Game Primer: OU vs. Kansas State

Saturday, September 24

Norman

7 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

Kansas State

Tickets

September 22, 2022 | Football

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^6/6 Oklahoma

Kansas State

Saturday, Sept. 24 / 7 p.m. CT / Owen Field

FOX / Radio / Live Stats / Game Notes

OPENING KICK

• No. 6/6 Oklahoma (3-0, 0-0) plays its first Big 12 Conference game of the Brent Venables head coaching era when its hosts Kansas State (2-1, 0-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The game will be televised by FOX with Jason Benetti, Brock Huard and Allison Williams announcing.

• Oklahoma has won 14 Big 12 championships in the league's first 26 years while Kansas State is tied for fourth with two titles (the two programs shared the 2012 crown).

• Since 1999, OU has won three more Big 12 championships (14) than it has lost overall home games (11; three of the losses were to Kansas State).

• Oklahoma is 54-8 (.871) in regular season Big 12 play since the start of the 2015 season. Oklahoma State ranks second during that period (42-21; .667), Iowa State, TCU and West Virginia third (33-30; .524) and Texas sixth (32-30; .516). Kansas State is eighth at 30-33 (.476).

• OU has won eight of its last nine Big 12 openers and 12 of its last 14. Its two Big 12-opening defeats in the last 14 years both came to Kansas State in Norman (24-19 in 2012 and 38-35 in 2020).

• Oklahoma has won its last 10 home games and 28 of its last 29. Its lone loss during the period was to Kansas State in 2020.

• OU has been ranked in each of the last 30 AP Top 25 polls and in 114 of the last 118 going back to the start of the 2015 season. It has been ranked in the top 10 in 82 of those 118 polls. Kansas State has made 10 AP Top 25 appearances since the start of the 2015 season, with its highest ranking during that stretch at No. 16 in 2020. The Wildcats were ranked in the top 25 in 44 of 65 polls from 2011-14.

• The Sooners are coming off a 49-14 road win over Nebraska on Saturday, a game in which they outgained the Huskers 580 yards to 327 (534-226 through three quarters when it was 49-7). OU's 49 points and 580 yards were its most ever in a game in Lincoln.

• After 34-0 and 40-12 respective home wins over South Dakota and Missouri, Kansas State dropped a home contest to Tulane on Saturday, 17-10. Both teams finished with 336 total yards (Tulane averaged 5.1 yards per play to K-State's 4.6).

Lead, Gabriel Team NEB

FOR THE FANS

• Approximately two hours and 15 minutes before each home game, OU's players will disembark the team buses near the intersection of Lindsey St. and Jenkins Ave. for the "Walk of Champions." This year's route has changed from previous seasons, as the team will be led on foot by the Sooner Schooner heading north on Jenkins to Gate 13 where they will enter the stadium. OU Spirit will be on hand per usual, and for the first time the Pride of Oklahoma will perform during the team procession. Fans are encouraged to cheer on the team upon its 4:45 p.m. arrival as it walks the final yards to the stadium.

• Once again, "Party at the Palace, Presented by Allstate" will be held on the lawn immediately north of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. With an expanded footprint this year, the event will start at 2:30 p.m. and will feature great food options (food trucks from Bondi Bowl, HTeaO, Kona Ice, The Meating Place, Midway Deli and Supermercados Morelos), interactive games for kids (including an expanded Kids' Zone and a "Skills and Drills" mini football field), a DJ, the Sooner Schooner, mascots and members of the OU spirit squads. Devon Energy's innovative STEM program "SportsLabs" will take place on the lawn immediately north of Heisman Park on the east side of Jenkins Ave.

• On Saturday at 3:30, a statue honoring former OU defensive greats Lucious, Dewey and Lee Roy Selmon will be unveiled and dedicated just northeast of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (corner of Jenkins Ave. and Brooks St.). Lucious and Dewey Selmon will be present for the statue dedication, as will family members of Lee Roy Selmon, who passed away in 2011. Former OU head coach Barry Switzer, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. and OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione will also speak at the ceremony, which is free to the public. The Selmons will also be honored on the field at halftime of Saturday's game.

