Opponent Offensive Breakdown: Oklahoma Sooners

The West Virginia Mountaineers hit the road to Norman this week, and coming in off of back-to-back losses giving up an average of 40 points per game, WVU will face one of the most electric offenses in the country. Not only do the fifth-rated Oklahoma Sooners average 9.56 yards per play and 621.7 yards per game, they also put up a whopping 50.2 points per game. In other words, they are putting up video game numbers.

The Sooner offense is led by senior quarterback, and Alabama transfer, Jalen Hurts. Arguably a Heisman Trophy front-runner, Hurts has 2,388 yards of total offense and 26 total touchdowns on the season. The most astounding statistic is that Hurts averages 17.9 yards per completion, not to forget about his 8.5 yards per carry.

Hurts is partnered with a running back duo of Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon. Brooks has 311 yards on the year to go with Sermon’s 345 yards. The two have combined for five rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown this year. Head coach Neal Brown stated earlier this week that their rushing attack is every bit as elite as their passing game. The offensive line has been a strength for the Sooners over the last decade or so  thanks to Bill Bedenbaugh – who has churned out many NFL draft picks over his career.

Norman is also home to undoubtedly the nation’s most dynamic wide receiver room in the country. Led by CeeDee Lamb, the Sooner receivers average 335.3 yards per game, and reel in over three touchdowns a game. Lamb is coming off of a 10 reception, 171 yard, three touchdown game. Coach Brown stated that there isn’t another player at the receiver position playing better than Lamb through the first half of the season. The Mountaineers will have an uphill battle with those experienced receivers as they will have to likely start two true freshman: Nicktroy Fortune and Tae Mayo. Nothing says put on your big boy pants than being thrown into the fire against the nation’s best at this stage of your career.

Also absent from this week’s game is linebacker VanDarius Cowan, who will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury that he sustained in the loss to Iowa State last week. Look for defensive coordinator Vic Koenning to do some mix and matching in order to spread out those reps.

Senior corner Hakeem Bailey will be eligible to play in the 2nd half vs the Sooners, but will the game still be in reach at that point? Nothing about this game will be easy, but Neal Brown has repeatedly said that the locker room is upbeat and it is not all doom and gloom as it may appear.

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