NORMAN, Okla. — Center Ty Darlington has kept the picture as the background on his phone for a year – Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight going down in a sack by Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley.
Darlington was pining for another shot at the Tigers since Clemson dismantled the Sooners 40-6 in last season’s Russell Athletic Bowl.
That chance is coming soon and on a much bigger stage as the Sooners and Tigers will meet in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 (4 p.m. ET).
“You can’t say there won’t be a factor of thinking of last year and all that,” Darlington said. “But it’s going to be a great challenge. They’re even more dangerous than they were last year because of having Deshaun Watson back.
“I haven’t really gotten to watch them until last night but they were impressive.”
While the revenge factor will be played up on the Oklahoma side — during their recent seven-game winning streak the Sooners have beaten each of the other four teams that beat them a season ago — the quarterbacks make the teams very different.
Watson missed the bowl game against the Sooners after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He’s been phenomenal for the Tigers, helping keep them undefeated and vaulting into the Heisman Trophy discussion.
So has Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield missed last season after transferring from Texas Tech and has gone from being a two-time walk-on to one of the most electrifying players in college football.
“I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that compares to what he’s done and the way he’s done it — creating plays on his own, doing things like that,” cornerback Zack Sanchez said. “Countless Heisman moments, where if you want to go to Tennessee, you want to go to Baylor, OSU—blocking on Joe (Mixon)’s touchdown. I don’t think anybody can match up with the plays that he’s made.”
The Sooners have played for several national championships during Bob Stoops’ 17 years as the head coach but this experience, playing in the playoff, will be different.
“I don’t think this is just your average bowl game,” defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. “This is different. So this is new to us all. We’re not going to the Russell Athletic Bowl. No disrespect to them but this is different. There’s another game 10 days or 11 days after. That’s your goal.
“The focus, the week leading up to this game will be much different, than even getting ready for the Sugar Bowl.”
NOTES
–QB Baker Mayfield has been exceptional this season. One of the knocks on him when he was at Texas Tech was his decision-making and his interception numbers. That hasn’t been a problem at all with the Sooners, throwing for 3,389 yards and 35 touchdowns with just five interceptions. Mayfield has also run for 420 yards and seven scores and kept plenty more plays alive with his feet.
–RB Samaje Perine’s production has increased as the season has progressed. He’s had at least 90 yards rushing in the last six games, topping 130 yards four times during that stretch. Perine has been helped by the fact that Joe Mixon has given the Sooners a formidable No. 2 running option and taken some pressure off of the sophomore. Perine was solid against Clemson in last year’s Russell Athletic Bowl, rushing for 134 yards.
–DE Eric Striker has been one of the best edge rushers in college football for the last three seasons. The senior has 7.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss so far this year. He also has 11 of Oklahoma’s 25 quarterback hurries this year.
–S Ahmad Thomas has been more than solid this season after undergoing some growing pains last season in his first year as a starter. Thomas has three interceptions and just as importantly has freed cornerbacks Zack Sanchez and Jordan Thomas to take chances and make plays without worrying about a breakdown behind them.
BOWL HISTORY: Oklahoma is 28-19-1 in bowl games and has won four of its last six. The Sooners have made 17 consecutive bowl appearances. This will be their 19th appearance in the Orange Bowl, the most of any team. The also played in the BCS National Championship game following the 2008 season at the stadium.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “He’s a great quarterback. I mean everything about their offense, he is. As far as running, you’ve gotta account for him in every way. It’s going to be a great challenge defensively trying to slow him down or stop him. We’ve got time to prepare for that very well, regardless of who the quarterback was. But that guy right there, he’s for real. You’ve gotta account for him in every part of the game.” — Eric Striker, Oklahoma linebacker, on Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson