NORMAN — On the first play of last Saturday's game against Ohio State, Samaje Perine lined up in the backfield directly behind Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Unsurprisingly, Perine got the ball on the play, a handoff that resulted in no gain.
In each of Oklahoma's first three games this season, the running back — either Perine or Joe Mixon — has touched the ball to start the game.
Last season, Perine was the clear top running back, with 85 more carries and nearly 1,000 more yards than the redshirt freshman Mixon.
![Photo - Through OU's first three games of the season, Joe Mixon, above, has been a more effective runner than Samaje Perine, below. [Photos by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/sq200-853ae77e55277fa1c9c1cd4aa1cc59c5.jpg)
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