Study Hall: Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma State 24

Confused? Visit the Advanced Stats glossary here. Or just skip to the words. I won't be offended. (Okay, I'll only be a little offended.)

From this week's Numerical:

Yards per play averaged by Oklahoma in an odd 33-24 Bedlam win over Oklahoma State. The Sooners scored on a punt return in the first quarter, a fake field goal (with the play clock down to :00) in the third, and a fumble recovery in the final seconds. Three Oklahoma quarterbacks combined to complete 15 of 32 passes for 185 yards, a touchdown and an interception and rushed for 46 yards in 13 carries. Running back Brennan Clay, fresh off of a 200-yard performance against Kansas State two weeks ago, carried 24 times for 70 yards. OU punted eight times, four times after three-and-outs. Their first four possessions of the second half: INT, three-and-out, three-and-out, three-and-out. And they scored 33 points and won.

In the end, this Oklahoma win was only marginally less fluky than Alabama's loss to Auburn a week and a half ago. And now the Sooners, ranked 23rd in the F/+ rankings (easily their worst ranking since 2005) will face the second-ranked Crimson Tide in what will probably be a big-name, low-drama Sugar Bowl.