OU FOOTBALL
OU can't afford another slip against K-State
NORMAN—Late last October, OU looked like it was rolling toward yet another College Football Playoff berth when it ran up against a struggling Kansas State team.
Even early in that game in Manhattan, the Sooners were rolling, up 17-7.
But then the Wildcats dominated for back-toback quarters, building a 48-23 lead early in the fourth quarter before a massive comeback came up just short and Kansas State upset OU 48-41, the most points the Sooners allowed all year until LSU's 63 in the Peach Bowl.
Tre Norwood wasn't a part of last year's game, forced to a spectator role after a preseason injury ended his year.
But he shared the pain of the Sooners' defense that day.
“I t was j ust f r ustrating
from the standpoint that it wasn't necessarily that they beat us. We kind of beat ourselves,” Norwood said. “It was one of those type things that we didn't play good as a whole. “It was obviously frustrating.” It wasn't just the defense that was frustrated.
After a hot start, the Sooners had two turnovers, two field goals and two punts as the Wildcats pulled away. Both turnovers were deep in Sooners territory and both quickly led to Kansas State touchdowns.
“We probably didn't approach it the way wes hould' ve approached it,” Sooners offensive tackle Adrian Ealy said.
OU hosts t he Wildcats at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
When the So one rs left Manhattan a year ago, their playoff hopes looked dead. OU was No. 9 in the first CFP rankings just days after the loss to the Wildcats.
They dropped a spot a week later during a bye week.
But the Sooners steadily climbed in the rankings during a five-game winning streak after the loss at Kansas State and with the help of some breaks near the end, OU once again was in the playoff.
The Wildcats are coming off a disappointing start of the season after a home loss to Arkansas State.
This game has all the normal hallmarks of a trap game for the Sooners. OU is coming off a dominating season-opening performance (albeit against FCS Missouri State), the Wildcats are coming off a loss to a team they were expected to beat, and the Sooners have a pair of tough games immediately ahead — Oct. 3 at Iowa State and the annual Red River Showdown on Oct. 10 in the Cotton Bowl.
But the Wildcats aren't likely to sneak up on the Sooners given last year's game, and this season's abbreviated schedule magnifying each game.
Even though the Sooners were able to recover a year ago, being behind the eight-ball this early in the season wouldn't be advisable.
“Guys are eager to get back out there,” Norwood said. “We don't have three non-conference games, so we're right into it.
“We have to make sure we have urgency each and every day at practice … and I feel like we've been doing a great job of that.”