Establish the running game
Since rumbling for 153 rushing yards on 20 totes against TCU, redshirt junior running back Kennedy Brooks and Oklahoma’s running game has been bottled up for the most part.
Brooks rushed 24 times for 79 yards at Kansas and then carried it just eight times for 35 yards against Texas Tech. Brooks was the Sooners’ leading rusher last week against Baylor as he finished with 14 carries for 55 yards.
It doesn’t get easier this week. Iowa State is No. 18 nationally in rushing defense, surrendering 112.4 rushing yards per game. However difficult the task, it’s imperative for Oklahoma that it finds a way to run the ball successfully.
“They’re a strong defense. They’re a great team. They’ve always got great run fits. It’s going to be a battle up front, man. Whoever runs the ball this game is going to win the game. That’s what it always comes down to at the end of it every time I’ve played them. It’s going to be a very physical game, but we can do it. It’s something that we’ve done before and we can do it again,” Brooks said.