There is a scheduled game to take place in Norman, Oklahoma, this week and it’s the opener of Big 12 Conference play.
Oklahoma welcomes in Chris Klieman and Kansas State, who pulled off one of the true stunners in college football in 2020. The Wildcats were more than three touchdown underdogs at home before prevailing at the end 48-41.
Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson returns as well as did most of the Wildcat defense, but Klieman is still breaking in almost a brand new offensive line. They suffered their first loss of the season in the opener in a major upset to Arkansas State 35-31.
Oklahoma did not lose its opener to FCS Missouri State, but the Sooners will be tested differently in week two. Spencer Rattler threw for 290 passing yards and four touchdowns in his starting debut as well as the defense pitched a shutout. Kansas State, despite its issues with COVID-19, will be a much tougher test for the Sooners.
Here is what Klieman said on Tuesday during his weekly press conference about Rattler and playing on the road at Oklahoma.
SPENCER RATTLER:
“Well, we have limited film, but just the fact that he’s working under Lincoln Riley, you know he’s going to be a great player ’cause Lincoln is as good as there is at coaching quarterbacks. I think he has tremendous arm strength. I think he does a great job of reading defenses, looking people off, knowing where he is going with the football. He’s an extremely good athlete. They didn’t run him and they didn’t need to run him much against Missouri State, but I know just doing some research, he can beat you with his feet as well as his arm. I know he’s a young player, but boy, I’ve been so impressed with his skillset.”
PLAYING ON THE ROAD AT OKLAHOMA IN A LIMITED CAPACITY:
“It’s a good question. I’ve not been to Norman before. Obviously seen a bunch of games on television. It’s still a home field for them. It’s still a home field advantage. The noise factor is not what it’s going to be what it typically is, but I’m sure as tight as those sidelines are that the noise will be a factor. So, something we have to practice for. But I think that’s going to be the kind of the interesting thing as you go across all these places and people coming here is what is the environment, and how do your kids adjust to it? Whether it’s very little crowd to no crowd or to 22,000 and the crowd noise that could come with that. I think every week will be a different adventure there.”
Oklahoma and Kansas State are scheduled to kickoff at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday from Norman, Oklahoma.
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