Tulsa Takes on No. 16 Oklahoma Today

Game 3: Tulsa (2-0) vs. Oklahoma (2-0)
Date / Time:	Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015/11:00 a.m.
Site:	Norman, Oklahoma
Stadium:	Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (82,112)
Coaches:	Tulsa – Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State '95); Oklahoma – Bob Stoops (Iowa '83)
TV:	FS1
Talent:	Tim Brando (pxp), Spencer Tillman (analyst), Bruce Feldman (sideline)
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM
Talent:	Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sideline)
Live Stats:	TulsaHurricane.com
Series:	Oklahoma leads 19-7-1
First Meeting:	Oklahoma 26, Tulsa 7 (Nov. 30, 1914), Tulsa, Okla.
Last Meeting:	#4 Oklahoma 52, Tulsa 7 (Sept. 6, 2014), Tulsa, Okla.
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| Oklahoma \| American Conference

Tulsa takes its 2-0 record into the nation's 16^th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners for an early kickoff today at Oklahoma's Memorial Stadium. This game marks the 14^th time that the two teams have met when the Sooners have been nationally ranked. Oklahoma leads the overall series 19-7-1.

Oklahoma also sits at 2-0 on the season after its 31-24 come-from-behind and double overtime victory over Tennessee last weekend. Tulsa is coming off of a 40-21 win on the road at New Mexico.

"We have a great opponent this week in Oklahoma. Coach Stoops and his staff has done a tremendous job there for a number of years. They've got great athletes, great schemes. It'll be tough going down there, obviously, playing in their environment," said Tulsa Head Coach Philip Montgomery.

Through two games Tulsa's offense has been fast, fun and potent, averaging 609 total yards and 43.5 points, but the Hurricane faces a defense in the Sooners that has held its first two opponents to only 240 total yards and 106 passing yards.

Tulsa's offense has been effective both on the ground and through the air. Tulsa has rushed an average of 55 times per game for 236.5 yards, while passing for 372.5 yards on 32.5 attempts per game.

Quarterback Dane Evans has completed 57-percent of his passes for 745 yards and four TDs this year. Evans' top targets have been Keevan Lucas and Keyarris Garrett, who have combined for 523 yards and three of Evan's four touchdown passes, while Josh Atkinson totaled his first 100+yard receiving game last week with 119 yards and one touchdown on three receptions against New Mexico.

The Hurricane running game has consisted of the one-two punch of Zack Langer and D'Angelo Brewer, as the duo has rushed for 228 and 225 yards, respectively, while combining for five rushing touchdowns. Last year, it wasn't until the third game of the season that Tulsa scored on the ground.

The Oklahoma defense has been stifling in the first two weeks of the season, and ranks sixth nationally against the pass and 10^th for overall defense. In the first two games, OU's defense has manhandled its opponents in the second half as the Sooners have shutout the opposing teams by a combined 38-0 margin in the third and fourth quarters.

The Sooners' defensive unit has no holes from a talent standpoint with speed and size across the lineup. Junior linebacker Dominique Alexander, who's older brother Derrick is a Tulsa defensive end, leads the Sooners with 19 total tackles and three stops for -5 yards, but he's not the only defender making plays for the Sooners.

Eric Striker, Ahmad Thomas, Charles Walker, Zack Sanchez, Jordan Evans and Steve Parker, a Jenks High School product, are only a few others being effective on the Sooner defense.

Tulsa's defense took positive steps from week 1 to week 2, holding its first opponent to less than 400 yards for the first time in 16 games. The Hurricane defense held New Mexico to 390 total yards a week ago, while the Tulsa 'D' had its first takeaway this season in the fourth quarter against the Lobos.

Although Tulsa's defense made great strides in the first two weeks, the Hurricane faces a stearn test against the Sooners offense, which has put up 443.5 yards per game. OU has thrown for over 313 yards per game, and has only gained for 130.5 yards on the ground. But, everyone knows the potent ground attack that the Sooners possess with the likes of Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon and Alex Ross, giving Oklahoma a three-headed monster in the backfield.

OU's senior receiver Sterling Shepard has been a thorn in the side of the Hurricane defense the last two years, totaling 300 yards and three TDs on 16 receptions. This season, Shepard and his offensive skill-mates have Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield flinging the ball with great accuracy from the quarterback position. Mayfield has completed 42 passes for 575 yards and six touchdowns.

Tulsa Takes on No. 16 Oklahoma Today

Next Event

Players Mentioned

D'Angelo Brewer

Dane Evans

Keyarris Garrett

Zack Langer

Keevan Lucas