Game Primer: OU at Kansas

Saturday, October 5

Lawrence, KS

11:00 AM

University of Oklahoma

Kansas

Tickets

October 04, 2019 | Football

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6/4 Oklahoma

Kansas

Saturday, Oct. 5 / 11 a.m. CT / David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium

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Game Notes

OPENING KICK

• No. 6/4 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0) goes for its 22nd consecutive true road win when it plays at Kansas (2-3, 0-2) on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The contest will be televised nationally by ABC with Dave Pasch, Greg McElroy and Tom Luginbill announcing.

• Oklahoma's 21-game true road game winning streak is the longest in the nation (next longest is nine by Clemson; third longest is five by multiple schools). The Sooners haven't lost a true road contest in five years (Oct. 4, 2014). If OU beats Kansas, the true road winning streak would represent the outright second-longest nationally in the post-World War II era (the Sooners won 25 consecutive true road games from 1953-58 under Bud Wilkinson and Alabama won 21 in a row from 1970-75).

• Oklahoma is 76-27-6 (.725) all-time vs. Kansas and has won 14 straight in the series. It is OU's longest active winning streak against an opponent.

• Each of the last 14 meetings in the Oklahoma-Kansas series have been OU victories by at least 15 points. The Sooners have outscored the Jayhawks 603-186 in those contests (average of 43-13) and have outgained them 6,934 yards to 3,679 (average of 495-263). The last five games have seen OU win by a combined score of 258-60. KU has been held to seven or fewer points in four of the last five meetings and six of the last seven.

• OU has won 35 of its last 37 games (.946) against Big 12 opponents dating back to the 2015 season. Twenty of those 35 victories have been by at least 15 points, and 10 by at least 30 points.

• The Sooners have won more Big 12 titles the last four seasons (four) than they have lost games against Big 12 opponents (36-3 record).

• OU has scored at least 34 points in 14 straight games (longest streak in school history) and in 25 of the last 26.

Lead, Neville

KEY STORYLINES

• OU quarterback Jalen Hurts has recorded a passing efficiency rating of at least 245.0 in all four games this season and is the only FBS player since at least 1996 to record more than two such outings (min. 18 attempts) in a season. He leads the nation with his 249.9 season rating (next highest is 225.6 by LSU's Joe Burrow) and owns four of the nation's top 12 passing efficiency ratings this year (253.6 vs. South Dakota, 251.3 vs. Houston, 249.0 vs. Texas Tech and 245.9 at UCLA). Hurts leads all quarterbacks with his 110.8 rushing yards per contest (next most among those who have played at least four games is 78.0 by Mississippi State's Garrett Shrader).

• Oklahoma is averaging a nation-leading 668.5 offensive yards per game, which is 100 yards more than the next highest average (568.6 by UCF). Making that even more impressive is the fact the Sooners rank 111th out of 130 teams by averaging just 64.5 plays per game. The Sooners average 10.4 yards per play, which is 2.1 yards more than the team with the second-highest average (8.3 by Alabama). Last year, OU set the FBS single-season record by averaging 8.6 yards per play.

• In their history, the Sooners have rushed for 300-plus yards and passed for 300-plus in a game 14 times. Amazingly, eight of those occasions have come in the last 18 games (since the start of last season), and OU has accomplished the feat seven times in the last 11 contests (including each of the first three games this season). Only three other programs (UCF [three times] and Cincinnati and Louisiana [twice each]) have registered more than one such performance since the start of the 2018 season.

• Under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, OU has forced six turnovers, five turnovers on downs and 22 punts through four games, while registering 27 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. After ranking 118th nationally last year in defensive third-down conversion percentage (46.4%), OU ranks second nationally this season (19.6%). Houston (5 for 13), South Dakota (1 for 11), UCLA (3 for 13) and Texas Tech (1 for 14) combined to convert 10 of 51 third-down attempts. Conversely, the Sooners are 19 for 36 on the year offensively for 53% (ninth nationally). OU has not allowed a first-quarter point this season and has only permitted 27 first-half points (average of 6.8). It has also forced 15 three-and-outs this season (11 before halftime).

• The Sooners led the nation last year in both yards per pass attempt (11.3) and yards per rush (6.6). So far this season, they are doing it again. OU ranks first nationally with its 13.5 yards per pass attempt (next highest average is 11.6) and with its 8.0 yards per rush (next highest average is 7.3).

• OU boasts one of the nation's best 1-2 receiver punches in junior CeeDee Lamb and redshirt sophomore Charleston Rambo. Lamb ranks sixth nationally in yards per catch (25.9) and touchdown receptions (six), and is ninth with his 103.5 receiving yards per game. Rambo leads the nation with his 28.7 yards per grab and ranks 24th by averaging 93.2 yards per contest (has four TD catches). Lamb has registered receptions of 45, 48, 65 and 71 yards this season, while Rambo has catches of 48 (two), 56 and 74 yards.

TRUE ROAD WARRIORS

• By the time Saturday arrives, the Sooners' last true road loss will have occurred 1,827 days ago (five years and one day). The last time OU lost a true road game was Oct. 4, 2014, when No. 4 OU dropped a 37-33 decision at No. 25 TCU. Eleven AP Top 25 teams lost that week, including four of the top six.

