Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech: Number Crunching From a Defensive Debacle

Everyone expected Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech would be a high-scoring affair. What no one saw coming was that the two defenses would simply sit down and surrender.

If you are a fan of defense, stop reading right now because this article will only incite your anger.

Oklahoma and Texas Tech put on an offensive show for the ages on Saturday night in West Texas. This contest was so one-sided on offense that two defensive units could probably had pulled people off the street or out of the stands and done as well.

Oklahoma’s pass defense was so horrific, yielding 754 yards passing to Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes and the Red Raiders’ receivers, that it now ranks 117th, or next to worst in the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision).

Here are a dozen more notable numbers from Saturday’s shootout on the plains in West Texas:

Oct 22, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops on the sidelines during the game with the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 66-59. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

4 – Oklahoma is now 4-0 in Big 12 play and alone atop the Big 12 standings (the result of having one more conference win than unbeaten Baylor and West Virginia). Bob Stoops is also 4-0 against Texas Tech head coach and former player Kliff Kingsbury. The last time the Sooners began conference play going 4-0 was in 2004. OU also began league play 4-0 in 2000 and 2002. In two of those seasons (2000 and ’04), the Sooners went on to win the Big 12 crown.

6 – Number of touchdowns by Oklahoma in Saturday’s Texas Tech game that were for more than 40 yards. The Sooners now have 15 such touchdown strikes in 2016.

7 – The Oklahoma defense didn’t get to Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes much on Saturday night, but one person who did was linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who recorded his seventh sack of the season in the second quarter.

10 – Career-high tackles recorded by Sooner nickelback Will Johnson on Saturday.

17 – Number of touchdowns scored in the game (Oklahoma 9, Texas Tech 8).

Oct 22, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) hands the ball to running back Joe Mixon (25) in the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 66-59. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

200/100 – On Saturday night, Joe Mixon became the first Sooner to have 200 or more rushing yards and over 100 passing yards in the same game.

377 – Total offensive yards by Joe Mixon vs. Texas Tech on Saturday night (263 rushing, 114 receiving). That ranks second all-time in Oklahoma football (Samaje Perine gained 446 in the game against Kansas in 2014 in which he ran for an NCAA record 427 yards on the ground).

545 – Career by passing yards by quarterback Baker Mayfield in Saturday’s game. It is only the fifth time in OU history that a quarterback has thrown for 500 or more yards in a single game. The other four all belong to Landry Jones.

734 – Passing yards by Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech and given up by the Oklahoma defense on Saturday night, tying an NCAA record.

776 – Receiving yards by senior Dede Westbrook on 35 catches in his last four games, including 10 touchdowns.

854 – Oklahoma’s 854 yards of total offense vs. Texas Tech is not a school record. The 1980 Sooner team produced 875 vs. Colorado.

1,708 – Total yards by Oklahoma and Texas Tech (each with 854) in Saturday’s game, setting a new NCAA record. The previous mark was 1,640.