No. 10 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Iowa State Big 12 Championship Game Preview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
We have reached the end of the road in Big 12 Conference college football season with Oklahoma and Iowa State battling this Saturday in the championship game deep in the heart of Texas. The Cyclones finished first in the conference with an 8-1 record, 8-2 overall, while Oklahoma finished 6-2 in the Big 12, 7-2 overall. In terms of conference championships, this has the feel of a David vs. Goliath match-up as Oklahoma has 49 total conference championships and Iowa State has just two with the last one coming in 1912.
Since the Big 12 Championship game was formed in 1996, Oklahoma has won the conference title in 10 of their 11 appearances, including the last three. However, during their regular season match-up, the Cyclones defeated the Sooners 37-30 in Ames on Oct. 3.
To reach the title game, Iowa State won their last five games after suffering a defeat at the hands of Oklahoma State (24-21). The Cyclones won their first three conference games after opening the season losing 31-14 to Louisiana-Lafayette. Oklahoma on the other hand lost their first two conference games to Kansas State and Iowa State then ran the table.
No. 10 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Iowa State
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Oklahoma -5.5
Oklahoma Overview
Offense
The Sooners once again had an explosive offense in 2020 averaging 43.44 points a game while throwing for an average of 327.11 yards and rushing for 158 yards per contest. The man leading the charge for Oklahoma is redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler, who has thrown for 2,512 and 24 touchdowns in his first season under center.
Rattler’s two favorite targets are freshman wide receiver Marvin Mims, who has 29 balls for 482 yards and seven touchdowns, and sophomore receiver Theo Wease, who has caught 33 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns. The Sooners leading rusher is junior TJ Pledger who has 449 yards on 94 carries and five touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
Defense
Oklahoma gave up 22 points a game this season while allowing 234.2 yards through the air and just 88 yards on the ground. The leading tackler for the Sooners is sophomore linebacker Brian Asamoah, who has 53 total tackles including five for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. The defensive line is anchored by junior Isaiah Thomas, who has 27 total tackles including 11.5 for a loss, eight sacks, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.
The secondary is patrolled by senior cornerback Tre Brown. Brown has 29 total tackles including one for a loss and two interceptions. Another weapon in the secondary is junior safety Delarrin Turner-Yell. Turner has chipped in with 40 total tackles including two for a loss, one sack, and one interception.
Iowa State Overview
Offense
The Cyclones have a more balanced offense than Oklahoma averaging 34 points a game producing 200 yards on the ground and 242 yards in the air per match-up. The leader of this balanced attack is junior quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy has thrown for 2,272 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 310 yards and four more scores on the ground.
Iowa State’s leading rusher is sophomore running back Breece Hall who has 1,357 yards and 17 touchdowns. Two weapons for the Cyclones in the passing game are junior wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson, who has caught 50 passes for 612 yards and four touchdowns, and junior tight end Charlie Kolar, who has snagged 33 balls for 446 yards and leads the team with five receiving touchdowns.
Defense
Iowa State gives up 21.3 points a game while letting their opponents gain 103 yards on the ground and 235 yards through the air per contest. The playmaker on this lockdown unit is junior linebacker Mike Rose. Rose has produced 81 total tackles including 10 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and four interceptions. A player to watch in the secondary is junior Lawrence White IV who has chipped in with 47 total tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
The defensive big man to watch in the trenches is senior defensive end Jaquan Bailey who 38 total tackles including 13 for a loss, seven sacks, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.
Analysis
Is this the year that someone can finally topple Oklahoma from the top of the Big 12 mountain? As we’ve said throughout 2020, anything can happen, and Iowa State might just have the team to do it.
With the extra motivation of avenging their loss in Ames, the Sooners just have too much firepower to lose twice to Iowa State. Expect this to be another traditional Big 12 shootout type of game with plenty of fireworks.
Prediction: Oklahoma 35, Iowa State 31
Photo credit: ESPN; Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler
Photo credit: The Des Moines Register; Iowa State QB Brock Purdy