KEY STORYLINES

• Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, who is from Salina, Kan., played his last two seasons at Kansas State (1991 and '92) after transferring from Garden City (Kan.) Community College. The linebacker earned honorable mention All-Big Eight honors as a senior when he registered 124 tackles. Following his playing career, Venables was a K-State graduate assistant (1993-95) before joining Bill Snyder's full-time staff as linebackers coach (1996-98). He also held the title of defensive running game coordinator in 1998 before joining Bob Stoops' OU staff as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach ahead of the 1999 season.

• Oklahoma has lost only eight Big 12 games since the start of the 2015 season (58-8 record, includes a 4-0 record in Big 12 Championship games) and two of the defeats have come to unranked Kansas State squads over the last three years. The Wildcats downed No. 5 OU 48-41 in 2019 in Manhattan and rallied for a 38-35 win over the No. 3 Sooners in 2020 in Norman. OU's other Big 12 losses the past seven seasons came to Texas in 2015 and 2018, to Iowa State in 2017 and 2020, and to Baylor and Oklahoma State in 2021. Only one of the eight defeats was by more than seven points (27-14 at Baylor last year).

• The road team in the OU-Kansas State series has won eight of the last 11 meetings. In fact, since the start of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, the visiting team is 12-7 in the series. The Wildcats are 4-5 (.444) in Norman in the Big 12 era (wins in 1997, 2012, 2014 and 2020), by far the best conference winning percentage by an opponent during the period (Oklahoma State is 3-9 [.250], Colorado and Nebraska were 1-3 [.250] and Texas Texas Tech is 2-11 [.154]; no other program has won more than one Big 12 game in Norman since 1996). OU's last three home losses to K-State came by a combined nine points.

• Saturday's game will mark the eighth straight Oklahoma-Kansas State meeting in which the Sooners were the lone ranked team (they are 5-2 in the last seven contests). The last time K-State was ranked when playing OU was in 2014, a contest that saw the No. 14 Wildcats beat the No. 11 Sooners 31-30 in Norman.

• OU ranks 14th nationally by allowing just 10.0 points per game. The Sooners have allowed 30 total points, marking the first time since 2013 they've given up 30 or fewer over the first three games of a season. This also marks just the second time since 2009 they have surrendered 14 points or fewer in three consecutive games within a season (also in 2020).

• Despite ranking 126th out of 131 FBS teams in average time of possession this season (24:55), the Sooners have outgained their opponents by a combined 564 yards (1,502-938). OU has run 22 fewer plays than its opponents, but ranks 16th nationally by averaging 7.2 yards per play and 11th by allowing just 4.1 yards per play.

• Since the start of the 2015 season, OU leads the country with its 5.5 yards per rush and ranks fifth nationally (second in Power 5) with its 240 rushing touchdowns. This season, the Sooners are averaging 5.5 yards per carry and have rushed for nine TDs. They have rushed 128 times (seven of those have been sacks) and attempted 81 passes.

• The Sooners' defense leads the nation with its 32 tackles for loss (nation-leading 167 lost yards) and ranks fourth nationally with its 13 sacks (4.3 per contest) and second with its 96 sack yards. OU recorded six sacks against UTEP, three versus Kent State and four at Nebraska. Kansas State has only allowed four sacks over its three games.

• Oklahoma is tied for sixth nationally by committing just one turnover on the year. That turnover (a fumble) didn't occur until the third quarter of Saturday's game at Nebraska. OU's +5 turnover margin on the season is tied for 10th best in the country. The Sooners have registered three fumble recoveries and three interceptions. They have intercepted at least one pass in eight straight games, the second-longest streak nationally (Georgia State; 11).

Marvin Mims

LAST YEAR AT KANSAS STATE

• Oklahoma upped a 13-10 halftime lead to a 34-17 advantage with 9:49 left in the fourth quarter and held on for a 37-31 win at Kansas State last year on Oct. 2.

• The Sooners were particularly effective in the second and third quarters, gaining 308 yards and outscoring the Wildcats 24-10 in those two periods.

