Oklahoma vs Iowa State football: Too early game preview

We move into the November portion of the schedule with five games left on the Iowa State football season. The Cyclones have three home games left, and the next team up at Jack Trice Stadium is the Oklahoma Sooners.

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Oklahoma was an interesting team last season. Inconsistencies and quarterback changes plagued a year that had impressive victories, crushing losses, and weird outcomes despite pulling out with a victory.

The Sooners finished the regular season 10-2. They defeated then 20th-ranked Notre Dame in the fourth week of the season, cruising to a huge early lead thanks to turnovers and didn’t let go of it.

Then, they barely took down TCU, 20-17, suffered a brutal 36-20 loss to Texas in which the final score didn’t indicate the butt-whooping they were dealt, beat Texas Tech in a 38-30 shootout, and then got smoked by Baylor in the biggest game of the season, 41-12.

Naturally after the blowout, Iowa State was up next on the schedule and the Sooners definitely put out some of their frustrations in a 48-10 thumping.

Ultimately the season ended with a huge 45-31 victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, aided with quarterback Trevor Knight‘s 350 yards and four touchdowns in the air. Despite it being an exhibition, Bob Stoops capped off the BCS era by being the first and only coach to win all four BCS bowls.

Going into next season, Knight is one of the more exciting QBs in the Big 12. He’s only second to Baylor’s Bryce Petty. The media is already being lauded as the next Tim Tebow especially after gaining national respect in last year’s Sugar Bowl.

Fun fact: Since the Cyclones’ last victory against the Sooners in 1990, they have scored a total of 51 points in Norman. Oklahoma has scored 277 points.

Oklahoma should also be solid in two major parts of their game — tackling and running the ball. They return every starter on their young defense except for a cornerback position. Charles Tapper is their best pass rusher and recorded 5.5 sacks last season. Frank Shannon and Dominique Alexander led the team in tackles (172 combined) and were just a sophomore and freshman last year, respectively.

At running back, the team looks to reload after losing Brennan Clay, Damien Williams, and Roy Finch. Sophomore Keith Ford has all the potential to break out and dominate.

With the improvement on defense, Oklahoma should be the favorite to win the Big 12 with that slight edge over Baylor.

Too early prediction

If anything, Oklahoma tends to crap all over Iowa State less in Jack Trice Stadium compared to Norman. Fun fact: Since the Cyclones’ last victory against the Sooners in 1990, they have scored a total of 51 points in Norman. Oklahoma has scored 277 points.

It’s been less of a disaster in Ames. Oklahoma tends to play flat, likely overlooking the game. It almost cost them in a 17-7 scare back in 2007 when the Sooners were ranked fourth in the nation.

No one should anticipate an epic beatdown, but Iowa State will falter to 3-5 on the season losing two straight to the Big 12’s legendary football squads. But don’t fret, Cyclone fans. After a brutal frontloaded part of the schedule, a bowl game is still possible.

OKLA 33, IAST 20

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