GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Kansas State’s Alex Barnes vs. Oklahoma’s front seven. The Wildcats’ running back has been the league’s best so far this season, averaging 112.6 yards per game so far. With Kansas State’s struggles to consistently move the ball through the air, it figures it’ll need a strong performance from Barnes to hang with the Sooners. Oklahoma has been solid but not great against the run overall this season. Inside linebackers Kenneth Murray and Curtis Bolton have made a lot of plays to this point and figure to have a chance to make a lot more Saturday.
DRAFT SLANT
–OT Bobby Evans hasn’t gotten a ton of attention this season as he’s moved from right to left tackle to replace Orlando Brown, but Evans has quietly put together a strong season and has moved way up plenty of draft boards. Oklahoma has had success running the ball even after the season-ending injury to Rodney Anderson and the line has a lot to do with that. Evans’ size and footwork make him a candidate to sneak into the first round.
ROSTER REPORT:
–DE Jalen Redmond, a freshman, was available for the first time and saw significant action against TCU last Saturday. Redmond was thought to be out for the season with blood clots after they were discovered in preseason camp.
–S Robert Barnes started his first game of the season vs. TCU, replacing Justin Broiles at strong safety. Broiles has moved to cornerback.
–DE/LB Ronnie Perkins, a freshman, made his first career start vs. TCU as the Sooners used much more four-man front defense than they’d used in any game to that point.
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