In early October, the state of Iowa lifted -30 37–30 upset from Oklahoma, giving the Sonners a second consecutive loss for the first time in more than 50 years. The result threw 12 big races into chaos. Could this be the year that No. 10 Oklahoma takes a step back, paving the way for another program to steal the spotlight?
Yes and no. Oklahoma turned the weekend against Texas again and did not look back. The six straight winners, the Sunners looked like the big 12 favorites we know from years under Coach Lincoln Relay. The biggest story is the improvement of the defense under Alex Grinch. This has been the top-10 defense since November and the defensive front has been sounding the alarm. It’s terrifying to imagine Oklahoma with a legitimate defense and this team has just gone scary.
At the same time, No. 6 Iowa State is in a position to win its first conference championship since 1912. The Cyclones beat Oklahoma earlier in the year when the Suners were more sensitive and put Texas at 2 on the Thanksgiving weekend in Instein. -1 Against the other top teams in the Big 12. In 2020, Matt Campbell’s team had a window to run a title and it has been capitalized on.
There is nothing stale about this rematch. Oklahoma and Iowa State are playing great football right now and the cyclone in particular is raging at the right time. Here’s how to watch along with the storylines for how to follow Saturday’s game.
Storylines
Oklahoma: This is the fourth straight big 12 title game for the Suners, but for the first time since the game returns in 2017, it could probably be their defense. The initiative of Isaiah Thomas and Ronnie Perkins has ranked the D-Line in the top 12. They, along with the Linebacker Corps, will help slow down Bris Hall’s later run, which is All-American. Season and possibly some Hizman will also get votes. Hall has run for at least 91 yards and a touchdown in every game so minimizing his impact is a major issue for Oklahoma.
Iowa State: For all the grumbling about Hall Hall – and more than he deserves – the quarterback Brap Purdue is finally coming into the season he thought he was. In his last three games, Purdy has completed 76% passes for 858 yards, seven touchdowns and zero picks, while also being an active part of the running game. He was deadly accurate in his last regular season game against West Virginia, scoring 20 of 23. The Iowa State passing game is very balanced with seven plays receiving at least 15 receptions, including three wide receivers, three tight ends and a hall. The passing game is not traditionally going to Iowa State, but it has been much more efficient in the second half of the season.
Viewing information
Event: Big 12 Championship Game
Date: Saturday, December 19 | Time: Afternoon ET
Location: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
TV: ABC | Live stream: fuboTV (try for free)
Oklahoma v. Iowa State Forecast, scored
Latest hurdles:
Oklahoma Sunners-6
Oklahoma’s winning streak included a 27-14 win over lone Hinchki Baylor. The Suners were confused in the bear’s defense, showing that, yes, it is still possible to make this group look human. Iowa State has some excellent defenders at all three levels and got the best of Oklahoma for the first time. To win or lose here, Iowa State is playing well on both sides of the ball so Oklahoma can be predicted again. Pick: Iowa State +5.5
