How Oklahoma is Fighting the Urge to Look Past Iowa State Toward the Battle With Texas
NORMAN — Oklahoma passed a major test last weekend.
The No. 14-ranked Sooners spoiled Cincinnati’s Big 12 debut behind a strong defensive performance.
OU powered past the Bearcats 20-6, keeping the hosts out of the end zone throughout the entire contest.
It was a landmark victory for Brent Venables. The Sooners glided to a 3-0 start in 2022 before falling on their face in conference play.
The victory over Cincinnati pushed OU farther ahead than last year’s squad, but now the challenge is for Oklahoma to keep its edge.
Moving to 1-0 in Big 12 play isn’t enough for Venables or the team, but another potential distraction looms over Saturday’s matchup with Iowa State — No. 3 Texas.
If the Sooners take care of the Cyclones and the Longhorns avenge 2021’s loss to the Kansas Jayhawks in Austin, the eyes of the college football world will descend on the Texas State Fair on Oct. 7. Wins for both teams would set up the first top 15 matchup in the Red River Shootout since 2019.
But Iowa State knows a thing or two about taking the Sooners to the wire — especially in Norman.
Venables knows it too. He’s worked to ensure OU’s focus is solely on the Cyclones, and the recent history of the matchup backs up his concern.
“Coach (Matt) Campbell and his staff have done a fantastic job since he’s been there,” Venables said on Tuesday. “As we know last three times that Iowa State has come to Norman against some pretty good teams in ’17, ’19 and ’21, they’ve had a lot of success. And they’re 1-2 in those games but the scoreboard total for both sides of the ball’s 101 for Oklahoma and 100 for Iowa State.
“So they’ll have great confidence. This will be a disciplined, tough, physical football team. And it will be again a good challenge for us this week.”
Veteran defensive back Woodi Washington acknowledged the challenge to stay focused, but he feels the team has a better mindset to handle outside distractions this year.
“It’s really hard. They are a huge rival,” Washington said. “That’s always going to be a huge game for us. But with the team we have this year, they are focused on that moment and what we have coming up.
“I think guys are doing a great job preparing for Iowa State this week.”
Danny Stutsman, who has not only developed into one of the best linebackers in the Big 12 but has also taken huge strides forward as the vocal leader of the defense, said he’ll keep preaching the same message he’s had all year.
“Every single week we talk about being 0-0,” Stutsman said, “so it really doesn’t change who we’re playing. We’re focused on Iowa State.”
The Cyclones will head to Norman on the back of easily their finest performance of the season.
With freshman quarterback Rocco Becht leading the charge, Iowa State snapped its two-game losing streak with a 34-27 win over Oklahoma State in Ames last Saturday.
“The quarterback… had a terrific game,” Venables said. “… And obviously Iowa State’s 2-2 coming in on the year. Had a game against Iowa a couple of weeks ago that went down to the last possession of the game and they came up short 20-13. They lost a tough game at Ohio, a game in which they were missing their best receiver.
“And again defensively they’re playing really really well again on defense. Number one in the Big 12 in total defense and they’ve been the standard on defense the last five years or so in the conference.”
Taking the same field as the Cyclone defense can offer some extra motivation for Oklahoma, as the 2023 Sooners try to put in another good defensive effort — one that would set up another marquee showdown with Texas.
“Iowa State, we know how they are going to come in and how they are going to attack us,” Washington said. ”They have a good defense and obviously in the Big 12, they’ve been probably the best defense over the past couple of years.
“We’re just trying to change the narrative and get that spot.”
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