• Oklahoma star running back Adrian Peterson broke his collarbone in last week’s win over Iowa State. Arguably the best running back in the country, Peterson was averaging over 155 yards a game prior to the injury. Peterson has accounted for 39 percent of OU’s offensive yards through six games.
Six-foot, 190-pound junior Allen Patrick is penciled in as Peterson’s replacement. Dan Hawkins said he doesn’t expect Oklahoma to change their offense much Saturday in the wake of Peterson’s injury.
“Those guys have had a very effective system in place for a while and I don’t think you’re going to see them deviate a whole bunch (from it),” he said.
• The Sooners’ defense has given up 20 or more points in four of their six games. They’re ranked 33rd in the country in total defense, but have been soft in the red zone, giving up points a conference-worst 11 of 12 times.
However, Hawkins said the Sooners are their typical big, fast and athletic selves on defense again in 2006. Asked what he’s seen from them on tape, Hawkins said, “It reminds me of swimming with the sharks in South Africa, scary.
“They’ve got it all. They’re big, they’re fast, they’re athletic, they pressure you. They don’t give up big plays. They’re good in every single way. You don’t look at anything and say, ‘Oh, we’ll get them on that.’ You have to go earn your yards.”
• On offense, Oklahoma quarterback Paul Thompson has 152 pass attempts in six games after playing wide receiver last year. “He does a nice job,” Hawkins said. “He’s a big, tall kid who’s accurate. And he can hurt you a little bit with his feet.”