Game Primer: OU vs. Iowa State

Saturday, November 9

Norman

7:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

Iowa State

Photo by: Josh Gateley

November 08, 2019 | Football

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^9/9/8Oklahoma

Iowa State

Saturday, Nov. 9 / 7 p.m. CT / Owen Field

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OPENING KICK

• No. 9/9/8 Oklahoma (7-1, 4-1) goes for its 15th consecutive home win when it hosts Iowa State (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT. The contest will be televised nationally by FOX with Joe Davis, Brock Huard and Bruce Feldman announcing.

• Oklahoma is 16-1 at home under head coach Lincoln Riley, with the only defeat coming two years ago at the hands of Iowa State, 38-31.

• OU owns a 75-6-2 (.916) all-time record against Iowa State and is 46-2-1 (.949) in the last 49 meetings. It is 38-4-1 (.895) vs. the Cyclones in Norman. In the Big 12 era, the Sooners hold a 14-1 series advantage (7-1 at home).

• The Sooners' .916 series winning percentage against Iowa State is the best by one FBS program against another (minimum of 50 games played).

• Since the start of the 1999 season (which was Bob Stoops' first as OU head coach), the Sooners are 13-1 against Iowa State, with all 13 wins coming by double digits. The average score in those 14 contests has been 39-13. In OU's seven home games against ISU during that period, it has outscored the Cyclones 292-76 (average of 42-11).

• Oklahoma has been ranked in the AP's top 10 in 48 of the last 49 polls. The only time it wasn't during that stretch was following its 2017 loss to Iowa State (fell from third to 12th).

• Iowa State's only two wins against the Sooners since 1961 came in 1990 (33-31) and 2018 (38-31), both in Norman. ISU's six overall wins in the series have come by 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 13 points (average of 5.5 points). Its 13-point victory came in the first meeting in 1928 in Ames.

• Among teams that have played eight games, OU is the nation's only one this season with at least 24 rushing touchdowns (25) and 24 passing TDs (24) each. UCF has 25 rushing TDs and 29 passing TDs in nine games.

• In a stat that speaks to OU's success on both sides of the ball, the Sooners have run 27 fewer plays than their opponents this season (502-529) but have outgained them by a staggering 2,077 yards (4,787-2,710). OU leads the nation in total offense (598.4 ypg) despite ranking 123rd in plays per game (just 62.8).

• The Sooners have scored at least 34 points in 18 straight games — good for the longest streak in school history — and in 29 of the last 30. The 18-game streak is the second longest nationally since at least 1980 (Oregon did it in 23 consecutive games in 2011 and '12).

FOR THE FANS

• Approximately two hours before each home game, the Sooners will disembark the team buses immediately west of the intersection of Lindsey Street and Jenkins Avenue for the "Walk of Champions." A pep rally, conducted by OU Spirit, will be held 15 minutes prior to the team's arrival. This week's pep rally will take place at approximately 4:45 p.m. with the team arriving at approximately 5. Fans are encouraged to cheer on the team upon arrival and watch as the squad walks the final yards west along Lindsey Street to their locker room.

• "Party at the Palace, Presented by Allstate" is OU's rebranded pregame event that is held on the lawn immediately north of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. It will begin at 3 p.m. this week and will include many of the same fan-friendly activities and great food options the former "Sooner Fan Fest" did. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Boomer and Sooner and have their photo taken with the Sooner Schooner, the mascots and members of the OU spirit squads. The GoVision jumbotron, which shows other games across the country is back for 2019, as are the photo booth, face painter, balloon artists and inflatable football toss. Food will be available from trucks representing Midway Deli, The Meating Place and Whole Latte Pie. And the Sooner Radio Network (flagship 107.7 The Franchise) will be broadcasting live from Fan Fest from 5 to 6 p.m. with crew members Toby Rowland, Merv Johnson, Teddy Lehman, Chris Plank, Gabe Ikard and Rufus Alexander on hand.

• In advance of Veterans Day and as part of its military appreciation celebration, the OU Athletics Department has several special activities planned for Saturday, including: an array of large-scale military equipment on display throughout the day at "Party at the Palace"; the Golden Knights, the official U.S. Army Parachute Team, delivering the game ball by landing in the stadium before the Pride of Oklahoma's pregame show at approximately 6:45 p.m.; the 145th Army Band performing alongside the Pride of Oklahoma at halftime. For a full list of activities, click here.

Kenneth Murray

KEY STORYLINES

• Oklahoma has not lost back-to-back regular season games since Oct. 2 and 9, 1999, which was Bob Stoops' first season as head coach. That's good for the nation's longest such active stretch (Alabama hasn't lost consecutive regular-season games since 2007). The Sooners have won 39 straight regular-season contests following a regular-season loss.

• OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell were teammates at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, from 1999 through 2001 and won NCAA Division III titles in 2000 and 2001 (Grinch also won one in 1998 and Campbell won another in 2002). Grinch was a safety under head coach Larry Kehres while Campbell was a defensive lineman.

• Saturday's game will feature two of the nation's top offenses, with Oklahoma ranking first in total offense (598.4 ypg) and scoring (49.2 ppg), and Iowa State ranking 16th (479.5 ypg) and 26th (35.9 ppg). OU quarterback Jalen Hurts (408.8) and Iowa State signal caller Brock Purdy (345.4) rank first and second in the Big 12 and second and fifth nationally in total offense. Purdy averages a league-high 320.9 passing yards per game while Hurts ranks second at 308.6.

• Hurts, a Maxwell Award semifinalist, is one of two players nationally since at least 1996 to average over 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards through the first eight games of a season (the other was Lamar Jackson in 2016 and '17). Hurts leads the country in pass efficiency rating (224.3; FBS record is 199.4), yards per pass attempt (13.7; FBS record is 11.6), yards per completion (18.6; FBS record is 17.5) and points responsible for per game (25.8).

• Oklahoma is averaging a nation-leading 598.4 offensive yards per game, which is 47 yards more than the next highest average (551.0 by UCF). Making that even more impressive is the fact the Sooners rank 123rd out of 130 teams by averaging just 62.8 plays per game. OU averages 9.5 yards per play, which is 1.8 yards more than the team with the second-highest average (7.7 by Alabama). Last year, OU set the FBS single-season record by averaging 8.6 yards per play.

• The Sooners led the nation last year in both yards per pass attempt (11.3) and yards per rush (6.6), and so far this season they are doing it again. OU ranks first nationally with its 12.8 yards per pass attempt (FBS record is 11.7 by OU in 2017) and with its 7.1 yards per rush (school record is 7.1 in 1971).

HOME IS WHERE THE "W" IS

• Oklahoma has won two more Big 12 championships over the last 20 years (12) than it has lost home games. OU is 117-10 (.921) at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium since the start of the 1999 season, with all 127 of those games sellouts. It is the best home winning percentage among Power Five schools over the last 20 seasons (Ohio State is next at .890). OU has outscored opponents by an average of 43-17 in those games. No school has won more than two Big 12 titles since the Sooners won their first in 2000.

SCOUTING IOWA STATE

• Iowa State enters the weekend with a 5-3 overall record and a 3-2 mark in Big 12 play. The Cyclones are coming off an open week and fell 34-27 to Oklahoma State two weeks ago. In their four other conference games they defeated TCU (49-24 at home), West Virginia (38-14 on the road) and Texas Tech (34-24 on the road) and lost at Baylor (23-21). Head coach Matt Campbell is 24-22 in his fourth season at ISU.

• The Cyclones score 35.9 points per game and rank third in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing 22.9 points per contest. They average 479.5 total yards per game (151.1 rushing, 328.4 passing) and allow opponents just 342.4 total yards (116.3 rushing, 226.1 passing). ISU leads the Big 12 in rushing defense and ranks fourth in the league in total defense, and has nine takeaways (four interceptions, five fumbles) and 12 giveaways (seven interceptions, five fumbles).

• Quarterback Brock Purdy averages 320.9 passing yards and 24.5 rushing yards per game. He has completed 68 percent of his passes for 2,567 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions, and has rushed 59 times for 196 yards (3.3 average) and six scores.

• Wide receiver Deshaunte Jones leads the Cyclones with 52 receptions for 586 yards (73.3 per game)and a touchdown. Receiver Tarique Milton has gained 524 yards (65.5 per game) and two TDs on 24 receptions, tight end Charlie Kolar, who is from Norman, has 34 catches for 486 yards (60.8 per game) and five TDs and receiver La'Michael Pettway has tallied 358 receiving yards (44.8 per game) and four TDs on 32 catches. Running back Breece Hall leads the team with 475 yards and seven touchdowns on 81 rushes while Johnnie Lang has run for 202 yards and three scores on 45 carries.

• Linebacker Marcel Spears has a team-high 60 tackles along with 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four pass breakups and three QB hurries. Linebacker Mike Rose leads the Cyclones with 8.0 tackles for loss and has 2.0 sacks, an interception, two pass breakups and a pair of QB hurries, along with 53 total tackles. Linebacker O'Rien Vance has tallied 6.5 sacks among his 41 tackles, five QB hurries and a forced fumble. The Cyclones average 6.8 tackles for loss and 2.3 sacks per game.

DEFENSE ON THE RISE

• Hired in January, coordinator and safeties coach Alex Grinch has overseen major improvement on the defensive side of the ball through eight games this season.

