Know Your Enemy: Oklahoma Sooners
Not only do the Vols have to contend with Oklahoma’s high-powered offense, but they’ll go up against the best defense they’ve faced in 2014 so far. PHOTO: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Who: Oklahoma Sooners — Norman, OK
Distance From Knoxville: 862 miles
Head coach: Bob Stoops (16th season, 162-39, 99-24 Big 12)
Conference: Big 12
2013 Record: 2-0
Ranking: No. 4 AP/No. 3 Coaches Poll
All time series: Tied at 1-1
Last meeting: The Sooners won in the Orange Bowl in 1968, 26-24
Leading Passer: Trevor Knight — 552 yards, 3 TDs
Leading Rusher: Keith Ford — 19 carries, 138 yards, 4 TDs
Leading Receiver: Sterling Shepard — 12 catches, 226 yards, 2 TDs
Since Bob Stoops took over as head coach for Oklahoma in 1999, the Sooners have consistently been one of the best football programs in the NCAA. Stoops led the Sooners to a National Championship in just his second season in 2000, and 12 of his 15 full seasons at the helm have seen his Sooners win at least 10 games, including 8 conference championships and two other National Championship game appearances.
Last season, Stoops passed Barry Switzer for most all-time wins at Oklahoma, and his Sooners have only lost a total of 5 games in Norman since he became head coach.
Don’t look for that record to take a hit this Saturday.
The Vols will be facing a marquee non-conference team for the second straight season, and this one could be just as ugly as last season’s match-up against Oregon.
While the Vols have improved team speed and overall athleticism, over half of the roster is making its first ever college road trip, making the chances of victory look slim.
Making matters worse is the fact that Tennessee will possibly be without two of its top offensive targets Saturday. Wide receiver Von Pearson has been ruled out of the Oklahoma game with a high ankle sprain, and freshman tight end Ethan Wolf is “questionable” with a bruised knee.
Missing key pieces on offense will do nothing for Tennessee’s hopes of springing its first victory over a top 5 team since it defeated LSU 30-27 in 2005. The Sooners will likely go out of their way to exert dominance over an SEC school considering Stoops’s disdain for the SEC.
And Oklahoma has the firepower to do just that.
The Sooners are led by sophomore QB Trevor Knight, yet another dual-threat QB the Vols will have to attempt to contain this season. Knight has thrown for 552 yards and has added 52 more rushing yards on 9 attempts. While Knight does not run as often as most dual-threat quarterbacks, he certainly has enough mobility to make a defense pay.
Oklahoma features a three-headed rushing attack that has racked up 374 yards on just 58 carries among the three running backs. Sophomores Keith Ford and Alex Ross headline the rushing attack, while freshman Samaje Perine adds a bigger presence for the Sooners. An experienced offensive line has enabled these backs to flourish better than expected so far.
Not only do the Sooners feature a balanced offensive attack, but their defense is solid as well. So far, Oklahoma has held opponents to just 74 rushing yards a game, good for 13th in the nation. They’ve also intercepted 4 passes and have only allowed opponents to convert 32.3% of their 3rd downs (all according to cfbstats.com).
The Vols’ first road game of 2014 won’t be easy, and the team’s youth and injuries compound an already daunting task: Winning in Norman, Oklahoma. If Tennessee wants to make Saturday’s game competitive or even pull off a gigantic upset, they’ll need to force Knight to play sloppy and make big plays every opportunity they can get.
With that being said, don’t look for the Vols to pull off a miracle in Norman. The Sooners might well be on their way to a spot in the first College Football Playoff, and Tennessee should be just another victory in their belt.