No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners (2-1) at No. 17 Miami Hurricanes (2-1)
One would assume it’s a good thing for Miami that the Hurricanes don’t have to deal with reigning Heisman winner Sam Bradford in Saturday night’s game with Oklahoma. But backup Landry Jones has been nearly as good.
Bradford, of course, separated his shoulder in the season-opening loss to BYU but practiced this week and was hoping to play in OU’s final non-conference game. But OU coach Bob Stoops made the call on Thursday that Jones will again start for Bradford.
“Sam has made daily progress, but we don’t feel like he’s quite where he needs to be yet,” Stoops said in a statement. “Our team has a lot of confidence in Landry’s ability and we’re looking forward to going into the game with him at quarterback.”
Indeed, Jones has been excellent in leading OU to back-to-back wins against Idaho State and Tulsa. Jones threw a school-record six touchdown passes in the 45-0 victory over Tulsa on Sept. 19, the Sooners’ last game, and is 49 for 81 for 673 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
In a way, it makes more sense for OU to hold Bradford out for another week with Big 12 play looming next Saturday.
Meanwhile, this is the first non-conference game of the season for the Hurricanes but their fourth straight game against a ranked team. Last week, UM, which is a 7.5-point betting underdog this week on WagerWeb.com, looked lost in the rain and against a fierce Virginia Tech defense. Despite Jacory Harris struggling last week, going 9-for-25 with 150 yards and a pick, the sophomore ranks 24th nationally in passing efficiency (152.62), has 806 passing yards in three games and has already accounted for six touchdowns (5 passing, 1 rushing).
If Harris thought Tech’s defense was good, he’s in for a rude awakening this weekend. OU’s defense is among the five best in the country, with the Sooners having probably the nation’s best front four. The Sooners average four sacks per game, the fourth-best mark in the country. Two weeks ago against Tulsa, which has averaged 45.7 points in its other three games, the Sooners held the Golden Hurricane to 269 yards, their lowest output since 2006. OU’s defense has allowed 14 points all season (back-to-back shutouts) had has four interceptions and five fumble recoveries to go with 12 sacks. Plus the Sooners had last week off to prepare for Miami.
There is good injury news for Miami. WR Aldarius Johnson (groin), DT Marcus Forston (leg) and DE Andrew Smith (upper extremity) all are expected to play. Johnson, last year’s leading receiver, has missed the last two games. Forston and Smith missed the Virginia Tech game.
This series is tied 3-3 all-time with the Sooners winning the last meeting in 2007, 51-13.
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