The Oklahoma Sooners face a major challenge on Saturday in "The Swamp." The Sooners will take on the Florida Gators, who are 5-3 and ranked No. 24.
The Gators are led by one of college football's best running backs. Jadan Baugh has totaled 801 yards and 13 scores on over five yards per carry. The big question for Oklahoma is if it can stop Baugh. In Florida's five wins, Baugh has rushed for 138.2 yards per game, but in the three losses, that number plummets to 36.7 yards per game.
Head coach Brent Venables raved about how well Florida runs the ball, specifically singling out Baugh, who he thinks has an NFL future.
"They've run the ball really, really well," Venables said. "They've got a really good offensive line, excellent backs. Jadan Baugh is
a Sunday player."
Stopping Baugh will be one of Oklahoma's biggest priorities in Gainesville. The Sooners need to establish control at the line of scrimmage, limit running lanes and make Florida work for every yard. If Baugh gets into a rhythm early, the Gators can lean on their ground game to control the tempo and create opportunities for the passing attack.
Florida's win-loss record shows just how important Baugh's production has been to the team's success. Oklahoma will need a disciplined effort from its defensive front and linebackers to keep him from becoming a difference-maker. After allowing more than 500 yards against the South Carolina Gamecocks, including 212 on the ground, the Sooners have plenty to prove, and containing one of the SEC's top running backs would be a meaningful step toward a defensive rebound.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables understands the challenge of Florida RB Jadan Baugh
