In researching some of the nuances in the college game that are noticeably different today than they were back in the mid-20th century, some 70 years ago, one of the things that struck me is how much more infrequent it is for defenses to hold an opponent scoreless for an entire game.
The last time Oklahoma served up a shutout on defense was 31 games ago, a 55-0 whitewashing of Kansas State in 2015, the week after the Sooners were upset 24-17 by Texas in the annual Red River rivalry game.
The Sooners came close twice last season, holding the University of Texas-El Paso to just seven points in the season opener and limiting hapless Kansas to just a field goal in a 41-3 beatdown that was overshadowed by Baker Mayfield’s trash talking and use of inappropriate hand gestures.