Tag: Iowa State Cyclones

Oklahoma may be without H-back Brayden Willis for Iowa State game, per report

Oklahoma seems to have its first impactful injury so far to the 2020 season. “Doesn’t sound like” Brayden Willis will play this week.

Oklahoma football seems to have their first impactful injury so far to the 2020 season.

Brayden Willis went down in the second half of the Sooners’ game against Kansas State a week ago after taking a hit to his lower body. Willis did not return in the game.

According to Gabe Ikard, who works for Oklahoma’s radio broadcast team, on he and Teddy Lehman’s podcast, who also works for Oklahoma’s radio broadcast team, Willis may not be available for Lincoln Riley on offense against Iowa State.

“Doesn’t sound like Brayden Willis will be available this weekend,” Ikard said.

The H-back room, though, is one of Oklahoma’s best and deepest rooms. The Sooners returned Willis, Jeremiah Hall and Austin Stogner, as well as welcomed in true freshman Mikey Henderson, who impressed in the first game against FCS Missouri State.

Stogner had his career-best game a week ago, catching five passes for 80 receiving yards. Hall also caught a touchdown.

Oklahoma is scheduled to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT against Iowa State.

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What Oklahoma said about its matchup against Iowa State on the roa

Oklahoma is in a peculiar situation, but not one it isn’t used to being in. Here is what OU this week said about its matchup with Iowa State

Oklahoma is in a peculiar situation, but not one it isn’t used to being in.

The Sooners have won five-straight Big 12 Championships, but that hasn’t come without some speed bumps. Oklahoma has lost at least one game, most of them unexpectedly, since Lincoln Riley got to Norman, Oklahoma, in 2015.

This year it was Kansas State, just as it was a year ago. The Wildcats shocked Oklahoma in a 38-35 upset a week ago with the Sooners turning the football over four times, getting stuffed on a fourth-down and having a punt get blocked.

Now, they go on the road to Ames, Iowa, for a matchup with Iowa State. The Cyclones have been a thorn in Oklahoma’s side for the last three years with Matt Campbell pulling off an upset in 2017, pushing the Sooners in 2018 and almost winning again in 2019.

Here is what Oklahoma this week said about its matchup with Iowa State.

LINCOLN RILEY

“They’ve done a great job defensively in this league for a long time. They’ve got really gifted defensive coordinator who does a great job. They’ve done a great job of adapting to the talent that they have. They’ve played in this three-man front with a lot of different drop-eight schemes for a long time. They’re really the standard in the country for teams that have done that. A lot of what you see in the Big 12 you’re starting to see leaking into other conferences. I’ve even started to see it a little bit more at the pro level. I think that stems from some of the things these guys are doing. They do a tremendous job. No surprise that they would come back and respond and play a lot better after the loss that they had, with the staff and experienced quarterback and a lot of good returning players. It’s a fun challenge playing them. They do a tremendous job. We have the utmost respect for them and their program.”

adrian ealy on jaquan bailey

“He’s a great player for them. He’s been doing it for a couple years now. All we can do is go out there, attack the week, get better every day and when Saturday comes, it comes.”

ALEX GRINCH

“I think probably, game one, you see some missed opportunities and not to evaluate their tape in terms of their perspective on things. But I think that shows. No, I’ve got a lot of respect both the ability to run the ball and direct the ball both downfield and elite matchups with their size. The use of tight ends. You know, very multiple in terms of formations and shifts and motions and all that. This is a very difficult offense to defend. To put yourself into a situation that No. 1, don’t lose the down before the ball is snapped, because there’s a lot of moving parts and you got to make sure that you discipline that way. And that just gets you to the snap, and then at that moment, you got to execute. So, they put a lot of stress on you. And they impressed. When you watch them specifically last weekend, just just the ability … explosive plays more on the run game this past weekend, but they certainly have proven to direct the ball downfield as well.”

DASHAUN WHITE

They’re gonna be a big challenge, for sure, especially coming after last week and the way things went. Our mindset going into this week and even our preparation for the last two or three days has been really, really good. Feeling really good about how we line up against them. Obviously, they have a really talented offense. Their quarterback likes to run around a little bit. I find confidence in resetting and doing what we do game-in, game-out.

BRENDAN RADLEY-HILES

“Definitely a respect offense. Definitely. Definitely. Quarterback is a great guy. Uses his head. He makes smart decisions. I’m looking forward to definitely going in on the road and having a great game. Having a great, fun, discipline, poised game. I’m looking forward to the matchup. You have to come prepared when you go to Iowa State, when you play Iowa State. Great offense. Great coach. They are going to do their thing, but we got to make our plays.”

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What Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said about Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma

There’s a ton of respect between Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley and Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. That’s for good reason, too.

There’s a ton of respect between Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley and Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. That’s for good reason, too.

