Tag: 2021 Week 3

Where does the “Game of the Century” rank among no. 1 vs. no. 2 matchups all time?

The Sooners and the Cornhuskers renew a rivalry that is one of the best ever, but where does the 1971 matchup rank among top teams all time?

When the Oklahoma Sooners enter Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, they’ll play host to one of their oldest rivalries in all of sports. The Sooners and the Cornhuskers get set to renew a matchup that’s played 86 games.

It’s been 50 years since the Oklahoma Sooners and the Nebraska Cornhuskers played the “Game of the Century.” With the anniversary of that matchup coming on Saturday, Ralph Russo of the Associated Press ranked the top five matchups between the no. 1 and the no. 2 teams in the country of all time.

Russo put the “Game of the Century” matchup between the Sooners and Cornhuskers from 1971 as the top game between the top two teams in the Associated Press Polls.

For about two decades, a case could be made that Oklahoma-Nebraska was the most important rivalry in college football. From 1971-88, the Sooners and Cornhuskers played 15 top-five matchups. This game launched that period of dominance in college football and it still stands as the best of the bunch. Big Eight rivals Nebraska and Oklahoma were 1-2 in the AP poll for seven weeks leading up to their famous Thanksgiving Day showdown.

Some Games of the Century are marked by controversy during the game or in the aftermath. That’s not really the case with ’71 Nebraska-Oklahoma, a game that delivered on every bit of its hype. -Russo

It was a back and forth showdown that pitted the two best teams in the country and, as Russo tells it, marked the launched this matchup as the most important in college football.

The Sooners and the Cornhuskers get to renew that rivalry on Saturday with a game that may not mean as much in the rankings but means a ton to two fanbases longing for this game since conference realignment changed the landscape of college football a decade ago.

Containing Nebraska’s running game key to Sooners win this weekend

When the Sooners host the Nebraska Cornhuskers, they’ll host one of the best running quarterbacks in college football. Can they contain him?

On the surface, controlling the running game hasn’t been an issue for the Oklahoma Sooners. They’ve held their opponents to 77.5 rushing yards in the first two contests. As they should, playing the Tulane Green Wave and the Western Carolina Catamounts.

If you look at Pro Football Focus’s numbers, the Sooners allow 103 rushing yards per game.

Why the difference? NCAA rushing stats take yards away for sacks, unlike the NFL that takes away team passing yards when a quarterback is sacked. Pro Football Focus doesn’t count sack yards as lost yardage for the quarterback.

Michael Pratt was the main culprit for Tulane’s rushing attack, and he carried the ball seven times for 54 yards and a touchdown. Per Pro Football Focus, 16 of those yards came on scrambles after the Oklahoma defensive front pressured him.

On designed runs, the Sooners allowed 104 rushing yards on 20 attempts per Pro Football Focus. Take Michael Pratt’s 38 yards on three carries out of the equation on designed runs, and Tulane managed just 66 rushing yards. All other backs managed 4.125 yards per carry.

Safe to say, Tulane had a pretty decent day on the ground. A big second-half deficit forced the Green Wave into catch-up mode, and they had to throw the ball much more to overcome a 23 point deficit from the Sooners’ second-quarter explosion. Or, the rushing totals against Oklahoma could have been worse.

Part of the issue was the Sooners’ struggles tackling ball carriers. Tulane forced 12 missed tackles in the game. If you don’t tackle well, then you aren’t going to win in the running game. The Sooners will have to tackle better.

Against Western Carolina, it was better. The Sooners held the Catamounts to -5 yards rushing in the first half before finishing with 64 rush yards on designed runs. Western Carolina only forced six missed tackles per Pro Football Focus, and Oklahoma held them to 3.36 yards per carry on designed runs. On scrambles, they allowed 15 total yards and 7.5 yards per attempt.

For the Oklahoma Sooners to beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers, they’ll have to be better in the run game than against Tulane.

Bryan Christopherson of Huskers247 broke down the run game, amongst other things, in the Cornhuskers win over Buffalo in week two of the season.

It just felt … difficult, though it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Nebraska beat its head against the wall with the run with the patience we often cry to have. I will say that while it was tough sailing for much of the day, the consistency of staying with the run may have paid off in setting up some big pass plays too. – Christopherson

Though Nebraska is averaging 240 yards per game rushing, which is good for 20th in the nation, it’s a bit misleading.

