NORMAN, Oklahoma – Two nationally ranked football teams will square off today when No. 23 West Virginia takes on No. 15 Oklahoma at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

 

Today’s game will be West Virginia’s fifth appearance in Norman dating back to a 47-14 loss to the Sooners back in 1958. The Mountaineers’ other trips to Norman came in 1978 (52-10 loss), 1982 (41-27 victory) and 2013 (16-7 loss).

 

West Virginia is 0-3 against Oklahoma since joining the Big 12 in 2012, with losses coming in Morgantown (50-49 in 2012), in Norman (16-7 in 2013) and again in Morgantown (45-33 in 2014).

 

Coach Bob Stoops owns an impressive 92-8 record at Memorial Stadium during his 17 seasons working the Oklahoma sidelines, his Sooner teams outscoring their opponents by an average of 27 points per game at home.

 

Oklahoma is 16-4 under Stoops at home against AP-ranked teams and 13-3 in Big 12 openers, including winning the prior two conference openers over West Virginia in 2013 and 2014.

 

Today’s game will kick off at noon and will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1. The Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG’s coverage will begin with the Mountaineer Tailgate Show at 8:30 a.m. leading into game coverage beginning at 11 a.m. with veteran play-by-play man Tony Caridi and analyst Dwight Wallace.

 

Here is today’s Countdown to Kickoff, presented by the Friends of Coal:

 

10 – Six of West Virginia’s TEN best total offensive performances have come under fifth-year coach Dana Holgorsen, including the 778 yards his Mountaineers put up against Oklahoma in 2012 – the second-best total in school history. Earlier that season, Holgorsen’s Mountaineers set the school record with 807 yards in a 70-63 victory against Baylor.

 

9 – West Virginia’s secondary has produced NINE interceptions so far through the first three games of the season, led by senior Karl Joseph’s four picks. Last year’s defense produced 12 interceptions in 13 games.

 

8 – EIGHT Mountaineers on the 2015 team have already earned their bachelor’s degrees and are enrolled in graduate school: Jared Barber, Isaiah Bruce, Terrell Chestnut, Skyler Howard, Nick Kwiatkowski, KJ Myers, Jordan Thompson and Stone Underwood.

 

7 – Since West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012, Oklahoma has defeated West Virginia all three times by an average of about SEVEN points per game. In 2012, the Sooners topped West Virginia by one, 50-49, two years ago in Norman, the Sooners’ winning margin was nine, and last year, Oklahoma defeated WVU by 12.

 

6 – Josh Lambert SIX field goals tie him with Oklahoma State’s Ben Grogan for the most in the conference so far through four weeks of play.

 

5 – Today’s game will be West Virginia’s FIFTH appearance at Memorial Stadium dating back to 1958. The Mountaineers also made trips to Norman in 1978, 1982 and 2013.

 

4 – Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has lost only FOUR times at home in 20 games against AP-ranked teams dating back to 1999.

 

3 – Today’s game marks the THIRD straight season West Virginia and Oklahoma are lifting the lid in Big 12 Conference play. Two years ago, the Mountaineers dropped a 16-7 decision to Oklahoma in Norman and last year, Oklahoma defeated West Virginia 45-33 in Morgantown.

 

2 – Defensive backs Daryl Worley and Karl Joseph are the top TWO players on West Virginia’s defense in total plays so far this season with 180 plays each (out of a possible 196). Linebacker Nick Kwaitkoski is the only non-defensive back seeing more than 165 snaps so far this season (166).

 

1 – Heading into today’s game, West Virginia’s defense is ranked FIRST in the nation in scoring defense and turnover margin, and is also tied for No. 1 in interceptions with nine.

 

Enjoy today’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.