Cincinnati to open inaugural Big 12 slate against No. 16 Oklahoma

No. 16 Oklahoma (3-0, 0-0 Large 12) at Cincinnati (2-1, 0-0), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (FOX)

Line: Oklahoma favored by 14 1/2, in response to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sequence file: Oklahoma leads 2-0

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Each Oklahoma and Cincinnati have been among the many winningest applications in school soccer since 2018. The Sooners and Bearcats entered the season as two of solely seven groups who’ve received not less than 50 video games over that span. Whereas Cincinnati appears to bounce again from its first loss in 17 years to in-state rival Miami (Ohio) and present it belongs among the many Energy 5, Oklahoma appears to deal with ending its stint within the Large 12 on a excessive observe. Oklahoma and Cincinnati final confronted off in 2010. The Sooners edged the Bearcats 31-29 at Paul Brown Stadium (now known as Paycor Stadium), the house of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.

KEY MATCHUP

Cincinnati will face a well-known foe in Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel. The UCF switch threw for 540 yards, 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in two video games (0-2) towards the Bearcats in 2019 and 2020. Gabriel threw three interceptions in his final go to to Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium in 2019, together with a decide 6 to then-Cincinnati freshman CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. Scott Satterfield’s Louisville squad additionally confronted Gabriel and UCF in 2021. Gabriel accomplished 22-of-29 passes for 184 yards and scored 4 whole touchdowns (three passing and one speeding) in a 42-35 loss at Louisville. Gabriel suffered a damaged left clavicle on the ultimate play of the sport.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Oklahoma: Gabriel leads the FBS in completion proportion (.825) and ranks second in passing effectivity (220.4) and factors chargeable for per recreation (24). He set a single-game college file for completion proportion (.903) by going 28 of 31 for 421 yards and 5 TDs final week at Tulsa. Gabriel was named the Large 12 offensive participant of the week.

Cincinnati: WR Xzavier Henderson is tied for the Large 12 lead in catches with 20. The Florida switch has 299 yards this season, together with 149 within the season opener towards Jap Kentucky.

FACTS & FIGURES

Oklahoma is a league-best 169-58 (.744) in regular-season Large 12 play because the convention started in 1996. … Cincinnati is 5-4 towards ranked opponents because the begin of the 2020 season. … Oklahoma’s plus-46.3 common scoring margin leads the FBS. … Cincinnati’s 239.3 speeding yards per recreation lead the Large 12 and rank eighth within the FBS. … Oklahoma ranks third within the FBS in scoring offense (55.7 factors per recreation) and fifth within the FBS in scoring protection (9.3 factors per recreation). … Cincinnati ranks second within the Large 12 with 21 scrimmage performs of 20 yards or extra. … Cincinnati QB Emory Jones ranks second within the Large 12 in passing effectivity (161.25).

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AP school soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll