The Oklahoma Sooners came in at No. 2 in the first AP Top 25 poll of 2021. Garnering six first-place votes behind defending national champion Alabama, the expectations for the Sooners continue to rise as the 2021 season approaches.
As he did with the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches’ poll, Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports broke down the overrated and underrated teams in the AP Top 25. Iowa State, for as good as it should be in 2021, was deemed overrated at No. 7 in the AP Top 25.
There’s no doubt that the Cyclones are one of the chic picks to make a run at the College Football Playoff after returning a medium-sized village of starters, including star running back Breece Hall and quarterback Brock Purdy. Let’s tap the brakes on that just a bit, though. While the ‘Clones will be a tough out yet again this year thanks to experience and the coaching acumen of Matt Campbell, ranking them ahead of more talented teams like Notre Dame and Oregon is just a tad bit aggressive. I had Iowa State in my CBS Sports 130 ballot. Nothing against Iowa State as a program … I just don’t see it playing at the same level as the big boys in 2021. — Sallee
It’s an interesting stance considering the Cyclones have beaten Oklahoma twice in the last four years, including last year’s win in Ames, Iowa. They return Brock Purdy and his favorite target Charlie Kolar. They bring back Breece Hall to pound away at opposing defenses. On defense, they bring back Mike Rose to roam the middle.
The average margin of victory in the matchup between the two top programs in the Big 12 is 6.2 points. The largest margin of victory going to Oklahoma in 2018 when the Sooners won 37-27 in Ames.
They’re an experienced group. Under the leadership of Matt Campbell, they’ll be one of the best teams in the Big 12 in 2021. They may not win the Big 12 in 2021, but they’ve taken steps forward as a college football program and look ready to assert that they are one of the best teams in the country.