Vitals: Oklahoma vs. Florida State

Everything you need to know about Oklahoma's trip to take on Florida State.

Thursday, September 15th 2011, 11:12 pm

By: News 9


Corey DeMoss, News9.com

No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (1-0) at No. 5 Florida State Seminoles (2-0)
7:00 p.m. CST
Doak Campbell Stadium; Tallahassee, Florida

Statistical Leaders:

  Oklahoma Florida State
Passing Landry Jones
35/47, 375 yards, 1 TD
EJ Manuel
46/69, 581 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Dominique Whaley
18 carries, 131 yards, 4 TDs
James Wilder, Jr.
10 carries, 76 yards
Receiving Ryan Broyles
14 receptions, 158 yards, 1 TD
Rodney Smith
11 receptions, 155 yards, 1 TD

Where to find it:

On TV: ABC
On Radio: Sooner Radio Network

Injury Report:

Oklahoma: OL Jarvis Jones (out indefinitely, knee); LB Travis Lewis (doubtful, toe); WR Kenny Stills (probable, hamstring)

Florida State: LB Holmes Onwukaife (out indefinitely, shoulder); OL Henry Orelus (questionable, concussion); WR Willie Haulstead (questionable, concussion); LS Chris Revell (questionable, wrist); S Nick Moody (questionable, quadriceps); CB Xavier Rhodes (questionable, leg); WR Bert Reed (probable, ankle)

What you need to know…

This game is the most highly anticipated in the nation this week, and both teams have been looking forward to it since the season began. It marks the first real test of the year for both squads and could end up being a major factor in determining the national title picture later in the season.

OU head coach Bob Stoops will be facing off against his brother, Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, for the second year in a row. Last season, the Sooners cruised to a 47-17 victory in Norman, but FSU now will have a chance to avenge that loss in front of its home crowd.

Both teams limited their offensive play calling to start the season, but are likely to really open up their playbooks for the first time Saturday. That could give a leg up to the Sooners, who are coming off a bye and have had two full weeks to prepare and draw up new plays.

Who you need to watch…

The outcome of this contest could very well rest on the shoulders of Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel. The junior took over the starting quarterback job this season and threw for 581 yards and six touchdowns in his first two starts.

But those starts came against Charleston Southern and Louisiana-Monroe, so he has not faced a defense as fast or talented as the one he'll see Saturday. But OU also has very little film to study on him, so both sides will likely have to feel each other out at the beginning of the game.

The OU offense will just want to repeat the success it managed to have last season, when it gutted Mark Stoops' defense for 487 yards and 47 points. Receiver Ryan Broyles was nearly unstoppable, catching 12 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.

The Seminoles' defense will likely be improved with a full year of experience in Stoops' system, so it is unlikely OU will be able to move the ball at will again. But if Broyles and quarterback Landry Jones can get into a rhythm again, the Sooners should not have trouble putting points on the board.

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