Oklahoma may already have one loss, but that doesn't make the matchup with Ohio State any less exciting.
For the youthful Buckeyes, this is the first real test of the season. For the Sooners, Saturday's game is a chance to put a marquee win on its playoff resume.
MORE: Week 3 TV schedule | Week 3 bowl projections
Here's how you can watch Ohio State at Oklahoma, and keys to victory for both teams.
Ohio State at Oklahoma
When: Saturday, Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Okla.
TV: FOX
Online: Fox Sports Go
Ohio State-Oklahoma all-time series
Whenever Ohio State and Oklahoma meet, there's always been national ramifications: both teams have been ranked in the Top 15 each time, including Saturday's game. Granted, these teams have met just twice in the past, and Saturday will be the rubber game of the match of sorts. The Buckeyes won the most recent matchup, a 24-14 win in Norman in1983 when Ohio State was No. 6 and Oklahoma was No. 2. The Sooners, ranked third, won the first meeting, a 29-28 win in Columbus in 1977 over No. 4 Ohio State. This game shoud hold as much weight as the previous two.
Numbers that matter
18-0
Urban Meyer's record in road games at Ohio State is flawless, and this includes games against No. 20 Michigan State (2012), No. 16 Northwestern (2013), No. 8 Michigan State (2014) and No. 10 Michigan (2015). Throw in neutral game wins against No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Oregon in the 2014 College Football Playoff and a 2016 Fiesta Bowl win over No. 8 Notre Dame and a 12-3 record against ranked opponents with the Buckeyes, and Meyer is golden. Can he make it 19-0?
967
Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine is just 967 rushing yards short of the program record (4,118) set by Billy Sims from 1975-79. Perine's just a junior and can easily break the mark this year. He hasn't been off to a hot start thanks to an injury against Houston (16 carries, 89 yards), but he's no stranger to racking up yards in big games — he averaged 125.6 yards and a touchdown against ranked opponents in 2015.
26
Ohio State's lack of experience was the big question for this season, but plenty of underclassmen have impressed in the first two games. Twenty-six freshmen have played for the Buckeyes including phenom running back Mike Weber, who already has 228 yards and a touchdown this season. Also keep your ears peeled for guys like Noah Brown (sophomore) and K.J. Hill (freshman) at receiver and Malik Hooker (sophomore) at safety.
Social buzz
There are several Heisman hopefuls playing in Saturday night's game — J.T. Barrett, Baker Mayfield, Samaje Perine — and a lot of other breakout candidates to watch — Joe Mixon, Mike Weber, Curtis Samuel. Oklahoma's Mayfield and Perine have the pressure of living up to expectations and putting up big numbers in a big game while Ohio State's young guns, Weber and Samuel, have the chance to get their name out on a national stage. It'll be a fun fight to see which player(s) will start to get some nationa attention.
The big question
What will the playoff chances be for both teams if they lose? Saturday's game between No. 3 Ohio State and No. 14 Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., was billed as a preview of a potential College Football Playoff matchup until Houston threw a wrench in that when it beat Oklahoma in Week 1. This game still has playoff implications, especially if Oklahoma pulls the upset, since it'll leave both teams with one nonconference loss against ranked opponents (not a "bad loss", in analyst terms). It's a no-brainer if Ohio State wins: Oklahoma is out. It'll be interesting to see how the playoff committee assesses each team after this game.
