting better, continue to look past some of the positive things we are doing and keep finding ways to improve. Then we have a chance, so we are going to keep down that road."

OU graduate transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts wound up completing 16 of 17 passes for 316 yards, three touchdowns and a career-high efficiency rating of 308.5. The lone incompletion was a third-down drop. Hurts also had a team-high 75 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Among his many highlights was a pinpoint 46-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter across the field into a steady wind to Lee Morris, who was double-covered.

"He had a couple of jaw-dropping type throws," Riley said of Hurts. "The one to Morris there was pretty awesome."

Ten different players caught passes as the Sooners amassed 560 total yards and averaged 9.5 yards per play.

"I think we're serious about being a good football team," Riley said. "We handled this week like a team that has some good goals in mind, understanding that it is a process. It's not about one game here or there. It's just a constant climb."

"It's a fun team to coach right now. We'll stay that way if we keep getting better."
- Lincoln Riley

Humphrey echoed his coach and said, "So many teams can get caught up (thinking) 'We're doing everything well. We've got everything figured out.' I don't think anybody around here thinks that. We all know we have such a long way to go, for sure."

OU athletic director Joe Castiglione addressed the string of 11 a.m. starts with a pair of tweets before the game.

"Appreciate our fans adjusting for another 11 a.m. game," Castiglione wrote. "Although it's not always readily apparent, we vigorously push for other times, like we did for our opener. Obviously, the national TV exposure is important but we also fully understand the impact on you. We will continue to explore ways to better serve you. Go #Sooners."

Humphrey said of the morning kickoffs: "I don't mind waking up early. It gets the day going faster. I'm always really awake. Sometimes those late-night games you hang around the hotel all day and you kind of lull around. I like it, actually. I don't mind it at all."