The Cyclones have been a thorn in the Sooners side for the last three years. Iowa State came into Norman, Oklahoma, and won in 2017, Oklahoma won by 10 on the road in 2018 and then the Cyclones almost pulled off another upset in 2019 when the Sooners needed a last-second interception on a two-point conversion to win.

Now, Chris Klieman at Kansas State has a lot to say about who has pushed Oklahoma the most, but Campbell isn’t too far behind.

Iowa State is 1-1 on the year, suffering a loss to Louisiana in the Cyclones first game then bouncing back in their Big 12 opener against TCU. Oklahoma is also 1-1 with a win over FCS Missouri State and a loss in its opener to Kansas State last week.

Here is what Campbell said about Iowa State’s matchup with the Sooners.

SPENCER RATTLER

“I think first and foremost is elite arm strength. When you watch him play, I think the thing that is so impressive like so many of their guys is the way the ball really jumps off of his arm. His ability to make all of those throws that you’ve seen … we’ve seen up close and personal over the last five years and it’s been really impressive.

“I think the second thing is you can see even just getting into a great rhythm as the early parts in the season and some young players in some new roles for them, you can see even over the course of two games the steps they are making. I think a really dangerous, potent offense and Spencer a really talented football player.”

OklAHOMA’s Defense

“I think what you’re seeing is still an outstanding defense. The amount of guys that they have back on defense, this team speed—TCU can really run, this is an elite speed in my opinion. With elite speed creates elite cover ability. I think all of us are dealing with the challenge early on of efficiency in terms of tackling, but I also think there are some really great plays that this Oklahoma defense has played with through the first two games. I think this is going to be a great challenge for our entire offense because of team speed.”

ON SPENCER RATTLER DEALING WITH ADVERSITY

“I think the first conversation would be is your talking about one of the best quarterback coaches and, obviously, one of the best offensive minds in our sports and so I think that is a huge positive for Spencer to have as he works and develop and grows. And then No. 2, I think the big thing and the reality for all these teams and all these players is you still have to play the game and you still have to be able to go out and go through tough times. I think every great player and every great team has to have adversity and then obviously have to have the ability to respond to it.

“I think when you even look at last week’s game, boy, that Oklahoma offense really got going. You look at total yards—almost 600 total yards. A lot of really positive things from that offense. Just some mistakes that occurred. And again, in this time where we’re at, I think you’re going to mistakes occur. Instead of those mistakes maybe happening in scrimmages or practices, they are going to happen wide open in these game settings just with how early I think we all are in terms of our development and growth as football teams.”

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Warriors interview Iowa State point guard Tyrese Haliburton before NBA Draft

At the NBA Combine, Iowa State point guard Tyrese Haliburton mentioned he’s interviewed with the Golden State Warriors before the NBA Draft.

While the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers are underway inside the Orlando Bubble, the Golden State Warriors are preparing for the 2020 NBA Draft.

For the first time since 2002, the Warriors will own a pick in the top-five selections. With draft day inching closer, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr should be narrowing down the prospect pool to identify a player fit for their pick.

Before Myers and Kerr are on the clock, the Warriors will meet with players leading up to Nov. 18. At the NBA Draft Combine, Iowa State’s point guard Tyrese Haliburton confirmed he’s interviewed with the Warriors.

Via @Con_Chron on Twitter:

On his way to earning a spot on the All-Big 12 second team in 2020, the Cyclones point guard averaged 15.2 points on 50.4% shooting from the field with 6.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals in 22 games.

Despite encouraging snippets from Jordan Poole and Ky Bowman, the Warriors will need to address their backup point guard position in the offseason.

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With Stephen Curry coming off a significant injury, the Warriors will need a player that can command Kerr’s offense from the backcourt. Haliburton’s 6-foot-5 size, paired with his passing and floor control, makes him an ideal candidate to step in behind the two-time Most Valuable Player.

While developing under Curry, Haliburton could pair with sophomore Eric Paschall as Golden State’s young tandem off the bench.

Watch highlights of Haliburton’s jumper via @CycloneMBB on Twitter:

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Oklahoma is only a touchdown favorite on the road at Iowa State, per BetMGM

Oklahoma is in a peculiar place, but not one it isn’t used to. After a loss to Kansas State, OU is a touchdown favorite at Iowa State.

Oklahoma is in a peculiar place, but not one it isn’t used to.

The Sooners first loss of 2020 is the earliest Oklahoma has lost a game in a season since 2016 when Houston and Ohio State handed the Sooners losses in two of the first three games. Oklahoma was upset for the second-straight year by Kansas State last Saturday in a shocking 38-35 loss.

Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma have suffered losses in each season since his arrival to the Sooners in 2015, but have prevailed. They’ll be looking to do the same this week on the road at Iowa State.

