FORT WORTH, Texas — UO Armed Forces Bowl The game against Navy is one of the most intriguing matchups of the bowl season.
This is Navy’s first bowl game against an SEC opponent since the 1950s and a game in the Aspirants’ triple option against the program where this option thrived for decades.
It includes Blake Horvathone of the best quarterbacks in the country, against a freshman now forced to take action after being a starter Jackson Arnold transferred in Auburn.
He also has Navy Coach, Brian Newberrycoaching against the team he grew up rooting for.
The game also has the earliest trying to avoid only their second losing season in their 26th last while Navy attempts to win 10 or more games for just the sixth time in program history.
Here’s a closer look at the matchups from Friday’s game:
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When OU runs the ball: Will Xavier Robinson carry the load?
Just six weeks ago, it seemed like Xavier Robinson was destined to redshirt.
But freshman Carl Albert emerged late — thanks to Taylor Tatum’s issues, Jovantae Barnes’ health and Gavin Sawchuk’s ineffectiveness.
Robinson, Tatum, Sawchuk and Sam Franklin are all listed as co-starters at running back on the depth chart before the game.
Robinson was clearly the most efficient, averaging 4.9 yards per carry with four touchdowns.
Tatum’s yards per carry are slightly higher (5.1), but he struggles securing the ball.
Freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. showed some ability to run, both with the fearlessness he showed against Tennessee and then again against Auburn the following week, and with the speed he showed off during a long touchdown run against Auburn as well.
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When OU throws the ball: Who will Michael Hawkins Jr.’s targets be?
OU has been shorthanded at receiver all season.
They will be even more shorthanded in the Armed Forces Bowl.
THE Earlier“Two top receivers, tight end Bauer Sharp and wide receiver JJ Hester, both transferred, leaving Deion Burks – who is questionable after missing the last two games and seven of the last eight – as the only receiver potentially available with over 207 receptions this season.
Behind Burks, the next leading receiver is freshman Jacob Jordan, who has 22 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown.
Navy allows 207.7 yards per game through the air, ranking in the top 50 nationally in the category.
Safety Rayuan Lane III was the Midshipmenthe best defender in terms of pass coverage. Lane has two interceptions, broke up four passes and forced three fumbles.
Navy has 17 interceptions, tied for fifth nationally.
The Sooners, for all their offensive woes, have mostly avoided interceptions, with just six this season — tied for 10th nationally.
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When the Navy runs the ball: force against force
This is the area where the game will be decided.
The Midshipmen have one of the best rushing attacks in the country, averaging 249.3 yards per game on the ground. This ranks seventh nationally.
OU has one of the best run defenses in the country, ranking 11th with 105.8 yards per game allowed on the ground.
But the Sooners won’t have one of their best run-stopping weapons, as linebacker Danny Stutsman won’t play in the game as he prepares for the NFL Draft.
Stutsman had a 91.1 grade against the run this season according to Pro Football Focus, second nationally among linebackers with 100 or more plays against the run.
Horvath is the highest-rated rushing quarterback, with a grade of 91.5 — better than all but five running backs who have played more than 100 snaps.
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When the Navy throws the ball: watch out for Eli Heidenreich
The Midshipmen attempted just 166 passes this season, just over half of what OU attempted (320) in a season where attempts were down sharply from previous years.
For comparison, the last time the Sooners attempted fewer than 200 passes in a season was 1998, the last season before Bob Stoops arrived.
But even though Navy doesn’t attempt many passes, nearly 18 percent of its successful passes have resulted in touchdowns.
Midshipman running back Eli Heidenreich has 37 catches for 649 yards and six touchdowns, more than double the yardage production of OU’s top receivers.
In addition to being without Stutsman, OU will also be without safety Billy Bowman and Cheetah Dasan McCullough.
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Special teams: Zach Schmit gives OU an advantage
The Midshipmen have been susceptible to missing out on extra points this season, with Nathan Kirkwood missing four out of 51.
OU kickers Zach Schmit, Tyler Keltner and Liam Evans combined to go 30 of 31 on extra points and Schmit is a perfect 141 of 141 on extra points in his career. This is the third longest streak in program history.
Schmit is also 9 of 10 on field goals while Kirkwood is 5 of 8.
OU averages just 7.8 yards per punt return, although Navy is even worse at 4.6 (112th nationally).
Both punters have been very efficient, with OU’s Luke Elzinga averaging 45.2 yards per punt while Navy’s Riley Riethman is even better at 45.7 yards per punt.
This article was originally published on Oklahoman: OR football vs Navy: in the clashes for the Armed Forces Bowl
