The Four Biggest Matchups to Watch in Bedlam

There will likely be a number of different factors that will decide the outcome of Oklahoma State’s coming game against Oklahoma, but there are a few individual matchups that will likely have a considerable impact on both teams’ success. Here are the four biggest matchups to watch during Bedlam on Saturday.

OSU’s linebackers vs OU’s duo of Flowers & Andrews

The Cowboys’ linebacking corps will have a difficult assignment in covering the Sooners’ Dimitri Flowers and Mark Andrews. Lincoln Riley has adjusted his play calling to heavily feature both of them in his offense. They’re frequently used with play action or on RPOs so they often get wide open when the linebackers crash to stop the run. Most of the opponents OSU have faced this season have their best talent as a true skill position player, so this will be the linebackers’ first major test in coverage.

OU’s rush defense vs OSU’s offensive line

Everyone expects the Sooners to sit three back in defense to stop the deep pass, and everyone expects OSU to run the ball (possibly ad nauseam) against a light box. As they’ve shown against Texas and West Virginia, they don’t have a ton of concepts within their playbook they can use against that type of defense, so be prepared for plenty of checks to the run. If the Cowboys can run the ball consistently against an average Sooner defense, they should be able to draw safeties down and then take the deep shots when they want.

OU’s Obo Okoronkwo vs. OSU’s Aaron Cochran

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is one of the conference’s premier pass rushers. His ability to come off the edge has given opposing offenses headaches, and he’s failed to record at least a partial sack only once this season. The Sooners will likely match him up against the Cowboys’ left tackle Aaron Cochran. Cochran is strong but has shown the tendency of a slow first step in pass protection. OSU’s pass protection has been reliable, but expect defensive coordinator Mike Stoops to let Okoronkwo loose to try and get pressure on Mason Rudolph.

OU’s Baker Mayfield vs. OSU’s secondary

Note that this doesn’t say OU’s wide receivers against OSU’s secondary. The Sooners’ Baker Mayfield makes his receivers better because of his ability to escape the pocket and extend the play. This puts tremendous pressure on the secondary to stay on their receivers for extended periods of time once Mayfield enters scramble mode. The Sooners’ receiving corps has been better than people expected, but when cornerbacks are forced to chase them around the field like defenders do in backyard football, it makes the Sooner passing game even more dangerous.

What matchup do you think will play the biggest role on Saturday? Leave your opinions in the comments below!