ESPN.com - Midseason report: Oklahoma

ESPN.com: Oklahoma Sooners

Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Midseason report: Oklahoma

By David Ubben

OKLAHOMA

Record: 4-1, 2-1 Big 12

The Sooners have had the most up and down (and up again) season of any team in the Big 12. Oklahoma began the year looking like the Big 12's best team and the league's best hope for a national title.

After a lackluster win at UTEP, the questions were mounting. After a loss to Kansas State, the Sooners looked like a vulnerable squad susceptible to being swallowed up by the depth of the Big 12. They had to sit and wait a week to take the field again.

The Sooners rolled over a good Texas Tech team by three touchdowns (a week later, the Red Raiders dispatched No. 5 West Virginia by five touchdowns) and saved their best overall performance of the season for the Red River Rivalry, where the Sooners delivered a 42-point beatdown to a Texas team that looked completely overmatched.

The Sooners have the Big 12's best defense through the first half of the season, and the biggest question offensively is Landry Jones' completion percentage. The running game looks more physical than ever. Damien Williams has been a hidden gem from the juco ranks to lead the Sooners in rushing.

Oklahoma looks back on track for a Big 12 title, playing better than any team in the league these past two weeks. That big loss in Norman, though, means Oklahoma needs K-State to lose twice in order to win the league. That looks like a tall order these days.

Offensive MVP: Damien Williams, RB. Williams ascended a crowded depth chart to earn the starting gig ahead of Dom Whaley, Brennan Clay and Roy Finch. He is one of just three Big 12 backs averaging at least 100 yards a game. That's even more impressive considering he hadn't received more than 10 carries in a game before last week's win over Texas Tech. He's got 508 yards and six touchdowns on just 66 carries, averaging 7.7 yards a carry.

Defensive MVP: Aaron Colvin, CB. Colvin is far from the biggest name on a loaded Oklahoma team, but he's been the team's most valuable player to this point. He has 20 tackles, two picks and six pass break-ups. The 6-foot, 180-pounder might be making himself a lot of money this season.