ARLINGTON, TX – It’s game day inside AT&T Stadium, as the seventh-ranked Florida Gators and sixth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners converge for battle in one of the least normal seasons in the history of college football. It’s time to get down to business with a final rundown of the numbers.
Florida’s 388.4 passing yards per game ranks first in the country. That sits 24 yards more than any other team in the country and 34 yards more than any other Power 5 team. The Sooners allow an average of 243 yards per game through the air, something that the Gators will look to exploit.
However, the Sooners are third in the country in rush defense allowing just 90.6 rushing yards per game. That presents a difficult situation for the Gators, who rank 11th in the country in rushing yards averaging only 120 per game. Adding to the Sooners’ arsenal is the duo of Isaiah Thomas & Nik Bonitto’s passing attack. Thomas ranks 11th in the country with eight sacks, while Bonitto ranks 14th with 7.5 this season.
Looking at the flip side of the field now, the Sooners passing attack ranks 11th, averaging 321.6 yards through the air this season. Freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler lit up the scoreboard this season with 2,784 yards and 25 touchdowns through the air this season. On the ground, they have less success with 154.2 yards per game.
11th is where the Sooners sit in terms of points per game, with an average of 41.8, matching almost even against Florida who ranks 13th, with 41.6 points per game. With all the scoring, they leave their defenses on the field a lot as well, resulting in points for their opponents. Florida has allowed an average of 28.6 points per game, while Oklahoma allows almost a touchdown less, with 21.9.
Bowling is an art, just like winning bowl games is. The Sooners are 22-17 all-time in New Years Six Bowl games, and 29-23-1 all-time in bowls. The Gators are 24-21 in all-time bowl appearances. The two teams have met just once in the postseason, coming back in 2008, when Florida defeated Oklahoma 24-14 to win the BCS National Championship.
In the end, when the sound of the final whistle reverberates through AT&T Stadium, and the clock hits triple zero, the one stat that matters is the final score… Now, let’s kick this off and settle it on the field.
Written by Adrian Beecher
