10 Thoughts: Kansas State

In my prediction for this game, I called Bill Snyder and Kansas State a historically accurate litmus test in revealing an Oklahoma team's true character. Coming into Saturday's contest, there were still many questions surrounding what type of Sooner team this was. After a 38-17 win over the Wildcats, the sense for this OU team's identity is becoming less ambiguous.

Here are my 10 takeaways following Oklahoma's third-consecutive win to open Big 12 play.

What is the proportionate crime to match a two-play punishment for Dede Westbrook?

Did he forget somebody's birthday?

I'm pretty sure the more effective punitive measure by Bob Stoops was when he chewed the senior receiver out for being forced to leave the game due to an un-tucked shirt.

Grandmothers across Sooner nation cheered.

Westbrook responded by landing a great lead block on Samaje Perine's first quarter 25-yard touchdown reception.

For those of us that were going through our formative college football years when Bob Stoops first came to Norman, watching a shovel pass brings back a pure nostalgic joy that is how I imagine my father would feel if OU lined up in the wishbone and ran the triple option.

Oklahoma's offense has struggled on third downs at times this season.

The cure for those conversion troubles often lies in being better on first and second down.

Through the Sooners' first three possessions, they scored three touchdowns and only faced three third downs – converting them all.

Probably because they were a 3rd & 3, 3rd & 2, and 3rd & 1.

Per OU statistician wizard, Mike Brooks, Joe Mixon's touchdown pass was the first by an Oklahoma running back in 43 years (Joe Washington to Tinker Owens vs. Texas in 1973).

The best thing I heard all day was when our own Eddie Radosevich said 2017 gregarious Oklahoma cornerback commitment Justin Broiles was giving the Sooner secondary a pregame pep talk.

With each passing win, Oklahoma will feel the sting from that Houston loss more and more.

If you're ever looking for supplementary entertainment during an Oklahoma offensive drive, just check on left tackle Orlando Brown.

There may be no Sooner that plays with more of an edge than the redshirt sophomore. Maybe because he knows no one is that serious about messing with a 6-foot-8, 340-pound human being.

If something happens once, it could be an anomaly. If it happens twice, a pattern begins to emerge. If it happens in three consecutive games, it’s who you are.

Oklahoma just struggles to put teams away late in games when their up-tempo offense stalls and the defense doesn’t get enough rest. It didn't cost them today against Jesse Ertz and Joe Hubener, but they may not be so lucky next week in Lubbock against Patrick Mahomes and Texas Tech.

Welcome to the Dede Westbrook appreciation portion of our programming.

That was Westbrook’s third-consecutive game with 150+ receiving yards and at least two touchdowns.

Oklahoma’s all-time leading receiver, Ryan Broyles, never had 120 yards in three-straight games.

Oklahoma's second all-time leading receiver, Sterling Shepard, never had 110 yards in three-straight games.

Neither Broyles nor Shepard ever had multiple touchdown receptions in three-straight games either.

Westbrook has accounted for eight touchdown receptions in his last three games.

To put that into perspective, here are some notable Oklahoma career touchdown reception totals:

Tinker Owens – 11

Jalen Saunders – 11

Mark Andrews – 11

Curtis Fagan – 13

Antwone Savage - 13

This season, Westbrook now has 43 receptions, 728 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns through six games.

In 2015, he had 46 receptions, 743 yards, and four touchdowns. Total.