No. 18 Oklahoma (5-2, 4-2 in the Big 12) keeps improving both offensively and defensively.The Sooners beat Kansas (0-7, 0-6), 62-9, Saturday in Norman.

In their first three Big 12 games (one win and two losses), OU surrendered 120 points (40 points per game) and scored 127 points (42 points per game).

In the last three games, OU’s defense has given up 61 points (20 per game) and the offense scored a whopping 157 points (52 points per game).

The Sooners, who have a bye week this week, are tied with Texas and Kansas State for third in the Big 12 with identical 4-2 marks. Iowa State is in the lead with a 5-1 record while Oklahoma State is at 4-1.

If Oklahoma beats No. 13 OSU on November 21 in Norman and then defeats West Virginia and Baylor, the Sooners have a good shot at making the Big 12 Championship game and perhaps winning their sixth straight league title.

A big reason for optimism is the play of redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler.

Rattler was 15 of 27 passing for 212 yards and a touchdown with one interception. He ran three times for three yards and his third rushing TD of the season. Rattler has passed for at least 200 yards in every game this season, but this was the first game in which he did not have two-plus passing TDs.

“I thought he played okay,” said OU coach Lincoln Riley. “He made some really good plays, (he) had the one bad decision in the scramble situation. He and (Jeremiah) Hall weren’t on the same page. We were just a tick off, (we) missed a couple throws and had a couple of really good throws that we just didn’t make the play on.

“So he was solid, certainly could have played better. We had some great opportunities out there. But once again, I thought he managed it well, I thought he saw things well, I thought he was in the right place the majority of the night again. It was a solid night, he can play better, but it was certainly winning football.”

Rattler bruised his hip on the touchdown run and it affected him in the second half.

 “Yeah, I got hit pretty good on my hip, just on my hip pointer, just under my rib cage,” Rattler said. “And it’s just kind of like a bad bruise. So, I mean, I couldn’t really finish my [throws]. You could tell I didn’t have any of my power the whole second half and after that on some of the completions as well.

“You know, I didn’t have [it]. I was probably playing at 50%. But sometimes you’ve got to toughen it out and go out there and just help the team in whatever way you can. But luckily [it’s] nothing serious, just a bruise.”

Some questioned why Riley didn’t pull Rattler after the injury since it was evident OU was going to win the game.

“He was just a little sore,” Riley said. “I think just trying to get through and finish on his throws, you could tell was affecting him just a little bit. And then he was able at the end of the game get it loosened back up and started throwing the ball fine again there at the end. So he was fine. Had the game not been out of hand, we certainly would have left him in.”

Oklahoma gained 200 rushing yards and averaged a season-high 6.5 yards per carry. It was OU’s third game this season with at least 200 rushing yards (also vs. Texas and Texas Tech).

Oklahoma scored six rushing touchdowns for the second consecutive game. The last time OU scored at least six rushing TDs in back to back games was 1987 (seven vs. Tulsa; six vs. Iowa State). OU has scored at least 60 points in consecutive games for the first time since 2015. Oklahoma has held Kansas to fewer than 10 points seven times in 18 meetings during the Big 12 era (since 1996).

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson scored on touchdown runs of 13 and 29 yards. He now has five rushing TDs this season and 10 in his career. He and T.J. Pledger are tied for the team lead with five rushing TDs.

Stevenson had 104 rushing yards on 11 carries (9.5 average) and 60 yards on a team-high four receptions.

“He’s probably most similar to Samaje (Perine),” Riley said of Stevenson. “(He has) a very similar build, and a low, stocky, low center of gravity. (He’s) Very difficult to tackle and wrap up and then has some big play ability, to go with that he catches the ball pretty well.

“So he’s a good player. He’s a talented kid, I think his best ball’s certainly ahead of him, but he’s a great combination. When you get a guy that’s tough to tackle and has some breakaway and catches the ball pretty (well). (He’s) able to jump cut right and left and make great feet. It’s a good combination. I think through his experience has shown, playing the way he did behind that o-line, a very similar line to last year. He’s played some ball and has improved and has a good understanding of what we’re doing.”

The Sooner defense had nine sacks and 11 tackles for loss in the game (with six more QB hurries). Over its last four games, the OU defense has totaled 20 sacks and 39 tackles for loss.

Oklahoma’s nine sacks tied a school record.

The Sooners have allowed just 148 total yards (on 46 plays) in the third quarter over the last four games against Texas, TCU, Texas Tech and Kansas. The Longhorns (-9), Horned Frogs (-2), Red Raiders (8) and Jayhawks (44) combined for 41 rushing yards on 24 carries in the third quarter.