SoonerSports.com - Official Site of the Oklahoma Sooners

It's BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2 Saturday When OU Faces Nebraska

Oct. 26, 2001

Yet Another Showdown
Oklahoma visits Nebraska for another titanic battle in this legendary series, and meets a top 10-ranked team for the third time in eight games this season. Texas was No. 5 (both polls) and Kansas State was No. 9 (ESPN/USA Today) when the Sooners met those teams earlier in this campaign. The 11 a.m. CDT game will be televised nationally by ABC with Brent Musburger, Gary Danielson and Jack Arute describing the action.

Due to the Big 12 Conference's scheduling rotation, Oklahoma and Nebraska will take a two-year break after this season. Next season, Nebraska, Kansas State and Kansas go off the Sooner schedule as the North Division's representatives to be replaced by Colorado, Iowa State and Missouri.

Coaches Capsule
Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (Iowa ' 83), winner of seven national coach of the year citations last season, is in his third year at the Sooner helm. He owns a record of 27-5, which includes a 1-0 ledger against Nebraska. A more in-depth look at Stoops can be found inside.

Nebraska's Frank Solich (Nebraska '66) is 39-7 in his fourth season as Nebraska's head coach, 0-1 against Oklahoma.

This will be the first Oklahoma-Nebraska game in Lincoln for both of these men as the head coaches at these respective schools.

The Polls
Oklahoma is ranked No. 2 in both the Associated Press (media) and ESPN/USA Today (coaches) polls. The Sooners were No. 3 from the first poll through the Kansas game (Oct. 13), but moved up one spot following Florida's loss to Auburn.

Nebraska is ranked No. 3 in both polls. Of all the classics played between OU and NU, this marks the first "two versus three" match-up.

Sooners Own Nation's Longest Winning Streak
Oklahoma owns the nation's longest current winning streak at 20, the best by the Sooners since another string of 20 between 1986 and 1987 and the fourth-longest in school history (the longer streaks were 47, 31 and 28).

In addition, Oklahoma has won its last 17 at Memorial Stadium. That stands as the second-longest active streak in the land. The Sooners are 15-0 on Owen Field under head coach Bob Stoops.

The Road Record
Much has been made of OU's 20-game winning streak and its 17-game winning streak at Memorial Stadium. But the Sooners also have won their last 10 games away from Owen Field. Here is a list of that streak beginning with the most recent game and working backward ...

2001 Season

at Kansas         38-10

Texas (n)         14-3

at Air Force      44-3



2000 Season

Florida State     13-2

Kansas State (n)  27-24

Oklahoma State    10-9

Texas A&M         35-31

Baylor            56-7

Kansas State      41-31

Texas (n)         63-14



(n) denotes neutral site

The Series
Oklahoma leads the series, 40-36-3. Nebraska has the advantage in Lincoln, 20-17-2. The Sooners have more victories over NU and more triumphs in Lincoln than any other opponent. The Huskers had won seven in a row until OU prevailed in Norman last season, 31-14. This year, Oklahoma will be trying to snap a five-game losing streak at Lincoln. The Sooners' last victory there took place Nov. 21, 1987, 17-7. The winner of this game has enjoyed a double-digit victory margin in each of the last seven meetings between these two college football powers.

The Great Oklahoma-Nebraska Match-ups

Both teams are ranked at the time of the game for the 23rd time.

At least one of the two teams is ranked at the time of the game for the 56th time in this, the 65th meeting since the polls began.

Both teams are ranked among the top 10 at the time of the game for the 18th time. Here are the results of the previous 17. Oklahoma has won 13 of those games ...