According to College Football Reference, quarterback Adrian Martinez leads the way for Nebraska with 256 yards rushing and is averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Pro Football Focus has him at 296, which doesn’t take away rushing yards related to sacks and has him averaging 10.6 yards per carry. Much of that is on scrambles after being pressured by the defense as opposed to designed runs.

Pro Football Focus separates running plays by a quarterback into designed runs and scrambles. If you take away Martinez’s 247 rushing yards that he’s gotten from scrambling after dropping back to pass, then Nebraska has only rushed for 473 yards in three games or just 157.6 rushing yards per game. That number would be good for 71st in the country in yards per game, and that’s a steep drop-off from the top 20.

Running back, Markese Stepp is the only other Cornhusker averaging more than four yards per carry.

Nebraska will use a read-option to try and free Martinez up to run in space. The Sooners edge players Isaiah Thomas and Nik Bonitto will have to stay true to their assignments and not overcommit to the play fake to the running back. If they commit to the running back too early, Martinez has the athleticism to break containment for easy gains.

When Martinez drops back to pass, he’ll run in the face of pressure. The Sooners would be wise to spy him with a linebacker or safety to help the defensive front maintain containment. Using an uber-athletic player like David Ugwoegbu, who is long and one of the best tacklers on the team, to spy Martinez could help limit the damage once the Nebraska quarterback breaks the pocket.

It will take a total team effort from back to front to help control the Cornhuskers ground game. To beat the Sooners, they have to control the line of scrimmage and shorten the game by limiting possessions for Spencer Rattler and the vaunted Oklahoma Sooners’ offense.

How to watch, stream, listen to Oklahoma vs. Nebraska on Saturday

As game day approaches, here’s how to watch, stream, or listen to the Oklahoma Sooners Week 3 matchup with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

How to Watch

Date: Saturday, Sept. 18

Time: 11 a.m. CDT

TV: Fox

Line: Oklahoma -22.5*

Over/Under: 62.5*

*lines courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook.

Stream

Available on fuboTV (try it free).

How to Listen

Sooner Sports Radio Network

The radio broadcast of Toby Rowland, Teddy Lehman, Chris Plank, and Gabe Ikard is also available through the free Varsity app, available on Apple IOS and the Google Play Store.

  • Ada on KADA FM 102.3 and AM 1230
  • Altus on KWHW FM 93.5
  • Antlers on KDOE FM 102.3
  • Ardmore on KVSO FM 107.5 and AM 1240
  • Bartlesville on KYFM FM 100.1 and KPGM 1500 AM
  • Broken Bow on KKBI FM 106.1
  • Clinton/Cordell on KCLI FM 97.3, 95.5 HD, and AM 1320
  • Duncan on KDDQ FM 105.3
  • Durant on KLBC FM 106.3
  • Elk City on KCOO FM 94.3
  • Fort Smith, AR on KLSZ FM 100.7
  • Frederick on KYBE FM 95.7
  • Guymon on KKBS FM 92.7
  • Hobart on KTJS AM 1420
  • Lawton on KJMZ FM 97.9
  • Liberal, KS on KKBS FM 100.5
  • McAlester on KNED AM 1150
  • Miami/Grove on KGLC FM 100.9
  • Muskogee on KTFX FM 101.7
  • Oklahoma City on KRXO FM 107.7
  • Ponca City on WBBZ AM 1230
  • Poteau on KPRV FM 92.5
  • Shawnee on KGFF FM 100.9 and AM 1450
  • Tulsa on KMOD FM 97.5 and KTBZ AM 1430
  • Wichita, KS on KGSO FM 93.9 and AM 1410
  • Woodward KWOX FM 101.1

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

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Threat Assessment: 3 Cornhuskers who could be game-changers vs. Oklahoma

Oklahoma and Nebraska will play each other for the first time in a decade. Here are 3 Cornhuskers the Sooners need to beware of in the 50th anniversary of the “Game of the Century.”

The Oklahoma Sooners and Nebraska Cornhuskers will meet for the 87th time on Saturday. The Cornhuskers roll into town to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the “Game of the Century,” as the teams will meet for the first time in over a decade.

But much of the preseason excitement about this matchup fizzled out when Nebraska fell to Illinois 30-22 in week 0. After the loss, our very own John Williams broke down the playoff implications of an irrelevant Nebraska team.

