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GAME NOTES: The 17th-ranked Miami Hurricanes close out what is without question the toughest four-game stretch to begin the 2009 season, when they welcome the eighth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners to Land Shark Stadium this weekend.

Randy Shannon's Hurricanes have opened the season with four straight ranked opponents. After opening with big wins in-conference against league powerhouses Florida State and Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes finally tasted defeat, dropping a 31-7 decision at Virginia Tech last weekend.

Shannon knows his football team failed in key areas in Blacksburg.

"Tough loss to a very good football team. They ran the football, we did not stop the run, we had turnovers, they had maybe one...and I think when you play Virginia Tech, that's what you have to be sound on and we weren't."

The Sooners dropped their season-opener to BYU (14-13) and in the process lost their Heisman Trophy winning QB Sam Bradford with a shoulder injury. Bob Stoops' squad has shown its resolve however and have rallied behind a freshman signal-caller to win the last two games in impressive fashion, with back-to- back shutouts of Idaho State (64-0) and Tulsa (45-0). Oklahoma has had an extra week to prepare for Miami, sitting idle last week.

This series is tied at 3-3, with the Hurricanes holding a slight 2-1 edge in games played in Miami. The last meeting took place in Norman in 2007, a 51-13 rout for the Sooners.

The Sooners may be without their star quarterback, but the team is still putting up big numbers on offense. Freshman Landry Jones has settled in under center and runs an offense that is putting up over 40 points per game and 452.7 yards. Jones is completing just over 60 percent of his passes, for 673 yards and nine TDs in three games. Six of those touchdowns came in the rout of Tulsa, as Jones set the single-game school record.

There are few receivers in the nation putting up the numbers that Ryan Broyles is. The sophomore wideout has 22 receptions in the first three games, going for 309 yards, with seven TDs.

A talented backfield makes it easier to find open receivers downfield. The ground game is netting almost 200 yards per game (196.3), spearheaded by tailbacks De'Meco Murray (6.8 ypc, two TDs) and Chris Brown (4.8 ypc, one TD).

The OU defense has been amazing this season, including pitching two straight shutouts. With 34 TFLs, 12 sacks and nine takeaways in the first three games, it is obvious that playmakers abound on this unit.

The linebacking corps is loaded with All-American talent, with seniors Travis Lewis (team-high 29 tackles), Ryan Reynolds (26 tackles, three sacks, one INT) and Keenan Clayton (15 tackles, one INT).

The defensive front has its share of stars as well, headlined by junior end Jeremy Beal (5.0 TFLs, three sacks) and junior tackle Gerald McCoy (6.5 TFLs, one sack).

Junior free safety Quinton Carter (22 tackles, one INT, one fumble recovery) is the top performer in the secondary.

The Hurricanes looked like they could do no wrong offensively in the first two games, but the unit was completely shut down in Blacksburg, managing just 209 total yards from scrimmage. Sophomore QB Jacory Harris easily had his worst outing of the year, completing just nine passes, for 150 yards and one INT. He was constantly harassed by the Hokie defense and was sacked three times.

When he gets the proper protection, Harris has flourished, having completed nearly 60 percent of his passes (59.5), for 806 yards and five TDs. Harris has spread the ball around this year, with LaRon Byrd (nine catches, 141 yards, one TD), Leonard Hankerson (eight catches, 186 yards) and Travis Benjamin (seven catches, 157 yards) all making plays downfield.

It helps to run the ball well and Miami has the kind of backs to do just that. Graig Cooper (5.1 ypc, one TD) and Javarris James (team-high three TDs) can both move the chains.

The Miami defense has been a step or two behind the offense this season in terms of putting up numbers. In fact, the stop unit has shown a real weakness against the run, yielding 159 yards per game, including getting torched for over 200 yards on the ground at Virginia Tech last weekend. The pass defense has been much better, although Miami will need to find a way to get to opposing QBs more often (just four sacks on the season). Also, the team has failed to force turnovers, with just three in the first three games.

Junior LB Colin McCarthy is the top tackler on the roster with 25 stops. Veteran DB Randy Phillips is next in line at 18 tackles and is responsible for the team's lone interception.

Bob Stoops is impressed with the Hurricanes and how far they have come under Shannon.

"We have to be at our best going down there this week to meet that challenge. I think Randy Shannon and his staff continues to build that program, they are doing a great job. When I watch them I see really explosive and talented players across all phases of the game. We have to meet that challenge with hopefully explosive plays and players on our side."

The Hurricanes though, showed some wear-and-tear last week in Blacksburg and have a tall order in front of them with Oklahoma coming to town. The Sooners will have their All-American under center soon, perhaps even this weekend, but may not need him yet, as Jones is gaining confidence with each pass.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Oklahoma 34, Miami 10