2000 -- Oklahoma (#3) 31, Nebraska (#1) 14 at Norman
1988 -- Nebraska (#7) 7, Oklahoma (#9) 3 at Norman
1987 -- Oklahoma (#2) 17, Nebraska (#1) 7 at Lincoln
1986 -- Oklahoma (#5) 20, Nebraska (2) 17 at Lincoln
1985 -- Oklahoma (#5) 27, Nebraska (#2) 7 at Norman
1984 -- Oklahoma (#4) 17, Nebraska (#1) 7 at Lincoln
1980 -- Oklahoma (#9) 21, Nebraska (#4) 17 at Lincoln
1979 -- Oklahoma (#8) 17, Nebraska (#3) 14 at Norman
1979 -- Oklahoma (#4) 31, Nebraska (#6) 24 at Miami (Orange Bowl)
1978 -- Nebraska (#4) 17, Oklahoma (#1) 14 at Lincoln
1976 -- Oklahoma (#8) 20, Nebraska (#10) 17 at Lincoln
1975 -- Oklahoma (#7) 35, Nebraska (#2) 10 at Norman
1974 -- Oklahoma (#1) 28, Nebraska (#6) 14 at Lincoln
1973 -- Oklahoma (#3) 27, Nebraska (#10) 0 at Norman
1972 -- Oklahoma (#4) 17, Nebraska (#5) 14 at Lincoln
1971 -- Nebraska (#1) 35, Oklahoma (#2) 31 at Norman
1963 -- Nebraska (#10) 29, Oklahoma (#6) 20 at Lincoln

This will mark just the fourth time that both teams have entered the game undefeated. Here is a look at the previous three with the winner denoted ...

2000 -- Oklahoma (W) 6-0 vs. Nebraska 7-0 at Norman
1987 -- Oklahoma (W) 10-0 vs. Nebraska 9-0 at Lincoln
1971 -- Oklahoma 9-0 vs. Nebraska (W) 10-0 at Norman

OU's Most Recent Game
A review of the most recent outing, a 33-17 win over Baylor in Norman ...

In his first collegiate start, Jason White completed 32-of-44 passes for 343 yards (No. 10 in school history and one TD with no interceptions. White's net rushing total of -5 yards was the product of eight sacks of -66 yards. He also had 61 positive rushing yards.

Mark Clayton tied an OU freshman record with eight receptions, which went for 108 yards.

Rocky Calmus led the OU defense, which held its opponent to less than 300 yards for a third consecutive game, with 13 tackles. Roy Williams had nine tackles, five PBU and one INT.

Jeff Ferguson punted six times. Three of the six covered 50 or more yards.

After allowing no more than three sacks through their first six games, the Sooners surrendered eight against Baylor.

Baylor's Randy Davis returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, the second special teams TD against OU this season. In the opener, North Carolina's Michael Waddell returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown.

Sooners Against Ranked Opponents
This will be Oklahoma's 196th game against a ranked opponent (AP poll since 1946). The Sooners are 103-85-7 (.549) in those games. Bob Stoops is 9-1 vs. ranked foes and has won eight straight dating back to a 38-28 loss to No. 23 Texas in 1999. Stoops' teams have played eight top 10 teams and won all those games, including six by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 19.7 points per game.

Dominant Defense

Opponents completed 50% of their passes in just 10 of 32 games vs. Stoops' OU teams.

The OU defense has at least one interception in 20 of the last 21 games dating back to 1999.

During those 21 games, OU has recorded 35 interceptions and 179 pass deflections.

OU hasn't allowed 300 yards rushing since Nebraska did so in 1997 (45 straight games).

OU hasn't allowed 200 or more yards rushing in 27 straight games.

OU has forced at least one turnover in 30 of the last 32 games, including the last 21 in a row.

In the 31 games under this staff, OU opponents have scored 14+ points just 10 times.

OU has gotten a hand on 71 (59 PBU, 12 INTs) of the opposition's 108 incompletions.

OU has returned five takeaways for touchdowns. Of the other 17 takeaways, OU's offense took over, on average, at the opponents' 33.4 yard line.

Eleven different players have accounted for OU's 22 takeaways this season.

And They Score, Too

Oklahoma's defense has scored in seven of the last 10 regular season games.

OU defenders have averaged 17.9 yards on returns of 11 INTs (one TD) and six fumbles (four TDs).

Balancing Act
Here is a look at the individual balance on the offensive unit. Particularly in the receiving corps, note that six Sooners are bunched within 41 yards of each other ...

