Sooners' season depends on their play away from home

Play well away from Norman.

This week at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, that challenge begins.

"Going into our season, we talked about how there were going to be many tremendous road opportunities, counting this neutral site game, which will be away from home and in Cincinnati," said OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "We don't want to make a bigger deal than it is, but we do understand, to have a strong team and have a great year, we've got to play well on the road."

The success of OU's season will hinge on that.

The Sooners should take care of business at Owen Field the rest of the way. Two of OU's toughest home opponents, Florida State and Air Force, already are in the rearview mirror. Of OU's remaining home foes, only Texas Tech poses a threat.

Away from home, plenty of land mines await.

Saturday, OU will face the Cincinnati Bearcats, who haven't been strong themselves in two road losses already this season. Still, the Bearcats have won 22 of their last 24 games inside the Cincinnati city limits.

The following week, seventh-ranked Texas waits in the Cotton Bowl, where OU has lost four of five. Road bouts also loom at Missouri, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State; all three are undefeated through three games.