Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football 2018 kickoff preview: Games 1 through 4

By Sixto Ortiz

BOCA RATON, FL - DECEMBER 02: Devin Singletary #5 of the Florida Atlantic Owls rushes for a touchdown during the Conference USA Championship game against the North Texas Mean Green at FAU Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
BOCA RATON, FL - DECEMBER 02: Devin Singletary #5 of the Florida Atlantic Owls rushes for a touchdown during the Conference USA Championship game against the North Texas Mean Green at FAU Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 07: Running back David Montgomery
NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 07: Running back David Montgomery /

Sooners seek payback in Ames, Iowa

The 2017 loss to Iowa State in Norman is one that will sting Sooner Nation for a long time.

In 2018, the Sooners tussle with Iowa State once again in a road conference matchup in which they hope to exact revenge against the upstart Cyclones. Will the Sooners be up to the task?

Last season, returning Cyclone quarterback Kyle Kempt had himself a gem of a game in Norman, going 20 for 26 for 368 yards and three TDs. Cyclone receivers ran free all over the Sooner secondary, who couldn’t seem to stop anyone. It was a close game, but the fact is Iowa State scored 38 on the Oklahoma defense. At home, no less.

Both Kempt and running back David Montgomery, the second leading rusher in the Big 12 last season, return for the Cyclones, so the Sooner defense will have to rise up and keep these guys –especially Kempt — from having themselves career days. Thankfully, Cyclone linebacker Joel Lanning, who tortured the Sooners on both offense and defense a year ago, is gone.

For Mike Stoops’ defense, the atrocious open-field tackling and failure to pressure Kempt cannot make the road trip to Ames. With the Sooner offense expected to take a bit of a step back in 2018, it is imperative that the defense step up and play better. If not, this second-week road trip to Ames might turn into a trap game for Oklahoma.

Iowa State’s Matt Campbell is one of the hottest coaching names around because of his ability to get the best out of his Cyclone players. The upset in Norman helped to cement Campbell’s reputation as an up-and-coming coaching star. It’s up to Lincoln Riley to ensure that trend does not continue.

Prediction: Oklahoma 31, Iowa State 21

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