How Will Oklahoma Respond after Notre Dame Loss?

It’s been the perennial roller coaster season for Bob Stoops and his Oklahoma Sooners. Things you can always count on: the disappointing loss for Sooners fans, celebrating the Texas State Fair harder than Longhorns fans (especially in the Landry Jones era at quarterback), and crushing the next opponent following a loss.

Nov 26, 2011; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners receiver Kameel Jackson (18) makes a catch against Iowa State Cyclones cornerback Jeremy Reeves (5) at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Since 2009’s abysmal season with five losses, Stoops has done whatever it takes to fire up his team against the next opponent. Combining the seven losses during the 09-10 campaigns, Oklahoma has outscored their opponent 312-47. That’s over a six-touchdown average per game. Last year? Even more impressive with the quality of teams they faced.

They defeated 15th-ranked Kansas State 58-17, Iowa State 26-6, and Iowa 31-14 in the bowl game following their losses to Texas Tech on that strange weather-delayed night, Baylor winning their first-ever meeting, and their in-state rivals Oklahoma State crushing them by 34 points to take a last reach at making the BCS title game.

Overall, they defeated their opponents after a loss 115-37 last year. In the previous three years, only Iowa scored the most points against them with 14.

Texas Tech was able to get some points in garbage time this year in a 41-20 loss, but it was just another Oklahoma smackdown. In short, the Sooners don’t lose two games in a row. And it will be hard-pressed to see this team lose twice as well.

This isn’t a bad team. They lost to two teams that are apart of the four-program group that’s fighting for a national championship. Even with both losses suffered at home, there’s no reason to call out Oklahoma for being phony or for fans to again call for Stoops’ job.

Especially without a defensive leader in Jake Knott, it will be pivotal for Iowa State to keep the momentum going on offense from their win against Baylor. Fans will need to make Jack Trice rock; to tell Stoops, Jones, and leading running back Damien Williams that they won’t put up over 40 points on this team.

History says Oklahoma will cruise once again in Ames. It’s time for the Cyclones to change history once again in the Paul Rhoads era.

Brian Spaen is the lead editor for Clones Confidential. Keep up with the latest sports fails and disdain toward the Big Ten by following him on Twitter.

Read his other work on the Oregon Ducks blog, Autzen Zoo, and Lacrosse the Web.