• Oklahoma ranks 12th nationally in third-down conversion percentage (30.0; last year ranked 119th at 46.4), 12th in tackles for loss per game (8.1; last year ranked 57th at 5.6), 28th in sacks per game (2.9; last year ranked 49th at 2.1), 30th in total defense (338.8 ypg; last year ranked 114th at 453.8); 38th in passing defense (200.4 ypg; last year ranked 130th at 294.0), 41st in scoring defense (23.0 ppg; last year ranked 101st at 33.3) and 45th in rushing defense (138.4 ypg; last year ranked 59th at 159.8).

• In Big 12 play, OU ranks first in total defense (330.4 ypg) and passing defense (193.2 ypg), second in pass defense efficiency (123.1) and third in scoring defense (25.0 ppg), rushing defense (137.2 ypg) and sacks (2.8 per game).

• Oklahoma hasn't allowed more than 6.0 yards per play in any of its eight games this season. In the 41 games from 2016-18, OU allowed at least 6.0 yards per play 20 times.

• Seven of OU's top eight tacklers this season are freshmen or sophomores. Four sophomore defenders (S Pat Fields, DL Ronnie Perkins, S Delarrin Turner-Yell and LB DaShaun White) have started every game, and another (DB Brendan Radley-Hiles) has started seven. Two redshirt freshmen (LB Nik Bonitto [two] and DL Jalen Redmond) and two true freshmen (CB Jaden Davis and OLB David Ugwoegbu) have each started at least one.

"AIR RAID" A MISNOMER

• Fans and media have often referred to Oklahoma's offense under Lincoln Riley as the "Air Raid." The label is not exactly accurate, however, as the Sooners have rushed more than they've thrown in each of the five years since Riley arrived in Norman, and that's counting plays in which the quarterback was sacked as pass plays (officially they are recorded as rushes). OU's rushing play percentage was 52.6 in 2015, 57.7 in 2016, 53.1 in 2017 and 54.7 in 2018. Through eight games this season, 55.6% of the Sooners' plays have been rushes.

Lead, Sermon

MODEL OF EFFICIENCY

• The Sooners are averaging a staggering 0.76 points per offensive play this season. Going back to 1996, the highest end-of-season figure was 0.688 by OU last year (the previous high was 0.687 by Florida State in 2013).

• OU has averaged 4.04 points per offensive possession this season, putting points on the scoreboard on 65 percent of its drives and scoring touchdowns 52 percent of the time.

• Thirty-four of OU's 49 offensive TD drives (69%) have taken less than three minutes of game clock.

BIG-PLAY SOONERS

• OU leads all teams this season in number of plays per game of at least 10 yards, (22.1; next most is 20.8) and 20 yards (9.9; next most is 8.2), and ranks second in plays of at least 30 yards (5.1) and 40 yards (2.7), despite ranking 123rd nationally by averaging just 62.8 plays per contest.

HURTS: SO GOOD

• Through eight games, quarterback Jalen Hurts ranks atop or near the top of several statistical categories nationally.

• Hurts has completed 133 of 180 passes (73.9%) for 2,469 yards (308.6 per game) and 21 touchdowns with three interceptions. He has also rushed 103 times for a team-high 801 yards (100.1 per game) and 13 TDs. Hurts leads the nation in yards per pass attempt (13.7; next highest is 10.9), yards per completion (18.6), passing efficiency rating (224.3) and points responsible for per game (25.8), is second in total offense (408.8 yards per game), third in yards per rush (7.8) and fourth in completion percentage.

• Hurts is averaging 408.8 yards of total offense per game. That's more yards than 50% of the other FBS teams (64 of 129) and more yards than 47% of other Power Five teams (30 of 64).

• Hurts has already posted five passing efficiency ratings over 245.0 this season. Since at least 1996, the most efficiency ratings over 245.0 recorded by an FBS player in a season (minimum 15 attempts) had been three (Mayfield in 2017).

• Hurts and Louisiana-Monroe's Caleb Evans are the only players nationally with more than two games of two-plus rushing touchdowns and two-plus passing TDs (they each have three such performances).

NO LITTLE LAMB

• Consensus first-team midseason All-American and Maxwell Award semifinalist CeeDee Lamb is continuing his rapid ascent on OU's charts this season. The junior wide receiver from Richmond, Texas, ranks 10th in school history in receptions (147), fifth in receiving yards (2,781) and third in receiving touchdowns (29) despite playing less than three seasons. He needs two more receiving TDs to tie Mark Clayton for second place at 31 while Ryan Broyles holds the school record with 45 (both Clayton and Broyles played four seasons).

• Through eight games this year, Lamb has posted team highs of 36 catches, 816 receiving yards 11 receiving touchdowns. He ranks third nationally in receiving TDs, fourth in yards per reception (22.7) and 12th in receiving yards per game (102.0).

