Iowa State hopes to get in the win column in one of college football’s most lopsided series. Saturday’s meeting between the Cyclones and Oklahoma will be the 77th and the Sooners have won 69 to Iowa State’s five and there have been two ties.
“Iowa State University’s football record against Oklahoma is dismal and our guys know that…it is another great challenge against a traditional powerhouse in college football,” Cyclone coach Paul Rhoads says. “It’s one of the reason why you play in this league, you look forward to these types of games.”
Rhoads who says a victory on Saturday would be a big step for the program, as he says getting a 3rd conference victory and 6th win overall is the big step for them. At 5-3 the Cyclones need to win one of the last four games to become bowl eligible.
“We’ve been there before and as I said, November’s a grind with three teams left on the schedule that are top 25 ballclubs. We’ll take them on one at a time and be anxious to take them on one at a time,” Rhoads says.
Oklahoma began the season with national championship hopes but those came to an end after a 30-13 loss at home to Notre Dame, the Sooners second home loss of the season. OU coach Bobby Stoops says his team still has plenty to play for as he says there’s a lot at stake in the conference and their play has never been solely based on a national championship.
Stoops says his team won’t have trouble bouncing back from the Notre Dame loss. Stoops says the Iowa State defense has many similarities to the Notre Dame defense as they play very disciplined.