:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57246721/usa_today_10346376.0.jpg)
The last time Oklahoma visited Manhattan and went home with a loss was 1996, way back when John Blake was in the first year of his dismal three-year run in Norman (and thanks to the new Big 12, and its divisional format, the Cats wouldn’t be able to capitalize on year three of Blake).
Fast forward to the last time OU visited the Little Apple, and things couldn’t have gone much worse for the Wildcats. Coming off an upsetting loss to TCU, the Wildcats came out lifeless, and then the Sooners quickly squeezed anything left out of the Cats on the way to a 55-0 victory. It was the worst home loss to anyone under Bill Snyder, and the worst home loss to OU ever. Even in the height of Futility U, the Cats never got smacked that badly at home.
Now, two years later the Cats will have a shot at revenge, or at least at not getting embarrassed. While coming off two bad losses, and three in their last four, these Cats have something that 2015 squad didn’t have - a mostly healthy roster, and a scholarship QB under center.
However, the key for the Cats today will be getting the run-game back and going. The Cats managed only 140 yards on the ground against Texas after going over 200 in the previous three games, and then barely managed 70 yards (2.4 yards/carry) against TCU and was held without a ground score. Things have not looked great this season for the Wildcat running backs, especially preseason-hyped Alex Barnes, but the Wildcat running game took an even bigger hit without Jesse Ertz under center.
This could be another hard day getting the game going, as rain and thunderstorms are forecast for game time.
On the bright side, Bob Stoops is gone from the OU sideline and just maybe Snyder can pull on over on Lincoln Riley in his first trip to Manhattan as the head coach.
Be sure and check out our pregame content: TB’s Kicking the Tires preview of the Sooners and all-important How to Watch information from Jon (where Jon also gives you a bit brighter ray of sunshine on the game).
Beat the Sooners!
Go Cats!