Tulsa World: OU Notebook

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OU Notebook

By JOHN E. HOOVER, World sports writer
Published: 10/9/2008 2:09 AM
Last Modified: 10/9/2008 3:46 AM

Matchup delight: Fans looking for a key to Saturday's game should start with two statistics.

Oklahoma ranks first nationally in red zone offense — scoring on drives that penetrate the opponents' 20-yard line — by scoring on all 24 of its trips. Even more impressive, OU has scored 23 touchdowns. Texas, meanwhile, ranks second nationally in red zone defense, giving up just eight scores. That includes only four touchdowns, and no rushing TDs.

Secondly, the Sooners are fourth nationally in pass efficiency (Sam Bradford ranks second among individuals) and passing yards per game (361), while the Texas pass defense is 96th in the country in passing yards allowed (244 per game).

New Colt: Texas quarterback Colt McCoy leads his team not only in passing but in rushing. He's carried the football on zone-reads, designed draws and bootleg keepers, as well as the standard scrambles. On one play against Rice, he finished a long TD run by plowing over a safety. McCoy is faster than ever, but also stronger and thicker where it counts.

"He looks really good," said OU coach Bob Stoops. "But that's natural. He's older. You know how all guys physically mature as they pile up the years. At our age, we get worse, but at their age, they get better. So it's obvious, yeah."

Sam's perspective: This will be OU quarterback Sam Bradford's third trip down "The Tunnel." He was a first-year freshman in 2006, watching while Paul Thompson and Joey Halzle prepared to take all the reps. Last year, it was his show.

"It was night and day," he said. "Going down there the first year, it was fun being part of the experience, getting to go down the tunnel and being a part of it on the field. But last year, knowing I was going to play the game, it was something I had wanted to do for a while. It was pretty much two totally different experiences. The first year, I was pretty much along for the ride, and last year it was a business trip."

Run, DeMarco, run: DeMarco Murray's 65-yard touchdown against Texas last season was a game-changer. He went into a pileup, leaped over Joe Jon Finley and landed at full speed. No one even came close to catching him.

"I remember being on the sideline thinking, 'Oh, there's nowhere to go, DeMarco, just lower your head and try to get what you can get,' " said running back Mossis Madu. "Then I saw him jump, and I was like, 'Oh!' Then I started yelling, 'Go! Go! Go!' All I could yell was go-go-go-go. I was just as excited as he was."

Under the radar: Texas may be ranked at No. 5 right now and might slip into the top 2 with an upset, but the Longhorns began the year at No. 11. They've looked good dominating a soft schedule, but the doubters persist. Top-ranked OU is a seven-point favorite.

"You know what? I kind of take that as a compliment, really," said UT defensive end Brian Orakpo. By JOHN E. HOOVER, World sports writer

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