Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma football continue to struggle after falling to Iowa State 37-30 for the Sooners’ second consecutive loss in a row for the first time since 1999. This was also the first time the Sooners lost in Ames, Iowa since November of 1960. This snapped a 24-game winning streak in Ames against the Cyclones.
It’s no secret Oklahoma’s defense struggled over the years but finishing has been a problem for the Sooners the past two games. Oklahoma led the entire game until the last minute of the third quarter when Iowa State scored off a 65-yard passing touchdown to take the lead 23-20. The Cyclones averaged over 20 yards per completion, while the Sooners averaged just 12.
Defense
This is Oklahoma’s Achilles heal and biggest problem right now. It has been for a couple years now, but the Sooners cannot stop anyone. Seventy-five total points given up against Iowa State and Kansas State is not something that should happen considering they are not even the best teams in the Big 12. Pressure on the quarterback has not been there, but the worst part to watch has been the continuous missed tackles. There have been many plays where the Sooners’ defense had chances to stop the ball behind the line of scrimmage or stop the other team from scoring and could not do it.
For Oklahoma to even have a chance at ever winning a College Football Playoff game, it needs a good defense like it had back when Brent Venables was defensive coordinator. If the defense doesn’t improve, expect more losses from the Sooners this season.
Offense
On the bright side, Spencer Rattler and this Oklahoma offense is not the problem. Sure there are plays missed and Rattler has shown that he is a true freshman quarterback and needs improvement, but the offense is not the problem. The Sooners’ offense need to close those big plays that can help stretch the lead and pull away in games.
Even Riley said after the game the offense has been missing those opportunities to really create separation in the game. Rattler forced some bad throws through these last two games, but his mistakes will be fixed over time. OU has also been missing key offensive players such as lineman, receivers and running backs. If there is one problem this offense has been having, it’s the offensive line. This has been a strong suit for Oklahoma’s offense but struggled during conference play. Rattler is young but has the talent. He needs the time and experience, but don’t worry about the offense.
Moving forward
On the bright side, the last time the Sooners started the season 1-2 was in 2016 and they went on to win the final nine games, winning the Big 12 title and Sugar Bowl. For this to happen again, Riley will need to make changes on defense and some on the offensive end because the next game will determine how the Sooners want the season to continue. Oklahoma football has to bounce back eventually, but the question is, when?
Photo courtesy of Iowa State Athletics Communications
Hi there! My name is John Barry. I am a sports journalist at the University of Oklahoma and will be giving you updates and inside scoops on all things Sooners. Have a question or story? Email me @john.f.barry-1@ou.edu