With a nonconference schedule considered one of the weakest in the Big 12, the Sooners needed a relevant Nebraska team to bolster their strength of schedule… Fans will be hyped for the Sooners’ matchup with the Cornhuskers. When Nebraska comes to Norman, there will be a lot of energy and excitement to renew the storied rivalry. However, after an upset loss to one of the lower-tier teams in the Big 10, the matchup has lost some of its intrigue.

However, the fact remains that Nebraska is (or at least it’s supposed to be) the most formidable opponent Oklahoma has faced during nonconference play. That means it’s time for another threat assessment.

Here’s who you and the Sooners need to keep an eye on this weekend.

Up Next: A Nebraska Wide Receiver to watch out for.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

How does Lincoln Riley feel about these Sooners through week 2?

Lincoln Riley spoke with the media on Tuesday afternoon. The #Sooners head coach provided insight on numerous Sooners through two weeks of action.

Tuesday afternoon, Lincoln Riley sat down with the media to provide his final thoughts on the 76-0 win over WCU and discuss Saturday’s matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

While there is much we still don’t know about the 2021 rendition of the Oklahoma Sooners (for example, how they will play against real competition), Riley did discuss the progression of numerous Sooners through the first two weeks – and how he views their impact moving forward.

On the progression of Perrion Winfrey

After missing some time during preseason camp, the 2020 All-Big 12 selection is returning to form. In response to Sooner Scoops’ Bob Przyblo, Riley believes defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey has “improved significantly from week 1 to week 2.” The senior pressured WCU quarterback Rogan Wells on multiple occasions, earning 1.5 sacks for a Sooners defense that held the Catamounts to 178 total yards.

Winfrey’s production is sure to increase alongside his snap count. As Riley and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch are likely to give their starting defense a longer leash against Nebraska.

Cornhuskers’ quarterback Adrian Martinez was sacked five times by an Illinois team that ranks 120th in the FBS in total defense. That’s a green light for Winfrey and the defensive front to bring the pressure early and often.

On his confidence in Jaden Knowles and Todd Hudson

Due to last-minute ineligibilities and sudden changes of heart, the Sooners entered the 2021 campaign top-heavy in the running back room. Eric Gray and Kennedy Brooks are both capable of being RB1, and each has led the Sooners in rushing through the first two weeks. But the depth behind them has been the primary storyline in OU’s backfield.

Walk-on running backs Jaden Knowles and Todd Hudson carried the ball 13 times against WCU. Knowles rushed just four times but was highly productive with 37 yards and two touchdowns. While Hudson also found the endzone twice in just nine attempts.

The sample size may be small, but both running backs appear to have impressed Lincoln Riley.

If Knowles and Hudson can continue to make the most of their opportunities, however, limited they may be, then OU’s running back worries could become a distant memory.

Lincoln Riley provides injury updates ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Nebraska

The Oklahoma Sooners may be without a couple of key starters on defense heading into week three against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Heading into the 50th anniversary of the “Game of the Century,” the Oklahoma Sooners are riding high after a 76-0 throttling of Western Carolina, where everything was going their way. Unfortunately, they’ll also be riding without wide receiver Brian Darby who has already been ruled out for this week’s game with Nebraska and could be without starting cornerback Woodi Washington, who Lincoln Riley listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game.

Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman were the other notable injuries from Saturday’s win, but no specific update was given on those players. Lincoln Riley did mention several other players were questionable but didn’t mention anyone by name.

Latrell McCutchin, who made his first start last week against Western Carolina, looks to be in line for another start this week against Nebraska. At slot corner, more of Jeremiah Criddell should be expected if Billy Bowman is unable to play.

Brian Darby wasn’t high on the wide receiver depth chart, but he’s figured into each of the first two wins for the Sooners and has totaled four receptions for 42 yards through two games.

Stutsman was one of the standout defensive players from the shutout win in week two and figured to earn more opportunities, but if he’s unable to play, look for Shane Whitter to get some opportunities in his stead.

Cody Jackson worked with the starters in the second quarter, turned three receptions into 31 yards receiving, and helped set up one of the Sooners’ scores late in the second quarter.

In week three, the Oklahoma Sooners’ depth will be tested if they’re forced to play without Woodi Washington or Billy Bowman against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. But every team has to deal with injuries, and it will be interesting to see if the Sooners experience any drop-off without arguably their best cornerback in Woodi Washington.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

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