Oklahoma-Iowa State GameDay: Under the Radar

Austin Stogner

I’ve been saying all year that Austin Stogner will be a big part of the game plan, and I’ve been wrong every time. But there’s a special reason why I’m calling for a breakout game from Stogner against Iowa State. The Sooners are hosting 2024 tight end commit Davon Mitchell on Saturday, and Jeff Lebby and Joe Jon Finley are going to want the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Mitchell, a consensus 4-star prospect and top 5-10 tight end in the country, to see OU tight ends in action. Expect to see Stogner in space more on Saturday than he’s been yet this entire season. Dillon Gabriel will find him downfield, across the middle and in the red zone, and Mitchell will head back to Los Alamitos, CA, feeling confident that he can take OU tight end play to another level.

— John Hoover

Gavin Sawchuk

OU’s running back rotation is mystery wrapped in an enigma. The Sooners fed Tawee Walker against SMU only for him to end as a relative non-factor against Tulsa. Jovantae Barnes, the focal point of the contest against the Golden Hurricane, was nowhere to be found between the white lines in Cincinnati. Oklahoma is running out of time to figure out what it has in the running back room with Texas on the horizon, and the Sooners’ rushing attack still needs a game breaker. Redshirt freshman Gavin Sawchuk displayed the ability to take any touch to the house in the Cheez-It Bowl against Florida State, and Saturday’s bout against Iowa State represents the last chance to get the talented runner going before the Red River Shootout.

— Ryan Chapman

Jovantae Barnes

Jovantae Barnes, like the OU rushing attack, is due for a breakout game. The sophomore running back from Las Vegas has played sparingly thus far, compiling 122 yards on 28 carries while teammates Tawee Walker and Marcus Major have combined for 309 yards on 66 carries The Sooners rushed for a season-low 103 yards against Cincinnati (Barnes did not play) and are averaging less than four yards per carry though four games. Head coach Brent Venables said this week "we'd love for somebody to establish themselves. That hasn't happened yet." Look for Barnes to make the most of his opportunity if he gets one against the Cyclones.

— Tim Willert

Troy Everett

Last weekend against Cincinnati, versatile interior offensive lineman Troy Everett made his first start in Crimson and Cream, holding up well against a talented Bearcats defensive line. Everett filled in at left guard for Savion Byrd, who missed the Sooners’ contest against Cincinnati after suffering an injury against Tulsa. If Byrd isn’t ready to go this week, Everett will likely get his second consecutive start. With Iowa State coming to town, OU’s offensive line will have their hands full again this weekend, potentially giving Everett another chance to prove himself against a solid group of defensive linemen.

— Randall Sweet

Jalil Farooq

Oklahoma’s running back rotation has been inconsistent to say the least over the last few weeks. The Sooners haven’t been able to find much of a rhythm on the ground, and that’s something that’ll need to be addressed when OU meets Texas in the Cotton Bowl a week from Saturday. Jalil Farooq could be a big help in that area, believe it or not. He’s always a threat through the air as one of Oklahoma’s top receivers, but he also has the ability to take handoffs and reverses in a Deebo Samuel type role for the Sooners. It would benefit the team to get him involved in every area possible.

— Ross Lovelace