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You may look from a far and wonder how in the world a 7-5 Iowa State was chosen to get to Orlando over 8-4 squads they lost to. You might not think of a traditional football powerhouse when you hear Iowa State but they’ve got a following that would lead you to believe otherwise.
When chinstraps are finally buckled, mouth pieces are in and the Camping World Bowl gets here on December 28, Notre Dame and Iowa State will be playing for the first time in each-others history.
What needs to be known about Notre Dame’s next opponent as preparations for the season-finale are now upon us?
Here are five things to know about the 7-5 Iowa State Cyclones.
A Loyal Following Helped Earn Them This Invite
Oklahoma about suffered an epic collapse against Iowa State. Here are the final game grades, report card for Saturday’s game.
As Lincoln Riley says, “The game is never as good as you thought, and it’s not going to be bad.”
On first glance, Iowa State stayed with what was working and ended up making a game out of one that didn’t seem to be close. Oklahoma had an atrocious fourth-quarter, but it didn’t feel like they played bad during the first three quarters.
After every game, Sooners Wire’s Kegan Reneau will rewatch and provide his final thoughts before moving on to the next one.
Here are the grades for the unit and the grades for individuals who ended up on the stat sheet or were noticeable for Oklahoma. These grades reflect how the Sooners played on that game indicative of the perception Reneau expects them to play.
Jalen Hurts — C-
We are at the point where it is acceptable to ask:
What would this offense look like with Spencer Rattler or Tanner Mordecai?
Jalen Hurts should have thrown a pick-six and two more interceptions against Iowa State.
His running ability has brought a different variable to Lincoln Riley’s system, but his inability do dissect coverage and consistently hit vertical throws has done more harm than good. Has it limited the offense’s ceiling? That’s something I pondered with prior to the season, but CeeDee Lamb’s and Charleston Rambo’s yards after the catch have inflated the numbers for this offense.
No, this isn’t me calling for a quarterback change. This is me stating the reality that this offense is different and Jalen Hurts will never be the quarterback Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray or the future quarterbacks will run.
Trey Sermon — N/A
Kennedy Brooks — A
Rhamondre Stevenson — N/A
T.J. Pledger — N/A
So, this is what happens when one of the best running backs in the country get the ball …
Jeremiah Hall — B
Brayden Willis — B
Solid day. Nothing stood out as bad and both made a couple plays.
CeeDee Lamb — A-
Charleston Rambo — B
Trejan Bridges — B-
Nick Basquine — N/A
A.D. Miller — B-
Theo Wease — N/A
CeeDee Lamb is the best receiver in college football. No ifs, ands or buts about it. That fumble cost him an A+.
Some of the blocking in the running game did not hold up.
Lee Morris — B
Morris is becoming more and more useful for Riley as the season has gone on.
Iowa State has one of the most underrated defensive lines in the country and the Oklahoma offensive line held its own. Nothing too flashy. Lot of the success in the running game was based on play design, but the offensive line did what its job is supposed to do.
Not its best day at the office, but Oklahoma did what many can’t against Iowa State: Chunk plays and points.
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