• Lamb caught at least one touchdown pass in each of OU's first six games this season, running his streak going back to last year to eight contests. He has eight TD receptions over the last five outings. Amazingly, he also registered a seven-game TD streak last season from the second through eighth contests. He was named Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after catching a career-high 10 passes for 171 yards and three TDs vs. Texas on Oct. 12.

• Lamb ranks No. 3 among active FBS players (and No. 1 among non-seniors) in career receiving TDs (29). The non-senior with the next-highest total is Alabama junior Jerry Jeudy (24). Lamb ranks sixth among active FBS players with 2,781 career receiving yards, and again is No. 1 among non-seniors.

MURRAY A SEMIFINALIST FOR BUTKUS AND BEDNARIK AWARDS

• Junior linebacker Kenneth Murray, who ranked second in the Big 12 and 13th nationally last season with his 155 total tackles (most by a Sooner since Curtis Lofton had 157 in 2007), was named 2019 Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by media who cover the league. He's off to a strong start this season, being named a semifinalist for the Butkus and Bednarik Awards, as well as an ESPN midseason All-American. He has registered team highs of 55 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks and two pass breakups. He was named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week after the season-opening win over Houston (13 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 breakup and 1 QB hurry).

• Murray registered nine games of double-digit tackles last season as a second-team All-Big 12 performer, including three contests of at least 15 stops (28 vs. Army [most by an FBS player since at least 2000], 17 vs. Baylor and 15 vs. Alabama in CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl).

• Murray, who has started all 36 games since the start of 2017, has 27.5 career tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks.

Kenneth Murray

OFFENSE HAS ROLLED UNDER RILEY

• Oklahoma owns the nation's most productive offense since the start of the 2015 season, which was Lincoln Riley's first year as OU's offensive coordinator. Riley continues to call plays as head coach.

• Since the start of the 2015 season, OU ranks first nationally in points per game (45.8; next most is 41.8), total offense (564.4; next most is 519.8), touchdowns from scrimmage (357; next most is 337), pass efficiency rating (192.2; next best is 165.9), yards per pass attempt (10.9) and completion percentage (69.5), third in passing offense (330.6) and 10th in rushing offense (233.8).

GOING FOR BIG 12 FIVE-PEAT

• If Oklahoma wins the 2019 Big 12 title, it will mark the program's fifth straight league crown. The last time the Sooners won at least five consecutive conference championships was 1972-80 under head coaches Chuck Fairbanks (1972) and Barry Switzer.

• OU is the only program to win three straight Big 12 titles, and it has done so twice (also from 2006-08). Baylor (2013-14) is the only other program to win two Big 12 championships in a row.

• OU's current streak of four straight outright league championships is the longest among Power Five programs since Alabama won five in a row from 1971 to '75 (Clemson is also riding a four-game outright streak [ACC]).

EXTRA POINTS

• The Sooners are looking to make their fourth College Football Playoff appearance in the last five seasons, and are No. 9 in this week's initial CFP rankings. OU's initial rankings in the three years it has made the playoff were No. 15 in 2015, No. 5 in 2017 and No. 7 last year.

• Oklahoma has won 38 of its last 41 games (.927) against Big 12 opponents dating back to the 2015 season. The losses were to Iowa State in 2017 (38-31 in Norman), to Texas last year (48-45 in Dallas) and at Kansas State two weeks ago (48-41). Twenty-two of those 38 victories have been by at least 15 points, and 11 by at least 30 points.

• Seventeen true freshmen and 12 redshirt freshmen have played for Oklahoma this season.

• The Sooners have won 48 straight games when leading after the third quarter. The last such loss came on Dec. 6, 2014, when they led Oklahoma State 28-14 entering the fourth quarter but lost 38-35 in overtime.

• In Big 12 play, three Sooners rank in the top six in points per game (kicker Gabe Brkic is first at 11.4, quarterback Jalen Hurts is third at 10.8 and receiver CeeDee Lamb in sixth at 10.0).

• Brkic (10 for 10) is one of seven placekickers nationally who are perfect on field goals this season, and the only freshman. The redshirt frosh, who is a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, has also made all 27 of his extra-point attempts.

• Since the start of his sophomore season at Alabama, Hurts has posted a 7.7-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio (46 TDs to 6 INTs).

• Oklahoma has outscored its opponents 100-14 in the first quarter this season (average of 13-2).

• OU is 16-3 overall and 9-3 in home games as the AP's No. 9 team. Against unranked foes, it is 12-1 (8-1 at home) as the No. 9 squad. The lone loss to an unranked team was against West Virginia in 1982 (41-27).

Lead, Brkic