Oklahoma-Oklahoma State: One Big Thing

As the Sooners' linebackers may be wearing down from high snap counts, OSU brings to Norman probably the most dynamic quarterback OU will see all season.

Maybe Oklahoma’s defense by this point in the season simply can’t stop anybody.

The Sooners couldn’t get off the field again last week in Morgantown, especially in the fourth quarter, and that resulted in a 23-20 West Virginia victory — WVU’s first over OU in Big 12 play.

If Sooner Nation thinks this season has worn on them, consider the Sooner linebackers. On Saturday, the Mountaineers scored 10 points in the fourth quarter by breaking tackle after tackle, sliding through multiple defenders for first downs and picking up one conversion after another.

Meanwhile, OU’s linebacker trio of Danny Stutsman, DaShaun White and David Ugwoegbu played 92 snaps, 91 snaps and 90 snaps, respectively. Only cornerbacks Woodi Washington (93) and C.J. Coldon (86) and safety Billy Bowman (82) were anywhere close. And that’s not a new thing.

The week before, against Baylor, Stutsman and White each led the team with 75 snaps, while Ugwoegbu logged 53.

Danny Stutsman :: John E. Hoover / AllSooners

The week before that, at Iowa State, all three linebacker starters were tied for the team lead with 84 defensive snaps.

And the game before that, Kansas, they ranked 1-2-4 in OU defensive snaps, with Stutsman and White tied at 64 and Ugwoegbu at 57.

Bottom line: these guys are tired, there’s almost zero depth behind them, and it showed in the fourth quarter last week at WVU.

But Oklahoma State is coming to town Saturday, and if quarterback Spencer Sanders was healthy enough to come off the bench and beat Iowa State last week in Stillwater, he is all but certain to be ready to go against the Sooners.

In fact, he said last Saturday he was definitely playing — guaranteed.

Sanders is fast, elusive and slick with the football. He’d probably rather throw it, but he’s a bold and dynamic runner when he has to be — a risk taker, even. Sanders will do whatever it takes to move the chains against an OU defense that’s been ragged for much of the season.

“He’s played a long time,” OU defensive end Ethan Downs said. “He's a very mature guy, he knows ball and he knows how to lead his team and they trust him. So it's gonna be a great challenge.”

OU coach Brent Venables noted that Sanders had 52 starts at Denton Ryan High School and will be making his 41st start at OSU.

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

“Who has 90-something starts as a quarterback?” Venables said. “He’s incredibly experienced. He’s a winner. He’s instinctive. He’s fast. He’s explosive. Got a quick release. You can tell he’s played. He’s got a lot of moxie.”

For OU’s defense — worn down by the work load, the lack of depth, the grinding offseason and the emotional swings of a coaching change — another mobile quarterback is the last thing they want to see.

Kent State QB Collin Schlee rushed for 74 yards for the Golden Flashes way back in Week 2. K-State’s Adrian Martinez practically won the midseason Heisman with his 148-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Sooners. TCU’s Max Duggan popped a 67-yard TD, scored twice and finished with 116 yards on the ground. WVU backup Garrett Greene rushed for 119 yards and two scores last week.

Sanders is better and more experienced than all of them.

“Sometimes, the worst thing you can do is cover everybody because he can really run,” Venables said. “He’s a true dual-threat guy.”

Sanders has three career 100-yard rushing games — including last year’s Fiesta Bowl, when he ran for 125 and threw for 371 to post a career-high 496 yards total offense against Notre Dame — and 16 others that were well north of 50.

He’s been slightly less of a threat this season, with 57 rushing yards against Central Michigan, 54 against Arizona State, 75 against Baylor, 56 against Texas Tech, 68 against TCU and 43 against Texas.

Due to the injury, however, his last two games have included minimal statistical contributions: minus-9 yards rushing in the blowout loss to Kansas State and 6 yards after coming off the bench against Iowa State. In between, he missed the Kansas game entirely.

In his career, Sanders now has 9,172 yards passing (61.4 percent) — that’s 218.3 yards per game — and 66 touchdowns. He also has run for 1,914 yards (4.0 per carry) — 45.5 per game — and has scored 18 touchdowns.

If healthy, he’s as good as OU’s defense will see this year.

Sanders has always been tough and a good leader, but it was his performance off the bench last week that may have really endeared his teammates to him more than ever before. He entered the game in the third quarter and rallied the Cowboys from behind to beat the Cyclones.

“The team rallies behind him,” Venables said, “plays off his leadership and his energy.”