The Oklahoma Sooners kept their undefeated start to the season intact with a 20-6 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats.
It was a strong performance from a defense that was one of the worst in college football a season ago. Now they’re allowing just 8.5 points per game and held a top 10 rush offense in check.
Sophomore linebacker Jaren Kanak, who helped Oklahoma's defense hold Cincinnati without a touchdown Saturday, was carted off the field late in the game with an apparent chest injury, according to Sooners head coach Brent Venables.
Venables, speaking to the media after OU's 20-6 win, said Kanak "got hit in the chest" late in the fourth quarter.
Venables said Kanak was checked out locally and released and that "early results" seemed to indicate he would "be okay.
A week ago, Sooners coach Brent Venables and defensive coordinator Ted Roof were concerned with the Sooners’ third-down defense.
Saturday, that wasn’t an issue.
OU held Cincinnati to just 3 of 15 on third down and forced three turnovers on down in the second half to keep the Bearcats out of the end zone.
Walker and Major were the Sooners’ primary runners.
The Sooners struggled to move the ball on the ground in the first half, before finding creases after halftime.
Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) outgained Cincinnati 322-235 through the air.
Cincinnati’s points came on two field goals. The Bearcats (2-2, 0-1) have gone 15 straight drives without scoring a touchdown, dating back to last week’s overtime loss at home to in-state foe Miami (Ohio).
Major had one of the plays of the first half for OU, though.
On third-and-19 from the Sooners’ 3, Major took a handoff and juked into open space, then barrelled his way to the first-down marker — barely — to keep OU’s drive alive early in the second quarter.
The Sooners eventually had to settle for a 34-yard Zach Schmit field goal to go ahead 10-3 but just getting the field goal was a win after looking dead in the water early.
klahoma: The Sooners return home Sept. 30 to host Iowa State. Oklahoma has won three straight meetings against the Cyclones. The Sooners haven’t lost in the series since Oct. 3, 2000 (37-30) in Ames, Iowa.
Cincinnati: The Bearcats look to capture their first win in Big 12 play Friday night at fellow Big 12 newcomer Brigham Young. Like Cincinnati, BYU joined the conference in July.
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