Tulsa Golden Hurricane: By the Numbers

The Sooners will close out their 2023 non-conference slate with a short trip to Tulsa to take on a former OU assistant.

Oklahoma’s final non-conference contest of 2023 will come against familiar foes.

Saturday the No. 19-ranked Sooners will head up the Turner Turnpike to take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, coached by former OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson.

It will be Oklahoma’s first road game this season, though H.A. Chapman stadium has played host to the Sooners on numerous occasions.

OU leads the series all-time 20-7-1, as Brent Venables is seeking his second victory over in-state competition early in his head coaching tenure.

The Golden Hurricane are facing ranked competition for the second straight week after falling to No. 8 Washington 43-10 in Seattle last weekend.

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Cardell Williams is one of three Tulsa quarterbacks who have seen action so far this season :: Joe Nicholson / USA TODAY Sports

The Wilson Era has gotten off to an uneven start in large part due to injuries.

Already the Golden Hurricane have deposed three quarterbacks after Braylon Braxton exited the season opener and backup Cardell Williams got hurt in the first half last week against Washington.

Junior Roman Fuller finished the game against the Huskies, completing 12-of-18 passes for 85 yards and one score.

Williams finished the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff completing 13-of014 tases for 233 yards and three touchdowns, but no starter has been publicly named ahead of the bout with the Sooners.

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Running back Jordan Ford currently leads Tulsa with 177 rushing yards this season.  :: Brett Rojo / USA TODAY Sports

Thankfully for Tulsa, the running game has been effective in support of the quarterback issues.

So far this season, the Golden Hurricane rank No. 27-overall in rushing yards, averaging 214.0 yards per game.

Even after moving to Fuller in Seattle, Tulsa running backs Jordan Ford, Bill Jackson and Anthony Watkins combined to rush the ball for 173 yards on 36 carries, an average of 4.8 yards per carry.

Oklahoma’s rushing defense has been improved two weeks into the season.

The Sooners Sith 27th-overall in rushing defense, allowing 82.5 rushing yards per game.

Regardless of who is throwing passes for Wilson’s offense, Tulsa will try to run right at Oklahoma’s rushing defense on Saturday.

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Former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson is looking to shore up Tulsa's defense in his first season as the Golden Hurricane's head coach.  / Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

While the Golden Hurricane defense has found success on the ground, it’s likely due to Tulsa’s struggles to defend the pass,

Last week, Washington torched Tulsa for 454 passing yards, and the Golden Hurricane are currently ranked No. 115 in the country allowing 302.0 passing yards per game.

Dillon Gabriel has posted modest passing yard totals in his first two games of the year, mostly because the Sooner quarterback only played one half against Arkansas State in OU’s first contest of the year.

Tulsa is only allowing 105.5 yards per game (which is tied with Clemson for 49th in the FBS), but Arkansas-Pine Bluff rushed for 102 yards.

Washington threw the ball 40 times last Saturday, taking to the skies to get behind the Golden Hurricane defense. 

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