Oklahoma Football: 3 keys to victory vs. West Virginia in Week 8

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the 2019 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 12, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the 2019 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 12, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – OCTOBER 05: Fullback Jeremiah Hall #27, running back Trey Sermon #4 and quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrate after a touchdown during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – OCTOBER 05: Fullback Jeremiah Hall #27, running back Trey Sermon #4 and quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrate after a touchdown during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

2. Establish the run

Everyone knows just how good Jalen Hurts has been all year. Being a Heisman candidate and one that not many have even noticed has been running the ball at will even at the quarterback position. West Virginia though, has been great in the secondary and has had success trying to stop people through the air.

Oklahoma will have to be able to run the ball through the option with Hurts and a slew of running backs. Expect Hurts to be tested if the Sooners try and pass all over the field, but be able to find more running lanes than he has in the past. To play against the Mountaineer weakness, the Sooners will have to find a soft spot with the run.

West Virginia has not had a ton of things jump out to you when you are watching them, but one has been their second level of defense. This could be a strength they lean on trying to stack the box and force Jalen Hurts to throw on the outside. Containing CeeDee Lamb might just be a different story overall.