Oklahoma-West Virginia preview capsule

No. 4 Oklahoma (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) at West Virginia (2-1, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. ET (FOX)

Line: Oklahoma by 10.

Series Record: Oklahoma leads 4-2.

What's at stake

The Sooners head outside the state of Oklahoma for the first time this season in the Big 12 opener for both teams. West Virginia already has given one Top 5 team a fit when it lost to Alabama 33-23 in the season opener.

Key matchup

West Virginia WR Kevin White against Oklahoma's secondary. White is second in the nation with 32 receptions for 460 yards, including 216 yards last week against Maryland. The Sooners have yet to allow an opponent to surpass 100 receiving yards.

Players to watch

Oklahoma: WR Sterling Shepard. The junior caught five passes for 109 yards last week and will go up against a secondary in flux. Cornerback Daryl Worley, who has both of West Virginia's interceptions this season, has been suspended indefinitely after an arrest. But cornerback Ishmael Banks returns after being suspended for the first three games by the NCAA for an unspecified academic eligibility issue.

West Virginia: QB Clint Trickett. The senior has had a complete turnaround from a 2013 season in which he threw for seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in seven starts. He's surpassed 300 yards in his last four games, including career highs of 511 yards and four TDs against Maryland.

Facts & figures

The last time Oklahoma and West Virginia met in Morgantown two years ago also was at night and was a dandy. Landry Jones threw six TD passes, including a 5-yarder to Kenny Stills with 24 seconds left to seal a 50-49 win. ... West Virginia has had little trouble moving the ball this season but has had trouble finishing drives, coming away without points on six of 19 chances inside the 20-yard line. ... Oklahoma beat Tennessee last week in Norman, Oklahoma, and doesn't have another home game until Oct. 18 against Kansas State, a span of five weeks.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – September 19, 2014 @ 8:40am