Oklahoma Football: 3 Takeaways from Big 12 title win over Iowa State

Oklahoma football claims their sixth straight Big 12 Championship with a 27-21 win over Iowa State, Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Oklahoma football is no stranger to AT&T Stadium, as the Sooners made their fifth consecutive appearance in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday.

With Oklahoma having a mainstay in Arlington, the Sooners competition has been a revolving door. Since the conference brought back the title game, there have been now four different teams that have played. TCU, Texas, and Baylor have all had their crack against the Sooners and could not be successful.

Since their loss to Iowa State early in the season, the Sooners ran the slate and are winners of their last six. The Sooners outscored their opponents through that stretch by 155.

Iowa State coming into Saturday, was looking for its first conference championship since 1912. Led by running back Breece Hall and linebacker Mike Rose, who were awarded the offensive and defensive player of the year on Thursday.

Oklahoma Quarterback Spencer Rattler would come out to a great start with two big completions to RB Jeremiah Hall and WR Drake Stoops. The Stoops would add 15 more yards, due to targeting from Co-Freshman of the Year DB Isheem Young. However, it would be third string QB Chandler Morris that would go under center and score from a two yards out.

After a punt, Oklahoma would continue to drive, led behind RB Rhamondre Stevenson. Oklahoma would show off the depth of the receivers on the ensuing possession with three different receivers catching passes. Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, and Jadon Hasselwood would all make big catches to get Oklahoma into the red zone.

Oklahoma would falter and settle for a field goal. Sure handed Gabe Brkic would miss a 36 yarder, giving Iowa State much needed momentum.

The key to beating Oklahoma early in the season was winning with height. Iowa State has three targets that are 6’4 or taller. Using Xavier Hutchinson and Charlie Kolar specifically against Oklahoma’s short secondary is a mismatch. Iowa State would not be able to capitalize with their field goal attempt as Connor Assalley would hit the upright on a 43 yard attempt.

With the first play of the second quarter, Rattler would take his deep shot and find freshman Marvin Mims. A 45 yard score would put Oklahoma ahead, 14-0.

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Brkic would redeem himself with a made 54 yarder. The kick would be his career long, as Oklahoma football was starting to pull away, making it a three score game.

Brock Purdy would lead the Cyclones down the field, but their drive would be cut short. On a pass to the end zone, CB Tre Norwood would cut the pass and intercept it for the Sooners.

A deep pass to WR Landon Akers and Hall’s best run all game would set up Iowa State inside OU’s ten yard line. A connection to Charlie Kolar would put Iowa State on the board, 17-7. Iowa State was not able to get much momentum as Tre Brown would get a great return, into Iowa State territory.

Oklahoma would take advantage of the short field with a 4-play, 45-yard drive that took less than a minute. Rattler would get his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, this one from nine yards.

After a promising start for Purdy out of the second half, it would be LB Pat Fields that would get his first interception of his career. An overthrown pass from Purdy would be his second massive mistake of the day.

Oklahoma’s defense would start to falter, letting Iowa State score on a 9-play, 90-yard drive. The worst defensive drive of the game up to that point. Oklahoma gave up catches to Charlie Kolar and a 42 yard catch and run for Xavier Hutchinson.

The game was the perfect example of one step forward, two steps back from Iowa State. After the touchdown and a forced punt, Iowa State would get the ball down just 10. However, a Nick Bonito sack would help the OU defense force a punt of their own.

Iowa State inched that much closer with another fantastic drive. Hall would get his 19th touchdown on the season and a lead would be dwindled to three. This same issue happened earlier in the season with their loss to the Cyclones. Zero points and six punts were the Sooners drives up to that point.

A field goal would put Oklahoma up six and give Brock Purdy 121 seconds to try and win the game. At one of the less ideal times, Oklahoma’s defense would start to stutter. An offsides and unnecessary facemask call would give Iowa State chunks of yards.

Iowa State would not take advantage with back to back false start calls. A Tre Brown interception would cap off the comeback effort. After a back and forth second half, Oklahoma would secure the victory and another Big 12 Championship, in a 27-21 victory.

Rattler finished with 272 yards and a touchdown. Stevenson led the Sooners on the ground with 97 yards and Mims led the receivers with 101 yards and a touchdown on seven catches.