Oklahoma 27, Iowa State 24
Oklahoma returns home and takes on an Iowa State team that has underwhelmed relative to the Cyclones’ preseason expectations. With a win over OU, Iowa State can erase some of the disappointment from road losses against West Virginia and Texas Tech.
True freshman quarterback Caleb Williams has completed 41-of-53 passes for 697 yards and 10 touchdowns in his two home starts.
In a word, he’s been brilliant at home. It’s unrealistic to expect those lofty numbers to be duplicated against an Iowa State defense that ranks No. 10 nationally in total defense, No. 18 in rushing defense and No. 23 in passing defense. Still, it’s fair to expect Williams to play much better than his two-interception offering in Waco against Baylor.
The biggest key in this game defensively for Oklahoma will be trying to slow down Iowa State junior running back Breece Hall. If the Sooners can do a serviceable job there, then that will set OU up to force ISU senior quarterback Brock Purdy into a mistake or two.
The biggest deciding factor is that the game is being played in Norman and Williams has been terrific for the Sooners at home. Expect another low-possession game where Oklahoma does just enough to head to Stillwater, Okla., with its one-loss record intact.
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