Iowa State came out throwing haymakers against Oklahoma’s defense on Saturday night, and for a moment the Sooners were staggered. The Cyclones capped a 9-play/51-yard drive with a 48-yard field goal from Chase Contreraz to pull to within 21-20 of OU at the 9:06 mark of the second quarter. To that point ISU has scored more on the Sooner defense than any opponent this season. They were averaging 8.4 yards per play and totaled 259 yards…to that point.
What followed the Contreraz field goal was complete domination by Oklahoma’s defense. Over the remaining 39 minutes, and change, of the game, Iowa State would only muster 93 more yards. Iowa State’s last six offensive possessions would end with four punts, an interception and a turnover on downs. The difference? Brent Venables made in-game adjustments and the Cyclones didn’t have a response for it.
Yes, Oklahoma’s defense struggled out of the gate, but there’s a lot to be encouraged by here. Last year’s team would have let this thing remain a shootout until the final gun. We know what an Alex Grinch defense would have done, right? This year’s team shut it down and won comfortably.
Second-Most Points Surrendered In The Matt Campbell Era
This is the third time in 2023 that Oklahoma has scored 50 points or more. Sooner fans my be used to seeing half a hundred on the score board, but you know who isn’t? Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. In their last three visits to Norman, the Sooners had scored 101 points against the Cyclones. On Saturday night they put up 50 points. That’s the most Oklahoma has scored against Iowa State since 2015 (the won that game 52-16) and it’s the second-most points ISU has given up in the Matt Campbell era.
More Of The Same From Oklahoma’s Running Backs
Five games into the season, you have to believe that we’re looking at a running back by committee offense that will be led by Marcus Major. For the second week in a row he recorded a season-high in rushing attempts and led all of Oklahoma’s backs. The Sooners featured a trio of backs led by Major’s 19 rushing attempts. Gavin Sawchuk carried the ball seven times, and Tawee Walker logged four carries.
Brent Venables did confirm that Jovantae Barnes is still dealing with his recovery from a surgery he had during the offseason.
Texas Is Next!
It’s hard to pinpoint the quality win on Oklahoma’s schedule, to this point, but it isn’t difficult to see the challenge and opportunity at the Texas State Fair next Saturday. The Sooners and Longhorns will both enter the Cotton Bowl undefeated for the first time since 2011 and the winner will walk off the field as the favorite to win the Big 12 title.
This certainly isn’t the same Oklahoma team that faced Texas in a 49-0 defeat last year. They’re deeper, stronger, more athletic, and in a much better position in terms of health. Saturday will tell us exactly how far they’ve come from Brent Venables’ first year. It should be fun!
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