Opponent First Look | Iowa State Cyclones

The Oklahoma Sooners are set to host the Iowa State Cyclones Saturday night in Norman. The Cyclones will arrive in Norman with a 3-5 record, but they are riding high after the complete destruction they unleashed on the Texas Longhorns last Saturday. They completely controlled the game on both sides of the field en route to a 24-0 shutout victory over the Horns.

Everything starts and finishes with redshirt freshman all everything running back Mike Warren. The Lawton, Oklahoma native has simply set the college football world on fire amassing 954 yards on the ground and 4 TDs through the Cyclones first 8 games. He is averaging 6.2 yards per carry, even though practically every Big 12 defense practically builds their entire gameplan around stopping him. He is definitely in the conversation for best running back in all of college football.

The quarterback position appears to have finally settled at least somewhat. Sophomore Joel Lanning has taken over as starter for the last two games and completed 61% of his passes and thrown 4 touchdown passes along with 1 interception. He is also a deceptive athlete showing the ability to pick up yardage on the ground and keep plays alive with his feet.

Defensively the Cyclones are giving up 29.6 points per game which is good for 7th best in the conference. The defense is led by senior defensive end Dale Pierson. He is tied for 2nd (with Eric Striker) in sacks in the Big 12 at 6 1/2. Keeping him out of the Sooners backfield will be a definite key to this game.