Game Week: Oklahoma

Though Tennessee may have been a bit disappointing in a 59-30 win over Bowling Green, there will be no shortage of hype this week with Oklahoma coming to Knoxville.

This will be the first time ever that the traditional college football power Sooners have played in Knoxville, and the second leg of a home-and-home series that started last season in Norman, a 34-10 Oklahoma win.

Here is the rundown on what will be the first ranked versus ranked matchup in Neyland Stadium since 2012:

No. 19 Oklahoma Sooners at No. 23 Tennessee Volunteers

Game Information

Kickoff: Saturday at 6:00 PM EST

TV: ESPN

Line: OddsShark – Oklahoma by 3; 5 Dimes – Even

Oklahoma Sooners (1-0)

Head Coach: Bob Stoops (17th season)

Offensive Coordinator: Lincoln Riley

Defensive Coordinator: Mike Stoops

2014 Season

- Finished 8-5 (5-4 Big 12), 4th in Big 12

- Ranked as high as No. 4 in the country (Preseason – Week 6)

- Finished unranked after 40-6 loss to Clemson in Russell Athletic Bowl

2015 Season

- Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield won the starting quarterback job in the offseason, beat out 2014 starter Trevor Knight

- Ranked No. 19 in preseason AP Poll

- Beat Akron 41-3 in season opener

- Remained ranked No. 19 in Week 2 AP Poll

Oklahoma players to watch:

Baker Mayfield, starting quarterback

The Texas Tech transfer beat out last year’s starter, Trevor Knight, in the offseason, and will be making his first road start as a Sooner on Saturday.

Mayfield was impressive in the season opening win over Akron, completing 23 of 33 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns.

If he can duplicate that performance against a Tennessee secondary that didn’t look very good against Bowling Green, Oklahoma will be well off. But if he makes some mistakes early, the sold out crowd at Neyland Stadium could get in his head.

Eric Striker, linebacker

When Tennessee traveled to Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma last season to take on the Sooners, Oklahoma’s defensive front had no problem with the Vols’ offensive line.

One player that particularly gave Tennessee trouble was Striker.

Striker finished the game with six tackles and three quarterback hurries, and finished the 2014 season with 68 tackles and nine sacks.

Tennessee’s offensive line seems to be improved from last season, but Striker and Oklahoma will provide a huge test.

Samaje Perine, running back

Last season as a freshman, Perine established himself as one of the best running backs in the country with 1,713 total rushing yards.

Perine’s 2015 campaign got off to a slow start with only 33 yards rushing against Akron, but that doesn’t erase what he did last season.

Perine, along with talented true freshman running back Joe Mixon, will give Tennessee’s defensive front a test in the ground game.

#oklahoma #tennessee