• OU's 21-game road winning streak is the longest nationally since Alabama won 21 in a row from 1970 to 1975.

• During the 21-game streak, the Sooners have outscored opponents 1,031-606 (49-29 average) and have outgained them 12,284 yards to 8,848 (585-421 average). OU has scored at least 31 points in all 21 games and at least 41 points in 17 of them. Eight of the wins have come against top-25 teams.

• The Sooners have outgained their opponent in 19 of the 21 road wins. West Virginia (in 2016 and 2018) is the only home team to outgain OU during the stretch.

• Fourteen of the 21 victories have been by double digits, eight by at least 25 points and five by at least 35.

LAST YEAR VS. THE JAYHAWKS

• Oklahoma surpassed the 500-yard mark of total offense for the seventh straight game in a 55-40 home win over Kansas on Nov. 17, 2018. The victory resulted in just the Sooners' third 7-0 home season in history.

• OU converted nine of its 10 third-down plays and its lone fourth-down try.

• Quarterback Kyler Murray was electric with his feet, running eight times for 99 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Included was a 75-yard sprint-and-score in the fourth quarter. He was 21 for 32 through the air for 272 yards and two touchdowns.

• Running back Kennedy Brooks, who replaced starter Trey Sermon after Sermon got hurt on his first carry of the game, rushed for a career-high 171 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries (6.8 average). It was his third game of more than 165 rushing yards in five outings. Brooks was OU's only healthy scholarship running back on the night.

• Playing in his last career home game, fullback Carson Meier (20-yarder) and tight end Grant Calcaterra (11-yarder) accounted for OU's touchdown receptions. Marquise Brown led the team with six receptions and 65 yards and surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career (1,021).

• Senior linebacker Curtis Bolton, who recorded a team-high 10 tackles, scored his second touchdown of the season on a blocked punt (this one by freshman receiver Brayden Willis in the fourth quarter to give OU a 48-24 lead).

• Kansas running back Pooka Williams rushed for a career-high 252 yards, the sixth-highest total in school history.

MODEL OF EFFICIENCY

• The Sooners are averaging a staggering 0.833 points per offensive play this season. Going back to 1996, the highest end-of-season figure was 0.688 by OU last season (the previous high was 0.687 by Florida State in 2013).

• Oklahoma has averaged 4.48 points per offensive possession this season, putting points on the scoreboard on 69 percent of its drives and scoring touchdowns 60 percent of the time.

• Nineteen of OU's 29 offensive TD drives (66 percent) have taken less than three minutes of game clock.

• OU has run the same number of plays as its opponents this season (258 each) but has outgained its foes by 1,302 yards (2,674-1,372).

• Each of the Sooners' top four rushers this season are averaging at least 8.0 yards per carry (9.4 by Jalen Hurts, 8.8 by Rhamondre Stevenson, 8.2 by Kennedy Brooks and 8.1 by Trey Sermon). Each player has gained over 200 yards.

BIG-PLAY SOONERS

• Nineteen of OU's 29 offensive TD drives (66 percent) have taken less than three minutes of game clock.
Despite ranking 104th out of 130 FBS teams last season in offensive plays per game (just 66.3), Oklahoma led the country in plays of at least 20 yards (111) and at least 30 yards (59), and ranked second in plays of at least 40 yards (34; Clemson had 35 in one more game).

• So far this season, the Sooners have picked up where they left off in 2018. They lead all teams in number of plays per game of at least 10 yards, (23.8), 20 yards (10.8; next most is 8.0), 30 yards (6.8; next most is 5.2) and 40 yards (3.8), despite ranking 111th nationally by averaging just 64.5 plays per contest.

HURTS THRIVING IN OU STARTING ROLE

• After a competitive battle during August camp, head coach Lincoln Riley announced Aug. 19 that senior Jalen Hurts would be OU's starting quarterback to start the season, and that redshirt freshman Tanner Mordecai would be his backup, and freshman Spencer Rattler would be third on the depth chart.

• A graduate transfer from Alabama who arrived at OU in January, Hurts follows in the footsteps of OU Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield (2017) and Kyler Murray (2018). Through four games, he ranks near or atop several statistical categories nationally.

• Hurts has completed 66 of 85 passes (77.6%) for 1,295 yards (323.8 per game) and 12 touchdowns with one interception. He has also rushed 47 times for 443 yards (110.8 per game) and five TDs. Hurts leads the nation in passing efficiency rating (249.9), yards per completion (19.6) and yards per pass attempt (15.2; next highest is 12.3), ranks second in total offense (434.5 yards per game) and yards per rush (9.4), third in completion percentage and fifth in points responsible for per game (25.5).

• Hurts has already posted four passing efficiency ratings over 245.0 this season. Since at least 1996, the most efficiency ratings over 245.0 recorded by an FSB player in a season (minimum 18 attempts) had been two. If the minimum is lowered to 15 attempts per contest, only one other player since at least 1996 has posted three efficiency ratings over 245.0 in a season: Mayfield in 2017.