• Spencer Rattler completed 22 of 25 passes (88%) for 243 yards and two touchdowns on the day. His TD passes went to tight end/H-back Jeremiah Hall (second of season, 10th of career) and receiver Mike Woods (second as a Sooner, 12th of career). Hall also rushed for his first career TD on a four-yard play in the second quarter.

• Kennedy Brooks rushed 15 times for 91 yards and notched his fourth rushing TD of the season (four-yarder to give OU a 20-10 lead).

• Receiver Marvin Mims paced OU with 71 receiving yards on a team high-tying four catches (17.8-yard average).

• Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, who had 2.0 tackles for loss on the day, returned a fumble 70 yards on the game's opening possession to set a record for the longest in program history (the fumble was forced by defensive end Reggie Grimes). Bonitto's return set up a 40-yard Gabe Brkic field goal. Brkic made all three of his field goal attempts (also connected on 27- and 47-yard tries).

• The Sooners scored points on each of their first five possessions and in seven of their eight series on the day. They did not punt.

• Defensive back Justin Broiles was credited with a game-high-tying nine tackles and a career-high 1.5 for loss. Linebacker Brian Asamoah also tallied nine stops.

• OU played without regular starting cornerback Woodi Washington and regular starting safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (both missed the game due to injury).

HOME IS WHERE THE "W" IS

• Oklahoma is 132-11 (.923) at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium since the start of the 1999 season, giving the Sooners three more Big 12 championships over the last 23 years (14) than home defeats. It is the nation's best home winning percentage over the last 23-plus seasons (Boise State [.917] and Ohio State [.894] are next). OU has outscored its opponents by an average of 43-17 in those games.

• The Sooners have posted 142 straight sellouts of originally scheduled home games dating back to the start of the 1999 season (Bob Stoops' first as head coach). Only Nebraska (FBS-record 384) has a longer current streak.

• OU has recorded 41 unbeaten seasons at home, including 15 in the last 23 years.

NOTING THE NEWBIES

• Twenty-nine players (25 of them first-year Sooners) have made their first appearance in an OU uniform this season. The 25 newcomers who have seen the field this year are redshirt seniors Jeffery Johnson (DL), C.J. Coldon (DB), Kyle Ergenbright (OL), Jonah Laulu (DL) and Daniel Parker (TE), senior Trey Morrison (DB), redshirt juniors Davis Beville (QB), Dillon Gabriel (QB) and McKade Mettauer (OL), redshirt sophomores LV Bunkley-Shelton (WR), Tyler Guyton (OL) and J.J. Hester (WR), sophomore Tawee Walker (RB) and freshmen Jovantae Barnes (RB), Gavin Freeman (WR), Jayden Gibson (WR), Gracen Halton (DL), Kaden Helms (TE), Jaren Kanak (LB), Jason Llewellyn (TE), Peter Schuh (DB), Jacob Sexton (OL), Jake Taylor (OL), R Mason Thomas (DL) and Gentry Williams (DB).

FIRST-TIME STARTERS

• Ten players have made their first OU starts this season. Against UTEP, they were were redshirt senior transfer Jeffery Johnson (DL; started 44 games at Tulane), redshirt senior Jordan Kelley (DL), redshirt junior transfers Dillon Gabriel (QB; started 25 games at UCF) and McKade Mettauer (OL; started 28 games at Cal), redshirt sophomore transfer Tyler Guyton (OL; started one game at TCU as an H-back) and sophomores Ethan Downs (DE) and Danny Stutsman (LB). Versus Kent State they were redshirt junior Isaiah Coe (DL) and sophomore Jalil Farooq (WR), and at Nebraska, sophomore Damond Harmon (DB) made his first career start.

Lead, Stutsman

DEFENSE OFF TO A STRONG START

• Oklahoma leads the nation with its 32 tackles for loss and 167 TFL yardage, and ranks second nationally in TFLs per game (10.7, second only to James Madison's 11.5 TFLs per game). The Sooners are also tied for fourth in total sacks (13) and fifth by in sacks per game (4.3).

