BYU Cougars: By the Numbers

SALT LAKE CITY — In Oklahoma’s final Big 12 road game, the Sooners will tick off another program first.

OU heads to Provo for the first time ever in only the third all-time meeting with the BYU Cougars.

The Big 12 newcomers got the best of Oklahoma last time the two teams met, a 14-13 victory in the first American football game every played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington after retiring Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford went down with a shoulder injury in the first half.

To emerge victorious this year, BYU (5-5, 2-5 Big 12) will be again looking for an upset.

The No. 14-ranked Sooners (8-2, 5-2) are still alive in the Big 12 title race, needing either a loss from Texas or Oklahoma State to return to Arlington for the first time since 2020.

Kalani Sitake’s team are on a three-game losing streak, needing a victory over either OU or Oklahoma State next week to get bowl eligible.

11,689

Most of BYU’s hopes to move to 3-0 all-time against Oklahoma rest on quarterback Kedon Slovis’ shoulders.

He’s supposed to return to the lineup when the contest kicks off at 11 a.m. central time/10 a.m. local, fueling the Cougars’ hopes they can throw on OU’s secondary.

Slovis ranks seventh amongst active FBS quarterbacks with 11,689 passing yards in a career that started at USC and moved to Pittsburgh before landing at BYU.

Unfortunately, even when he’s been in the lineup this year the Cougars have struggled to move the ball.

BYU’s passing attack is 85th in the country, averaging 209.5 yards per game, and Slovis gets virtually no support with the 124th-ranked running game providing little backup.

OU’s biggest defensive weakness comes when opponents air the ball out, as Brent Venables’ defense sits No. 88-nationally in passing yards allowed per game, but the Sooners have the tools required to slow down BYU.

12

Much like the offense, BYU’s defense has struggled mightily in 2023.

The Cougars allow 28.7 points per game, which is 104th in the FBS, but they do excel in one game-changing area.

BYU has intercepted 12 passes this year, which is tied for 10th in the FBS.

Oklahoma turned the ball over a combined six times in its last two road games, making three mistakes against both Kansas and Oklahoma State, and the Sooners’ opponents made them pay.

Defensive back Jakob Robinson, who was named as one of the 15 semifinalists for the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award, has intercepted four passes already this season for BYU.

Though the Cougars struggle to generate much pressure, sacking opposing quarterbacks 0.9 times per game, timely turnovers off the left arm of OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel could help shift momentum at Lavell Edwards Stadium on Saturday.

5

The first quarter has been an early indicator of how BYU has fared this season.

When trailing after the first 15 minutes, the Cougars are 0-5 in 2023.

Last week, Iowa State darted out to a 17-7 lead after the first quarter in Provo, breaking BYU’s will.

When the Sooners have limited their turnovers and procedural penalties on offense, they’ve been able to get off to fast starts.

Gabriel, buoyed by Drake Stoops’ excellent performances in the past two weeks and the emergence of running back Gavin Sawchuk, will have every chance to put the Cougars away early on Saturday and keep the home crowd quiet for the morning kickoff.

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