Reynolds has missed time the past two years after tearing two separate ligaments in his left knee and he was also slowed this spring by a sprained ankle.

“I don’t think there’s any question just another year removed from his injury, he’s more healthy, he’s quicker,” Stoops said.

“I think even your conditioning is different. Though you’re cleared to play, I don’t know that you’re always at the same speed that you were before until you’ve just kind of worked through that and you get that experience back on the field. But I feel like he’s there now.”

Reynolds ranks second on the team with 29 tackles, behind only Lewis’ 33. Clayton is third with 26 tackles.

BRILES AGAIN — Although the Sooners came away with a 63-13 win, defensive coordinator Brent Venables was none too interested in facing an Art Briles-led offense again after Oklahoma’s game against Houston in 2004.

He called up Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, who was the Sooners’ co-defensive coordinator at the time, this week to reminisce about that game.

“We told coach Stoops after that game, ‘Let’s not schedule Houston again, please.’ I know we won big, but the preparation and just the mental strain every single snap is really complex,” Venables said. “They do a lot.”

Led by quarterback Robert Griffin, who averages 272.5 yards of total offense, the Bears are scoring 34 points per game and rank 13th in the nation in rushing.

“They spread you out and get you a bunch of formation and a bunch of shifts and motions. A very, very unorthodox and unique offense from anything that we’ve seen up to this point in time,” Venables said. “It’ll be another mental challenge as well as the physical challenge.”