• OU's 32 tackles for loss are its third most through the first three games of a season since 2000, and the most since 2009. Only the 2007 and 2009 teams (34 TFLs through three contests) had more in the last 23 years.

• The Sooners rank 10th in opponent red zone percentage (60%), 11th in opponent yards per play (4.1), 11th in yards per completion (9.3), 14th in scoring defense (10.0 ppg), 22nd in pass efficiency defense (106.1 rating) and 35th in total defense (312.7 ypg).

• Oklahoma's 30 points allowed through its first three games are its fewest since the 2013 squad allowed 27 points. This is the first time OU has allowed 14 or fewer points in any of its first three contests since 2009. Since the turn of the century, OU has allowed 14 or fewer points in three consecutive games 13 times, and Brent Venables has been on staff for 11 of those occasions.

• Oklahoma has allowed only three touchdowns through three games this season. It is the first time since the 2013 season the Sooners have allowed only three TDs over over any three-game span (no TDs in 34-0 win vs. UL-Monroe, one TD in 16-7 win vs. West Virginia and two TDs in 51-20 win over Tulsa in '13).

• The defense has been led by a pair of standout sophomores in linebacker Danny Stutsman (25 tackles) and safety Billy Bowman (24 tackles), who rank second and fourth in the Big 12 in total tackles, and junior defensive end Reggie Grimes, who leads the Big 12 by avergaing 1.3 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss per game.

• Bowman set career highs in tackles each of the first two weeks (nine vs. UTEP and 11 vs. Kent State). Against Kent State, he forced and recovered a fumble on the same play. It was his second career forced fumble and first recovery.

• Stutsman also established career highs in tackles in each of the first two games, logging nine stops against UTEP and 12 (4.0 TFLs) against Kent State. Prior to his performance vs. Kent State, the last Sooner to register four TFLs in a game was Ronnie Perkins, at Baylor in 2019.

• Grimes has been a menace in opposing backfields this season. Six of his 10 tackles through three games have been for lost yardage and four have been sacks. His 6.0 TFLs have cost opponents 36 lost yards while his 4.0 sacks have totaled 31 yards. Grimes is tied for ninth nationally and first in the Big 12 in TFLs and TFLs per game, and ranks third nationally (first in the Big 12) in TFL yardage. He leads the Big 12 and ranks tied for fifth nationally in sacks and sixth in sack yardage.

• The Sooners have registered an interception in each of their first three games this season and in eight consecutive contests, dating back to last season. That streak ranks second nationally only to Georgia State, which has an interception in 11 straight games. Freshman DB Gentry Williams picked off a pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter of the season opener against UTEP, redshirt senior DB Justin Harrington notched his first career interception in the fourth quarter against Kent State and junior DB Key Lawrence hauled in his first career interception in the end zone at Nebraska.

NOTING THE OFFENSE

• Oklahoma ranks 16th nationally by averaging 7.2 yards per play and is 20th in scoring offense (42.3 ppg) and 18th in total offense (500.7 ypg) despite ranking 66th in total plays (209 plays, 69.7 per game) and 127th (out of 132 FBS teams) in time of possession (24:55 per game).

• The Sooners have scored on 11 of their 12 red zone opportunities this season (nine touchdowns and two field goals). The only exception was a third-quarter fumble at Nebraska.

• Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has completed 52 of 78 passes (66.7%) for 759 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions this season. He has also rushed for 65 net yards and two touchdowns, including a 61-yard score at Nebraska. Gabriel ranks 15th nationally in passing efficiency rating (178.0), 18th in yards per pass attempt (9.7), 19th in yards per completion (14.6), 20th in points responsible for per game (18.0), 23rd in passing TDs and 36th in passing yards per game (253.0) and total offense (274.7). He was named Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week after his performance against Kent State in week two.

• Senior running back Eric Gray leads an OU rushing attack that averages 235.0 yards per game, 5.5 yards per carry and 3.0 touchdowns per game. Gray ranks sixth nationally with his 7.7 yards per carry and third in the Big 12 with his 95.3 rushing yards per game. He rank for 102 yards against UTEP, 71 versus Kent State and 113 at Nebraska (two TDs). Redshirt junior Marcus Major paces the team with four rushing TDs (also has a receiving score). He is averaging 42.3 yards per game and 5.3 yards per rush.