The Cyclones are 1-1 after suffering a loss to Louisiana in their first game and then bouncing back in their Big 12 opener against TCU in a 37-34 win. Iowa State will be a home underdog on Saturday, but it won’t be by much—Oklahoma is a seven-point favorite according to BetMGM.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Sooners have been this low of favorites in a game before, but it was a good while back. The last time was Nov. 23, 2018, on the road at West Virginia. Oklahoma closed as a three-point favorite and won 59-56.

Before that? Oklahoma was a seven-point favorite in 2018 OU-Texas part I when it lost 48-45. The Sooners were also a seven-point favorite in the 2017 Big 12 Championship game against TCU and a six-point favorite in the regular season game that year against TCU. Oklahoma was a two-point favorite against Auburn in 2016.

In the last 30 games of being a seven-point or fewer favorite, which dates back to 2008, Oklahoma is 20-10 in those games and are 17-12-1 against the spread. Since Lincoln Riley arrived in 2015, the Sooners have played in 11 such games. OU is 9-2 in those games and 8-2-1 against the spread.

Oklahoma beat Iowa State in 2019 on a game-winning interception on a two-point conversion on one of the last plays of the game to escape 42-21.

The Sooners and Cyclones kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday.

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Iowa State will allow fans inside Jack Trice Stadium for first time for Oklahoma game

Iowa State has yet to allow fans at home games for 2020, but that will change when Oklahoma travels to Ames, Iowa, this Saturday.

Iowa State originally planned on having fans at home games this year before a spike in cases in Ames, Iowa, and on campus made them go back on those plans.

The Cyclones played their first game of 2020 against Louisiana with only their band and spirit squad in attendance. Oklahoma has been playing home games with 25 percent capacity through two games despite some issues with the student section and masks being worn at the opener against Missouri State

Iowa State, though, will welcome fans for its Big 12 home opener against Oklahoma on Saturday, Cyclones athletic director Jamie Pollard announced late last week.

“COVID weekly positivity results from on campus testing have drastically declined from a high of 33% on Aug. 30 to 5% on Sept. 20,” the release said. “The campus 10-day rolling average as of Sept. 22 has declined to 4%. Additionally, the 14-day virus positivity results from Story County testing has declined from 22% on Sept. 1 to 8% on Sept. 23.”

Iowa State planned on having 25,000 fans and that has reduced to 15,000, just under 25 percent for Jack Trice Stadium.

Assigned seating will be taking place. Masks are being required to be worn. There will not be any tailgating allowed.

Oklahoma and Iowa State are scheduled to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday.

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Kickoff time, broadcast details announced for Oklahoma-Iowa State

Even after a loss, the world still wants to see Oklahoma play football. The Sooners and Iowa State will kickoff in prime time.

Even after a loss, the world still wants to see Oklahoma play football.

The Sooners suffered a stunning 38-35 loss to Kansas State at home on Saturday after having a 35-14 lead late in the third-quarter. It was the second-straight year Wildcats’ head coach Chris Klieman has out-schemed, out-coached and won against Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.

That hasn’t stopped Oklahoma from getting the primetime treatment. The Sooners and Iowa State will kickoff on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

The Cyclones lost their first game of the year to Louisiana 31-14 before going on the road to win their first Big 12 game against TCU 37-34. Iowa State has been much improved since head coach Matt Campbell arrived in 2016.

Oklahoma lost played the Cyclones on the road in 2018 where the Sooners, led by Kyler Murray, won a tough-contested game 37-27. Iowa State gave Oklahoma its lone regular season loss of 2017 in a shocking 38-31 upset against Baker Mayfield.

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Big 12 Roundup: trOUble in Norman, Sooners shocked at home

With all ten teams in play, we look around the league in the Big 12 roundup on a wild Saturday across the landscape.

Before the Texas Longhorns put their No. 8 ranking on the line in a thriller, the No. 3 ranked Oklahoma Sooners hosted the Kansas State Wildcats. In their openers, the Wildcast fell at home to Arkansas State while the Sooners rolled Missouri State. However, on Saturday’s early kickoff the fortunes turned.

Kansas State 38, Oklahoma 35

It was the conference opener at home for the Oklahoma Sooners. They came in as heavy favorites and many expected them to run over a depleted Kansas State team that was missing eight players. Early on it looked like Spencer Rattler would pick right up where he left off against Missouri State. After an early interception from Rattler, the Sooners scored touchdowns on back to back drives. It wasn’t until a second pick that the Wildcats would score their lone touchdown of the first half.

With 2:46 left in the third quarter, the Sooners found themselves up 35-14 and looking to wrap up another Big 12 Conference win. Then the floodgates opened for Kansas State. The Wildcats defense would allow another score, they forced two turnovers and three punts on the final five drives of the game. Meanwhile Kansas State would score on their next four drives to take the lead after 24 unanswered points to win the game. Rattler threw his third pick of the game as he tried to rally his team.

