Oklahoma football is gearing up for a very highly-anticipated 2021 season that many expect will see the Sooners provide their best crack at a national title in recent history.
Led by Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma looks to have their most complete team in the Lincoln Riley era with a stellar defense to match up with the superb offense. A big reason for the expectations is the personnel, with the Sooners very likely having multiple first-rounders in the 2022 NFL draft on the current roster.
Another quarterback getting a lot of attention this summer is Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler. Could he rise to the QB1 throne? Perhaps, but he’ll need a strong 2021 campaign to make that leap. A good outing against the Iowa State Cyclones would go a long way towards him achieving that goal. This will be his third game against the Cyclones, having split the two contests last season.
But Rattler is not the only player to watch in this one. His teammates Perrion Winfrey and Nik Bonitto are standouts on the defensive line, and wide receiver Jadon Haselwood is worth watching as well.
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The Sooners are dripping with next-level talent on both sides of the ball and the Cyclones are viewed as their biggest threat to a seventh consecutive Big 12 title. Head coach Matt Campbell has Iowa State with the largest expectations surrounding them in a very long time, and for good reason with the talent currently residing in Ames.
For Iowa State, running back Breece Hall and tight end Charlie Kolar are two intriguing prospects for the next draft cycle. Then there is linebacker Mike Rose, last season’s Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Finally, do not forget about Brock Purdy, the other quarterback in this game.
The Oklahoma-Iowa State clash in late November is easily one of the most highly-anticipated games around the country going into next season and certainly looks to provide the two premier teams in the Big 12 in 2021.