It’s been an up and down season for Oklahoma’s defense and. with the biggest game of the season looming next weekend in Stillwater, it’s a good time for them to be playing on a high note again. Now healthy, the Speed D held Iowa State to just 51 rushing yards which was a season low by an Oklahoma opponent and season low for the Cyclones. The Sooners limited ISU running back Breece Hall to just 58 yards on the ground. Hall entered the day averaging 117.2 rushing yards per game.
With two interceptions and a fumble recovery on the afternoon, Oklahoma’s defense met its desired quota for takeaways. It was the fourth time this season OU totaled three takeaways in a game (Tulane, Western Carolina and Texas Tech) and the second time they registered two interceptions (Texas Tech).
Oklahoma’s defense has registered at least one takeaway in 17 straight games and in 18 of the last 19. The Sooners are plus-18 in turnover margin (37 takeaways to 19 turnovers) over the last 19 contests. Holding Iowa State to 4 of 17 on third downs (23.5%), the Sooners have held 16 of its last 19 opponents below a 50% third-down conversion rate.
For the second weekend in a row the Sooners have ramped up pressure in the opponent’s backfield. Oklahoma recorded a season-high seven sacks and a season-high-tying 11 tackles for loss. It was OU’s second straight game with 11 tackles for loss and the most sacks since recording nine against Kansas last season.
Game Notes
• Saturday’s win was the 55th in Lincoln Riley’s head coaching career. He tied Bob Stoops for the most victories by an OU head coach in his first five seasons. Riley’s .859 career winning percentage (he is 55-9) is the best in school history (Barry Switzer ranks second at .837; 157-29-4).
• Oklahoma has now registered 41 seasons of 10 or more wins, the most nationally (entered the year tied with Alabama with 40 10-win seasons).
• This was OU’s school-record-setting sixth win this season by seven or fewer points.
• OU finished the season with a 7-0 home record, just the fourth time for the feat (also in 2003, 2007 and 2018).
• The Sooners improved to 78-7-2 all-time against Iowa State and are 17-2 in the series in the Big 12 era.
• Oklahoma has won 42 of its last 43 regular season contests following a loss, and has won 24 of its last 25 November games.
• OU is 29-2 (.935) in home games under Riley. It has won 10 straight home games and 26 of its last 27.
• OU’s 96 passing yards were its fewest since 2014 (39 passing yards vs. Kansas).
• Oklahoma has scored on 46 of its last 47 red zone trips and is 51 of 53 on the year (scored on two of three today). OU’s streak of 44 straight red zone scores ended with its missed field goal in the second quarter today.
• OU has outscored opponents 112-33 in second quarters through 11 games this season. They outscored Iowa State 7-0 in the second quarter on Saturday.
• Seven Sooners caught at least one pass in the game. At least seven receivers have caught a pass in each of OU’s 11 games this season.
Caleb Williams
His 74-yard touchdown run on OU’s opening possession was the Sooners’ longest scrimmage play of the season. It was the eighth-longest rushing play ever by an Oklahoma QB and the longest ever by an OU freshman QB (longest QB run since Kyler Murray’s 75-yard TD run against Kansas in 2018).
Brian Asamoah
Recorded eight total tackles (five solo), one tackle for loss and a forced fumble. He has three TFLs over his last two games.
Kennedy Brooks
• Rushed for 115 yards on 17 carries. It was his 11th career 100-yard rushing game and third of the season.
• He has compiled 3,039 career rushing yards becoming the 11th Sooner to reach 3,000 career rushing yards.
• Has rushed for 654 yards over OU’s last six contests (average of 109.0 yards per game).
Pat Fields
Sealed the game with an interception at the OU 3-yard line with 0:15 remaining in the game. It was his second interception of the season and the third of his career.
Eric Gray
Recorded his second rushing touchdown of the season on a 7-yard play in the fourth quarter. He rushed for 23 yards on four carries.
Key Lawrence
• Forced the fumble that Jalen Redmond returned for a TD, and added another forced fumble in the fourth quarter (was recovered by ISU). He now has three forced fumbles this season.
• His two forced fumbles are the most by a Sooner since Parnell Motley had two against Oklahoma State in 2019.
Jalen Redmond
• His 42-yard scoop-and-score touchdown was OU’s longest fumble return for a TD in a home game by a defensive lineman since 1979. It was the 15th-longest fumble return for a TD in school history, and the first fumble returned for a TD since Curtis Bolton at West Virginia in 2018. It was also OU’s first defensive scoring play of the season.
• Finished the game with a sack and four QB hurries.
• His four QB hurries were the most by a Sooner since 2017 when Ogbonnia Okoronkwo had five vs. Texas.
Mario Williams
Scored his fourth receiving touchdown of the season on an 11-yard play in the third quarter. He finished with two catches for 18 yards.
Isaiah Thomas
Was responsible for two of OU’s seven sacks (for 14 lost yards), a personal season high. Finished with three tackles in the game.
Michael Turk
Three of his six punts today went for at least 60 yards (63, 61 and 60 yards) and he averaged 54.8 yards per boot. He now has seven punts this season of 60 yards or longer (26 total punts). That figure is the most since Tress Way recorded eight punts of 60-plus yards in 2009 (61 total punts). The single-season school record is 14 punts of at least 60 yards by Jack Jacobs in 1940.
Delarrin Turner-Yell
• Registered a career-high 11 tackles (nine solo) and an interception. It was his second game this season with double-digit tackles and the third of his career.
• Notched his fourth career interception and third of the season on a play in the third quarter.
Full Game Notes (SoonerSports.com)
Follow us on Twitter: @SportsHeartland