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Hurricane at a Glance  Head Coach  Todd Graham  At Tulsa  3rd Year / 21-7 Overall  2008 Record  11-3 Overall, 7-1 C-USA  Home/Road/Neutral  6-1 / 4-2 / 1-0  Off Starters Ret/Lost  5 / 6  Def Starters Ret/Lost  8 / 3  Lettermen Returning  39  Off/Def/Spec  16 / 20 / 3  Lettermen Lost    16  2008 Team Stats   Stat NCAA C-USA  Total Offense 569.86 1 1  Rushing Offense 268.00 5 1  Passing Offense 301.86 9 3  Points/Game 47.21 2 1  Total Defense 379.14 74 5  Rushing Defense 129.50 37 2  Passing Defense 249.64 97 7  Pts Allowed/Game   27.93 75 6  Returning Stat Leaders  Rushing  Jamad Williams (523 yds, 3 TDs)  Passing  Jacob Bower (11-15, 138 yds, 1 TD)  Receiving  Damaris Johnson (743 yds, 10 TDs)  Tackles  Mike Bryan (119)  Sacks  James Lockett (8.5)  INTs    DeAundre Brown, Charles Davis (2)

NORMAN, Okla. -- SoonerSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at Oklahoma's Week 3 matchup against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
 

Game Buildup

Two of the nation's most prolific offenses from a year ago collide in a battle of in-state foes. While it may not be the state's biggest rivalry, bragging rights are certainly still on the line.
 

Season Outlook

Tulsa has posted back-to-back 10-win seasons but lost the Conference USA title game each of the last two years.
 
With a more balanced and experienced team in '09, the Hurricane hope the end result will be a conference championship.
 

Player to Watch

Damaris Johnson | WR | No. 3 | Sophomore
Following a stellar freshman campaign, Johnson will be the focal point of Tulsa's high-octane offense in 2009.
 
A dynamic player with the ball in his hands, Johnson can score from anywhere on the field. Last season, he finished fifth nationally in all-purpose yards and hauled in 10 touchdown passes.
 
In addition to his aptitude on the offensive side of the ball, Johnson will provide a good test for the Sooners in the kicking game, where he set a school record with 1,319 return yards a year ago.
 
Other Key Players

DB James Lockett, Sr. FB Charles Clay, Jr. WR Slick Shelley, Sr. LB Tanner Antle, Jr. OL Tyler Holmes, So.

LB Mike Bryan, Sr. DT Wilson Garrison, Sr. WR Trae Johnson, Jr. DB Charles Davis, Sr. DE George Clinkscale, Sr.

 

Key vs. Tulsa's Offense

One of the nation's elite offenses, TU erupted for a school-record 7,978 total yards last season. Two cogs in the wheel are gone, with QB David Johnson and RB Tarrion Adams having graduated, but the Hurricane return enough talent to continue churning at a high rate.
 
Tulsa's strength will be its receiving corps, with three players back (Johnson, Slick Shelley and Charles Clay) who all caught at least eight touchdowns apiece in 2008.
 
Against such a dynamic group of receivers, the key for OU's defense will be preventing the home run ball. The good news for the Sooners is that they face another high-powered offense every day in practice. Having that simulation should help them prepare for TU's aerial attack.
 

Key vs. Tulsa's Defense

Tulsa's defense enters the season with a bit of a chip on its shoulder. Coining themselves a "blue collar defense", hard work will be the Hurricane's forte in 2009.
 
With a total of eight starters returning, including all-conference performers in LB Mike Bryan, DB James Lockett and DT Wilson Garrison, the Hurricane have talent spread across the defense. Lockett is listed at safety but makes his living at the line of scrimmage, where he had 16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks last season.
 
The Sooners may look to take advantage of Tulsa's aggressiveness by spreading the ball around the field to keep the Hurricane defenders on their heels.
 

Game Implications

Again, it is not the state's biggest rivalry, but both teams have a lot of pride and will leave everything on the field. The Sooners look to extend their home prowess while the Hurricane hope to pull an upset.
 
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Stay tuned throughout the summer as we provide an in-depth look at each of OU's 2009 opponents.