Cotton Bowl Classic Preview: No. 7 Florida vs. No. 6 Oklahoma Inside the Numbers Preview
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Since the inception of the Cotton Bowl Classic in 1937, this college football bowl game has been a premiere landing spot drawing in high-profile showdowns and some of the game’s all-time greats. From the Southwest Conference days to the current tie-ins of the Big 12 and SEC, the Cotton Bowl is an end of season affair typically pitting Top 10 teams against one another drawing fans to AT&T Stadium stands and viewers to the TV set. This year’s exciting matchup of No. 7 Florida Gators verses No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners will draw a national crowd promising to put points on the board.
Playing a conference-only schedule during the 2020 season, the Gators 8-3 (8-2 SEC) rode the arm talents of second team All-American quarterback Kyle Trask to the SEC Championship Game. Trask led the nation’s top passing attack averaging 388.4 yards per game with a full arsenal of receiving talent running routes. Receiver Kadarius Toney was third in the SEC in receptions (70) and yards (984) with 10 touchdowns scored earning second team All-American honors. The player defenses had no answer for was tight end Kyle Pitts. Pitts led all FBS tight ends in receptions (43), yards (770), and touchdowns (12).
More balanced than Florida, the Sooners are a pass-heavy attack as well tearing apart defenses for 321.6 yards an outing. Led by freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler, the Sooners got off to a rocky start with a 1-2 record before jumping on a seven-game winning streak. The winning ways culminated in a 27-21 Big 12 Championship Game victory against regular season champ Iowa State. Rattler led the Big 12 in yards (2,784), completion percentage (68.0), and QB Rating (170.9) while tying for the lead in touchdowns tossed (25). Rattler’s top targets, Marvin Mims and Theo Wease, were in the Big 12’s Top 10 in receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns.
No. 7 Florida vs. No. 6 Oklahoma
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET – Wednesday, Dec. 30
TV: ESPN
Location: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
Spread: Oklahoma -2
Game Notes
When Florida takes the field Wednesday night, a few key pieces of the offense will be missing. Starting wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes have opted out and Jacob Copeland (virus) has already been ruled out. Additionally, first team All-American tight end Kyle Pitts has opted out leaving Florida without their top four receiving threats during the regular season.
Matching up with Florida’s passing attack, Oklahoma will be without star cornerback Tre Brown. Brown opted out declaring for the NFL Draft.
Game Breakdown
Florida Strength of Schedule: 15th
Key Wins: No. 5 Georgia 44-28
Key Losses: No. 21 Texas A&M 41-38, LSU 37-34, and No. 1 Alabama 52-46
Oklahoma Strength of Schedule: 53rd
Key Wins: No. 22 Texas 53-45 (OT), No. 14 Oklahoma State 41-13, and No. 6 Iowa State 27-21
Key Losses: Kansas State 38-35 and Iowa State 37-30
Offensive Breakdown
UF Points Per Game: 41.64
OU Points Per Game: 41.80
UF Rushing Yards Per Game: 120.5
OU Rushing Yards Per Game: 154.2
UF Passing Yards Per Game: 388.36
OU Passing Yards Per Game: 321.60
UF Total Offense: 508.8
OU Total Offense:475.8
UF Third Down Conversion Percentage: 66-127 – 51.97 percent
OU Third Down Conversion Percentage: 51-126 – 40.48 percent
UF Red Zone Offense: 53-57 – 41 touchdowns
OU Red Zone Offense: 50-55 – 37 touchdowns
Florida Key Offensive Players
QB Kyle Trask: 285-409-5 for 4,125 yards, 43 TDs
RB Dameon Pierce: 95 carries for 443 yards, 4 TDs
WR Malik Davis: 29 rec. for 358 yards
Justin Shorter: 23 rec. for 358 yards
Oklahoma Key Offensive Players
QB Spencer Rattler: 200-294-7 for 2,784 yards with 25 TDs; 120 rush yards, 5 TDs
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: 83 carries for 479 yards, 6 TDs
WR Marvin Mims: 36 rec. for 583 yards, 8 TDs
WR Theo Wease: 36 rec. for 494 yards, 3 TDs
Defensive Breakdown
UF Total Defense: 404.7
OU Total Defense: 333.6
UF Points Allowed Per Game: 28.64
OU Points Allowed Per Game: 21.90
UF Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 258.27
OU Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 243.0
UF Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 146.5
OU Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 90.6
UF Defensive Third Down Conversion: 65-159 – 40.88 percent
OU Defensive Third Down Conversion: 39-141 – 27.66 percent
UF Red Zone Defense: 34-41 – 26 touchdowns
OU Red Zone Defense: 28-34 – 21 touchdowns
Florida Key Defensive Players
Ventrell Miller: 88 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, and 1 FR
Mohamoud Diabate: 64 tackles, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, and 5 QB hurries
Shawn Davis: 40 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 INTs, and 1 FF
Kaiir Elam: 39 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INTS, and 11 PBU
Oklahoma Key Defensive Players
Brian Asamoah: 59 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks 5 QB hurries, and 1 FF
Delarrin Turner-Yell: 46 tackles, 2 TFL, and 1 INT
Woodi Washington: 40 tackles, 1 INT, and 3 PBU
Nik Bonitto (second team All-American): 29 tackles, 10 TFL, 7.5 sacks, and 10 QB hurries
Photo credit: Stormininnorman.com; No. 7 Spencer Rattler