The talented redshirt freshman looked just like that, a freshman. He will get a lot better and this was a coachable moment for Lincoln Riley. The Wildcats upset the Sooners for the second-straight season.

Iowa State 37, Texas Christian 34

The next game to kick off before Texas took the field were the Iowa State Cyclones and Texas Christian Horned Frogs. This was the first time TCU has played this season after postponing their opening game. Iowa State was looking to avenge a dreadful loss to the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in Ames.

In this game Brock Purdy looked better than he did in the opener. He only had five incompletions and threw for one touchdown. It was more about the running game for the Cyclones with Bryce Hall. It just took a quarter to get everything rolling. Despite the two teams combined for 71 points in this game, neither team could get the upper hand early with a scoreless first quarter.

On first and 15 from their own 25-yard line, Hall broke off a 75-yard run to get the scoring started in this game. Hall finished with 153 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Newly named starter Matthew Downing responded with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnson. Downing just wouldn’t finish this game as the quarterback. After a sack-fumble, the Cyclones would build a 16-7 lead going into the break.

Max Duggan would take over in the second half and led the team to 27 second half points. The offense finally got rolling to close in on the Cyclones. Down two late in the fourth, Duggan had a pass go right off his receivers hands and it was intercepted. Hall would take care of the rest and give Iowa State a 37-28 lead. They would hold on to win the game.

Oklahoma State 27, West Virginia 13

Much like the Cyclones and Horned Frogs, this game started out with a scoreless first quarter. The Oklahoma State Cowboys would be without starting quarterback Spencer Sanders in this one as freshman Shane Illingsworth would get the nod. He threw for just 139 yards and one interception in this one. It was all about the running backs for OSU.

The standout receiver Tylan Wallace would catch six passes for 78 yards but was held out of the endzone in this one. The second quarter lead would be enough for Oklahoma State as West Virginia and Jarret Doege just couldn’t build any steam.

As the second quarter opened, the Cowboys found the endzone on a LD Brown 66-yard scamper to the endzone. He has become a homerun threat for the offense. The following drive, Oklahoma State built a 14-point lead with a scoop and score on a fumble.

After finding themselves down 17-0, Doege found Winston Wright Jr for a 70-yard touchdown. They would go into the half down 20-7. The Mountaineers could only must six second half points on two field goals as they fell to OSU. Chuba Hubbard got the ball rolling late as the cracked the 100-yard mark on 22 carries and a touchdown.

Baylor 47, Kansas 14

The Baylor Bears finally got onto the field for their first game of the 2020 campaign against the Kansas Jayhawks. On the first drive of the game, Kansas would take a 7-0 lead on a 21-yard run from Pooka Williams. After a Bears punt and a failed fourth and one run by Kansas, Baylor would get going on offense. A Travis Ebner run would tie the game up. He wouldn’t be done with his showcase on this day.

Baylor would end up taking a 17-7 lead into the break after Charlie Brewer found Ebner on an 18-yard pass. Ebner would score again on the opening kickoff of the second half to extend their lead to 17 points. He would run it 100 yards as the special teams got their first score on the board. Ebner would add an 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown after a safety. Baylor would be up 40-7 at that point.

All in all Travis Ebner had quite the day with four total touchdowns and 272 all-purpose yards in the game. Both touchdowns for Kansas came on runs from Pooka Williams, who finished with 76 yards rushing.

Play-by-play announcer has perfect call on this baffling pick-six: ‘What is he doing?!’

“Whoa, what is he doing?!”

Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy helped deliver a win on Saturday on the road against TCU – but he also threw one of the worst pick-sixes you’re likely to see all season.

TCU brought a blitz on 2nd-and-5, and while Purdy was able to spin away from one defender well behind his line of scrimmage, he was wrapped up by a second blitzer for what seemed to be a huge sack. As he was being taken to the ground, though, Purdy attempted to throw the ball away with a wild fling, which ended up being a perfect lateral to TCU’s La’Kendrick Van Zandt.

Play-by-play man Joe Davis was just as shocked as everyone else, and had a perfect call: “Whoa, what is he doing?!”

Purdy and the Cylones held on to win a shootout, 37-34.

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Monday Big 12 Morning Rush: Another Schooler in the conference

The latest Big 12 morning rush features stories regarding the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Oklahoma Sooners and Iowa State Cyclones.

A new week has begun as we inch closer to the season. Longhorns Wire scoured the web for the top stories from around the Big 12 Conference for the Monday morning rush. Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Iowa State provide the headlines.

Continue reading “Monday Big 12 Morning Rush: Another Schooler in the conference”