• Behind Hurts, OU has rushed for more than 300 yards and passed for more than 300 yards in three of four games.

NO LITTLE LAMB

• A preseason All-Big 12 selection and a preseason first-team All-American by The Athletic, junior wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is continuing his ascent on OU's charts this season. The Richmond, Texas, product has 127 catches for 2,379 yards and 24 touchdowns in his two-plus years as a Sooner. His 24 TDs are already tied for fifth most in school history (Kenny Stills) and he needs two more to move into the top three. Through four games this season he has posted team highs of 16 catches, 414 receiving yards and six receiving TDs. He ranks sixth nationally in receiving TDs and yards per reception (25.9) and ninth in receiving yards per game (103.5).

• Last year, Lamb, who has started 30 of his 31 career games, caught 65 passes for 1,158 yards, the sixth-highest yardage total in single-season school history. He caught at least one touchdown pass in seven consecutive games and finished with a team-high 11 TD grabs. If he repeats his 65-catch performance this year, he would move into sixth place on OU's all-time receptions list (would give him 176).

• Lamb was the only player in the country last year with multiple receptions of 80 yards. He registered an 86-yard catch against Baylor and an 82-yard grab vs. K-State, both for scores. He also caught an 82-yard TD pass as a freshman against Tulane.

• Also a 2019 preseason AP second-team All-American as an all-purpose player, Lamb ranked eighth nationally in 2018 with his 8.2 yards per punt return. He is averaging 7.2 yards on eight returns this year.

Lead, CeeDee

OFFENSE HAS ROLLED UNDER RILEY

• Oklahoma owns the nation's most productive offense since the start of the 2015 season, which was Lincoln Riley's first year as OU's offensive coordinator. Riley called plays as the program's offensive coordinator and continues to as head coach.

• Since the start of the 2015 season, OU ranks first nationally in points per game (46.0; next most is 41.5), total offense (566.8; next most is 521.6), touchdowns from scrimmage (337; next most is 311), pass efficiency rating (192.1; next best is 165.5), completion percentage (69.5) and yards per pass attempt (10.9), and is fourth in passing offense (331.4) and 10th in rushing offense (235.4).

• In 58 games since the start of the 2015 season, OU has registered at least 500 yards of total offense 44 times, including in 34 of the last 42 outings, topped the 600-yard mark on 24 occasions and gone over 700 yards seven times. Similarly, OU has scored at least 30 points in 52 of 58 games since Riley's arrival, at least 40 points 40 times, at least 50 points 24 times and at least 60 points eight times.

• The Sooners have registered at least 700 yards of offense 13 times in their history, and seven of those occasions have come since the start of the 2015 season: 854 at Texas Tech in 2016, 785 at Oklahoma State in 2017, 773 vs. Tulsa in 2015, 733 vs. South Dakota in 2019, 710 at Kansas in 2015, 702 vs. Kansas State in 2018 and 702 vs. Oklahoma State in 2018.

BIG 12'S BELL COW

• Since the first year of the Big 12 in 1996, OU has claimed 12 league titles and is followed by Texas (three), Baylor, Kansas State and Nebraska (two each), and Colorado, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas A&M (one each). All 12 of the Sooners' titles have come since the start of the 2000 campaign, with no other program during that span winning more than two. OU is 133-28 (.826) in regular season Big 12 play since the start of the 2000 season. That's 22 more wins than the program with the next most victories during that period (Texas; 111-50) and 43 more than the program with the third most (Oklahoma State; 90-72).

EXTRA POINTS

• The Sooners are 37-4 overall and 12-1 in true road games as the No. 6 team in the AP poll. Against unranked opponents, OU is 28-1 (7-0 on the road) as the AP's No. 6 squad.

• Lincoln Riley is 21-1 against unranked opponents as OU's head coach (lost 38-31 to Iowa State on Oct. 7, 2017).

• Oklahoma has scored a touchdown in all 16 quarters this year, establishing a school record to start a season (previous record was first 15 quarters in 2000). Going back to last year, OU has scored a TD in its last 19 quarters.

• Eight of OU's top nine tacklers this season are freshmen (two) or sophomores (six). Five sophomore defenders (Pat Fields, Ronnie Perkins, Brendan Radley-Hiles, Delarrin Turner-Yell and DaShaun White) have started every game and one redshirt freshman (Jalen Redmond) has started one.

• Since the start of his sophomore season at Alabama, OU quarterback Jalen Hurts has posted a 9.3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio (37 TDs to four INTs).

• The Sooners have been ranked in the AP's top 10 in 43 of the last 44 polls. The only time it wasn't during that stretch was following its 2017 loss to Iowa State (fell from third to 12th).

• OU has outscored opponents 55-0 in the first quarter this season and 117-27 in the first half.

• Oklahoma ranked fourth nationally last year by converting 52% of its third-down plays and is 19 for 36 this season (53%; ranks ninth). The Sooners ranked 11th last year by converting 66.8% (9 of 14) of their fourth-down plays and is 3 for 3 in 2019, including a fourth-and-11 against Texas Tech.