The Oklahoma Sooners will have to work a bit harder to stay ranked in the top five, as leading rusher Keith Ford will miss this week's game against West Virginia, and possibly longer.
Ford is suffering from a broken bone in his right leg, Yahoo! Sports reports. Ford injured the leg during OU's win over Tennessee. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has told media that it is only a slight fracture in a non-weight-bearing bone. However, Ford's status going forward remains unclear.
"'That'll be a week-to-week,'' Stoops said. ''That could be two weeks, three weeks, it's always a little bit hard to tell, depending on how it heals, so we'll just have to wait and see how that goes. For sure, he won't be able to play this week.''
The Sooners are currently ranked fourth in the country and their 3-0 record is, in large part, thanks to Ford's quick start. The sophomore rusher leads the Big 12 with six touchdowns, and has 194 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving through three games. Stoops has noted the team's talent at running back as a major strength this season despite highly touted recruit Joe Mixon being suspended for the year following a misdemeanor assault charge. The depth at the position will now be tested once again, as sophomore Alex Ross and freshman Samaje Perine will pick up the bulk of Ford's carries. Ross will get the starting nod due to experience and an impressive 82-yard touchdown run against Tulsa in week two.
Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight is confident both backs will fill in nicely.
''Samaje has done a great job,'' Knight said. ''I think all three of those guys are ready to step in at any time that they are called upon and do great things. You've seen through the first three games that all of them have the big-play threat and can run the ball effectively and do what we need to do in our offense.''