• Oklahoma has scored touchdowns on 17 offensive possessions this season, and only five of those TD drives have taken longer than two minutes of game clock. Only two of the others took more than three minutes and none have taken more than 4:01 of clock time. OU's 17 touchdown drives this season have averaged 6.3 plays, 63.7 yards and 1:47 of game clock.

• In each of their first three games, the Sooners have outscored (by at least 30 points) and outgained (by at least 135 total yards) their opponents despite trailing the total time of possession. In its 45-13 season-opening win over UTEP, Oklahoma outgained the Miners 495 to 316, but only possessed the ball for 21:27 (to UTEP's 38:33). In its 33-3 victory over Kent State, OU gained 430 total yards to the Golden Flashes' 295 yards and held the ball for only 23:41 to KSU's 36:19 possession time. In the 49-14 win at Nebraska, the Sooners outgained the Huskers 580 to 327 in total yardage and held the ball for 29:36.

• Against UTEP, Oklahoma operated quickly and efficiently in the first quarter, scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions to race to a 21-0 lead in the first 8:17 of the game. In the Kent State game, the Sooners scored all 31 of their offensive points in just shy of a quarter (14:35, spanning the last 1:10 of the second quarter until 1:35 remaining in the third). OU put together four TD drives and a field goal in 6:15 total possession time. At Nebraska, OU scored seven touchdowns on nine possessions starting at the 9:30 mark of the first quarter and ending at the 8:59 mark of the third quarter (just over one half of action).

BALANCED OFFENSE NOTHING NEW

• Oklahoma totaled 259 rushing yards and 233 passing yards in its season-opening win over UTEP and totaled 312 rushing yards and 268 passing yards at Nebraska on Saturday. OU has gained at least 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards in 48 of 96 games since the start of the 2015 season (50% of its contests over the last seven-plus seasons). The Sooners have also rushed for at least 250 yards 37 times in the same span.

MARVELOUS MARVIN

• Through three games this season, junior wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. ranks sixth nationally and third in the Big 12 by averaging 19.7 yards per punt return (118 yards on six returns). He ranks 16th nationally (second in Big 12) in receiving yards (310), 13th nationally (second in Big 12) in receiving yards per game (103.3) and 13th nationally (first in Big 12) with his 22.1 yards per catch.

• Mims has made 14 career receptions of at least 40 yards (registered a 42-yard catch in the season opener against UTEP and a 58-yard TD reception against Kent State). CeeDee Lamb (2017-19) holds the school record with 24 receptions of 40 or more yards.

• Mims led the Sooners in receiving yards each of his first two seasons. He has made 85 receptions for 1,625 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed five times for 35 yards in 27 career games (14 starts). He has also returned 29 punts for 349 yards (12.0 average) and three kickoffs for 70 yards (23.3 average). He has five career games with two TD receptions, including Sept. 10 vs. Kent State.

• Mims registered 32 receptions for 705 yards and five TDs as a sophomore last season. As a freshman in 2020, he led the team with 610 yards and nine touchdowns on 37 receptions. His nine TD catches tied for most in the Big 12, matched the Big 12 record for a true freshman and established an OU freshman record. He also became the first Oklahoma wide receiver to earn FWAA Freshman All-America honors, and was a second-team All-Big 12 pick by the league's coaches and media.

• Mims set the Texas high school state record for receiving yards in a career (5,485) and in a season (2,629 to go along with 32 touchdowns on 117 catches as a senior). He played at Lone Star High School in the city of Frisco.

OU'S BIG 12 DOMINATION

• Oklahoma's win over Iowa State in the 2020 Big 12 Championship resulted in the Sooners' sixth straight Big 12 title and 14th since 2000 (no other program has won more than two during the span). For perspective, the two Power Five programs with the next most conference titles this millennium are Ohio State (11 in Big Ten) and Oregon (eight in Pac-10/Pac-12).