Passing
Jason White (68-of-100 for 631 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT)
Nate Hybl (88-of-159 for 996 yards, 6 TD, 6 INT)

Receiving
Trent Smith (30 receptions for 233 yards, 5 TD)
Quentin Griffin (29 receptions for 236 yards, 1 TD)
Mark Clayton (21 receptions for 222 yards, 1 TD)
Curtis Fagan (21 receptions for 205 yards, 1 TD)
Josh Norman (19 receptions for 240 yards, 1 TD)
Antwone Savage (15 receptions for 246 yards, 1 TD)

Rushing
Quentin Griffin (107 attempts for 451 yards, 5 TD)
Renaldo Works (33 attempts for 242 yards, 5 TD)

Thirteen Sooners, the same number as all last season, have at least one pass reception.

Fifteen Sooners have scored TDs this season as compared with 15 all last season.

Slide Rule Football
Few things point to the intermingling of offense, defense and special teams more than average field position. The Sooners' average starting field position this year has been their own 40 yardline. The opponents' average starting spot has been its own 24. When taking over after an opponent's punt, OU's average starting position is its own 35. The Sooner foes start at their own 23 when receiving possession via a punt. Eleven Oklahoma drives have started in the opponent's territory after the foe punted. Conversely, only two opponent drives have started in OU territory following a Sooner punt.

Offensive Efficiency

Oklahoma's opponents have 39 more rushing attempts than the Sooners, but 180 fewer rushing yards.

In the three years since this coaching staff took over, OU has completed 765-of-1,222 passes for a completion rate of 62.6%

Terrific Tandem
Never has Oklahoma had two receivers with 100 career receptions on the same roster. Antwone Savage (94) and Curtis Fagan (91) could alter that statistic.

Special Teams Review

Oklahoma has averaged at least 40 punting yards in each game except Texas when the 39.9-yard average was no doubt impacted by a late pooch (by Tim Duncan). OU opponents have averaged 40 punting yards in just three games.

Oklahoma has nearly double the return yardage of its opponents -- 1,075-628. Run backs of interceptions and fumbles amount to 275 yards for OU, just 67 for the opponents.

OU has 500+ all purpose yards in five of seven games. The opponents have hit that figure just once in seven games.

OU has 47 kickoffs this season (not including squibs). Despite a 93-yard return for a TD by Baylor, the opponents' average starting field position following those kicks is their own 20.6 yardline. Only four opponent drives started beyond the 20 after an OU kickoff, while nine started inside the 20. Opponents have returned just 17 of those 45 boots.

Sooner Summation

OU is 25-19 in Big 12 games and has won its last 13. Bob Stoops is 17-3 vs. the Big 12.

OU lost four fumbles over the first three games, just four since then. Similarly, the Sooners threw six of their eight INTs over the first four games.

Oklahoma has 59 penalties for 535 yards, while the opponents have 65 for 548.

Twenty-three of the players listed on the Oklahoma two-deep are freshmen or sophomores.

Under Bob Stoops, Oklahoma has held a double digit lead in all but four of its 32 games(exceptions are Colorado, Texas Tech and Mississippi in 1999, and Texas A&M in 2000).

OU's football and men's basketball teams worked with Norman firefighters Sept. 28 at a car wash to raise $20,000 for firefighters in NYC. During the K-State game, fans donated $70,000 for the United Way.

Oklahoma has a blocked a PAT vs. Kansas State (Rocky Calmus) and a FG vs. Texas (Andre Woolfolk), and now has eight blocked kicks during Bob Stoops' three-year tenure.

Oklahoma is 7-0 for the second consecutive season and for the 21st time in its 107-year history. The Sooners now shoot for 8-0, something they've done 15 times.

OU has 19 scoring drives of less than two minutes in 2001, 80 over the last three years.

OU has at least one TD from a unit other than the offense in 13 of Bob Stoops' 32 games.

LB Rocky Calmus, P Jeff Ferguson, LS Ben Panter, WR Josh Norman and OT Frank Romero are team leaders in games played at 43. Panter's 43 straight starts lead the squad. Of the regular position players, the longest starting strings belong to Romero, SS Roy Williams and defensive end Cory Heinecke at 24.

As part of the OU's $100 million Great Expectations: The Campaign for Sooner Sports, Memorial Stadium will be upgraded. The $65 million project will renovate facility structures and amenities, replace current seating, and add new seating - including 2,200 club seats and 27 sky suites to bring capacity to more than 80,000. Work will start just after the 2001 football season and be complete in time for the 2003 season.