Week 5: TCU at Oklahoma

There’s been a lot of talk about 2005.

Talk with plenty of reminders on the OU side, referencing TCU’s 17-10 upset in the season opener in Norman amid threats that it could happen again.

Optimistic talk on the TCU side, where that game serves as proof that the Horned Frogs can win games like this, even as decided underdogs.

Even talk – back and forth – about supposed allegations that TCU had “informants” slip into OU’s open preseason scrimmages that year and provide a scouting report for the upset.

Come Saturday night, who knows what all the reflection will mean? But this meeting carries plenty of intrigue in its own right.

The No. 2-ranked Sooners have yet to be tested, routing their three foes by an average of 40.7 points per game.

TCU, which crept into the rankings this week, figures to be the best team OU has played. Of course, that works both ways, with the Sooners far better than any of the teams the Frogs have faced.

This should be a classic matchup. The Sooners’ no-huddle spread offense has hummed so far, averaging 556.7 yards and a nation-leading 54.7 points per game.

“They’re very talented and they don’t have any weaknesses,” said TCU coach Gary Patterson. “There’s a reason they’ve won national titles and conference championships in the last 10 years.”

The Frogs lead the nation in rushing defense (32.5 yards per game) and total defense (183 yards per game).

“We’re playing a great TCU team,” said Sooners coach Bob Stoops. “We understand it’s a big challenge, with a ranked team coming in here. We understand we’ve got to be at our best.”

The Sooners were not at their best in 2005 against another strong TCU team, one that lost only one game that season. That proved to be OU’s worst team since Stoops’ debut season. This squad has the look of one of the best.

Notes:

TCU has won their last two trips to Norman, also taking down the Sooners in 1996. Dating back to the 2005 season, the Frogs are 5-1 against Big 12 foes.

Under Bob Stoops, the Sooners are 56-2 at home. TCU’s win in 2005 is one of the two.

In the 17 games played with Sam Bradford as the starter at quarterback, the Sooners have scored 50 points or more eight times.

OU leads the nation in red zone scoring, a perfect 18-for-18 that includes 17 touchdowns and one field goal.

Player to Watch (Sooners) – DeMarco Murray, RB

The sophomore running back hasn’t quite turned it on this season, despite his 6.8-yard per carry average. Splitting time with Chris Brown and sitting time due to blowouts haven’t helped his cause. Against the nation’s No. 1-ranked defense, Murray’s ability to carve yards in the running game will open things up for Bradford and the passing attack.

Player to Watch (Horned Frogs) – Andy Dalton, QB

Dalton’s stats aren’t all that impressive. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass and has run for 184 yards in four games. Don’t be fooled, however. His versatility running and optioning and passing allow the Frogs to throw varied looks and problems at opponents. He’ll create a set of issues the Sooners defense has yet to see.

Oklahoma by 14