• OU's 14 Big 12 titles are 11 more than the program with the next most. Baylor and Texas have each won three Big 12 championships and are followed by Kansas State and Nebraska (two each), and Colorado, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas A&M (one each). Colorado and Nebraska left the Big 12 after the 2010 season and Texas A&M departed after the 2011 campaign.

• Since 2010, OU has won eight Big 12 titles and is followed by Baylor (three) and Kansas State, Oklahoma State and TCU (one each).

• Since 2000, OU has won more Big 12 championships (14) than it has lost home games (11).

• Oklahoma is the only program to win at least three straight Big 12 titles, and it has done so twice (2006-08 and 2015-20). Baylor (2013-14) is the only other program to win two Big 12 championships in a row.

• At 11-1, the Sooners are the only program with a winning record in Big 12 Championship games. Texas (3-3) and Baylor (1-1) have the next best marks.

• Over the last seven years, OU has posted a 54-8 (.844) record in regular season Big 12 play. The next best mark during the stretch is 42-21 (.667) by Oklahoma State.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S BEST

• During the modern era of college football (since the end of World War II), the Sooners are the nation's No. 1 team with more wins (687) than any other program (next most is 649 by Alabama).

• OU has finished in the top 5 of the AP poll a nation-leading 33 times.

• OU leads all FBS programs with 50 all-time conference championships. The rest of the top five includes Nebraska (46), Michigan (43), Ohio State (39) and USC (37). The Sooners' 14 league titles since 2000 are the most among Power Five programs (Ohio State ranks second with 11).

• No program has more all-time 10-win seasons than Oklahoma, which is tied with Alabama with 41 (OU has a nation-leading 18 10-win campaigns since 2000). In addition, OU's 27 seasons with at least 11 wins are the most in college football history.

• Since former head coach Bob Stoops arrived in Norman in 1999, OU leads the country with its 11,936 points scored, which is 554 points more than second-place Boise State (11,382) and 1,055 more than third-place Oregon (10,881).

• OU's 80 consensus All-Americans since 1950 are the most nationally (Alabama ranks second with 74 and Ohio State third with 72). Since 2000, the Sooners have produced 30 consensus All-Americans, second only to Alabama.

• OU is the only program that has produced at least four NFL Draft picks each of the last 15 years.

EXTRA POINTS

• Oklahoma ranks 19th nationally (sixth among teams with at least 2.0 returns per game) with its 15.9 yards per punt return. Marvin Mims Jr. ranks sixth nationally with his 19.7 yards per return (118 yards on six returns). The Sooners have already almost doubled their total punt return yards from last year (12 returns for 69 yards in 2021; eight returns for 127 yards this season).

• The Sooners have outscored opponents 35-7 in the first quarter and 52-0 in the third quarter this season.

• OU has given up one play of 30 or more yards this season. Only Iowa and Tulane have given up none.

• Oklahoma is 43-4 all-time as the No. 6-ranked team in the AP poll (23-2 at home). Its last home loss as the No. 6 team in the AP poll was a 24-19 decision against No. 15 Kansas State in 2012 (the other was a loss to No. 1 Notre Dame in 1953). The Sooners have won their last five home games as the sixth-ranked team in the AP poll. The most recent was a 55-19 victory over Texas Tech in 2019.

• Forty-seven of OU's 115 players (41%) are new to the program this season, while 60 players (52%) had never played in a game for the Sooners prior to the opener vs. UTEP. Of the 47 new players, 23 are on offense, 21 are on defense and three are special-teamers (one kicker, one punter and one long snapper).

• Every OU freshman class from 1999-2019 has won at least one Big 12 championship and all but the 2011 freshman class have won at least two. The 2015, 2016 and 2017 freshman classes each won four Big 12 titles.

• Since 2000, OU is the only program in the country that has not had a losing record in any season.

• OU has won 80 straight games when holding opponents to 23 or fewer points. The last time OU held an opponent to 23 or fewer points and lost was in 2009 (fell 10-3 at Nebraska on Nov. 7).

• Since the start of the 2012 season, OU is 83-5 when scoring at least 35 points and 72-3 when scoring at least 40.