The Oklahoma Sooners have been hit hard by the injury bug this season. The Sooners will again be without at least eight players, including a couple of starters.

However, one person whose status is up in the air is star safety Peyton Bowen. He is listed as questionable on the availability report. Bowen was injured after intercepting a pass against the Mississippi State Bulldogs late in the game. He didn't return, but assured everyone he would be fine. He played last week against the South Carolina Gamecocks, but looked a step slow.

If he can't go, the Sooners could be without their best player this season. Bowen has 41 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions. He was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. That also means safeties Omarion Robinson and Michael Boganowski will get the bulk of the snaps. You could also see more of freshmen Niko Jandreau and Markel Ford.

Bowen's availability could significantly affect Oklahoma's defensive game plan against the Florida Gators. His production and experience make him hard to replace, especially against an offense that will look to exploit any weaknesses in the secondary. If he can't play, Robinson and Boganowski will need to step into larger roles, while Jandreau and Ford could be called upon to provide valuable depth.

The Sooners will have to be prepared for either scenario, especially with their injury list already stretching their depth. Bowen's status is worth monitoring leading up to kickoff, as his presence could make a big difference in Oklahoma's ability to limit Florida's passing attack. If he cannot, the next group of safeties will have an important opportunity to prove they can handle the responsibility.