Tally one in the win column for Oklahoma after a 59-17 blowout victory in their 2016 home opener against Louisiana Monroe, which showcased their multi-million dollar stadium upgrades to the south end zone.
It was a game where the teams nearly combined for 1,000 yards of total offense and what felt like 1,000 different players, as the Sooners essentially held open auditions before their monumental showdown with Ohio State next week.
Finding takeaways from games like this requires a focus to more ancillary observations than just the score.
Here are 10 of mine.
10
Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon had as many combined carries in the first 12 minutes of this game (12) as they had in the entire loss against Houston.
9
Oklahoma trotted out a new offensive line configuration to start the game and for the most part it was a huge improvement over a week ago.
You would never know Dru Samia had been playing tackle the way he manhandled people at right guard. Bobby Evans flashed instances of being that prototypical "dancing bear" at right tackle. Orlando Brown continues to show that he is one of the top offensive linemen in the Big 12.
The hiccups still seem to come from Jonathan Alvarez and Cody Ford, who have yet to put together a full game this season.
However, at the very least, it would appear the Sooners have sured up the right side of their offensive front.
8
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook saga is starting to cross streams with the Red River Rivalry.
And I kind of like it.
Also, Russell Westbrook in a Boz jersey just feels right.
7
Oklahoma still can't feel good about what they have at the No. 2 cornerback spot, but it's clear Mike Stoops would like to give Parrish Cobb every opportunity to win the job.
Cobb is a highly athletic prospect with a more prototypical frame than his competitors, nevertheless, he is still a true freshman.
If the Sooners decide to ride him the rest of the season, it may pay dividends in the long run, but expect there to be plenty of growing pains along the way.
6
Bob Stoops said he wanted to play all of his class of 2016 freshmen.
Well, today he got that chance.
And not only did they participate, the young guns looked spry.
Caleb Kelly, Amani Bledsoe, Parrish Cobb, Parnell Motley, Mark Jackson, Austin Kendall, Abdul Adams, and Mykel Jones all played and played well.
Bledsoe looking like an offensive lineman in his No. 72, at 6-foot-5, 272 pounds, covering people 15 yards downfield was a sight to behold.
5
Any time Adrian Peterson touched the ball on Owen Field, the Oklahoma faithful held their breath because they knew he had a chance to score.
Joe Mixon has that same capability.
4
It's not Steve Owen Field.
It's Bennie Owen Field.
3
You know that scene in Happy Gilmore when he makes a hole-in-one on a Par 4? Happy turns to his wise caddy, Chubbs, and says, “Oh, man. That was so much easier than putting. I should just try to get the ball in one shot every time.”
That appeared to be Oklahoma’s philosophy to solve their third down woes from Houston, as the Sooners only faced a third down three times in the first half versus Louisiana Monroe.
You don’t have problems on third down if you don’t have third downs.
2
An offsides on a missed extra point might go unnoticed in a 59-17 blowout win over Louisiana Monroe, but it’s the kind of stupid mistake that could cost you a game against Ohio State.
1
If this game was an audition, then Caleb Kelly, Amani Bledsoe, Nick Basquine, Mykel Jones, and Neville Gallimore all earned a part.
It was a game where the teams nearly combined for 1,000 yards of total offense and what felt like 1,000 different players, as the Sooners essentially held open auditions before their monumental showdown with Ohio State next week.
Finding takeaways from games like this requires a focus to more ancillary observations than just the score.
Here are 10 of mine.
10
Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon had as many combined carries in the first 12 minutes of this game (12) as they had in the entire loss against Houston.
9
Oklahoma trotted out a new offensive line configuration to start the game and for the most part it was a huge improvement over a week ago.
You would never know Dru Samia had been playing tackle the way he manhandled people at right guard. Bobby Evans flashed instances of being that prototypical "dancing bear" at right tackle. Orlando Brown continues to show that he is one of the top offensive linemen in the Big 12.
The hiccups still seem to come from Jonathan Alvarez and Cody Ford, who have yet to put together a full game this season.
However, at the very least, it would appear the Sooners have sured up the right side of their offensive front.
8
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook saga is starting to cross streams with the Red River Rivalry.
And I kind of like it.
Also, Russell Westbrook in a Boz jersey just feels right.
7
Oklahoma still can't feel good about what they have at the No. 2 cornerback spot, but it's clear Mike Stoops would like to give Parrish Cobb every opportunity to win the job.
Cobb is a highly athletic prospect with a more prototypical frame than his competitors, nevertheless, he is still a true freshman.
If the Sooners decide to ride him the rest of the season, it may pay dividends in the long run, but expect there to be plenty of growing pains along the way.
6
Bob Stoops said he wanted to play all of his class of 2016 freshmen.
Well, today he got that chance.
And not only did they participate, the young guns looked spry.
Caleb Kelly, Amani Bledsoe, Parrish Cobb, Parnell Motley, Mark Jackson, Austin Kendall, Abdul Adams, and Mykel Jones all played and played well.
Bledsoe looking like an offensive lineman in his No. 72, at 6-foot-5, 272 pounds, covering people 15 yards downfield was a sight to behold.
5
Any time Adrian Peterson touched the ball on Owen Field, the Oklahoma faithful held their breath because they knew he had a chance to score.
Joe Mixon has that same capability.
4
It's not Steve Owen Field.
It's Bennie Owen Field.
3
You know that scene in Happy Gilmore when he makes a hole-in-one on a Par 4? Happy turns to his wise caddy, Chubbs, and says, “Oh, man. That was so much easier than putting. I should just try to get the ball in one shot every time.”
That appeared to be Oklahoma’s philosophy to solve their third down woes from Houston, as the Sooners only faced a third down three times in the first half versus Louisiana Monroe.
You don’t have problems on third down if you don’t have third downs.
2
An offsides on a missed extra point might go unnoticed in a 59-17 blowout win over Louisiana Monroe, but it’s the kind of stupid mistake that could cost you a game against Ohio State.
1
If this game was an audition, then Caleb Kelly, Amani Bledsoe, Nick Basquine, Mykel Jones, and Neville Gallimore all earned a part.
