2-Minute Drill: Iowa State Cyclones at Oklahoma Sooners

Breaking down Saturday's Big 12 football game between No. 3 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0) and Iowa State (2-2, 0-1) in Norman, Okla.

Iowa State rush offense vs. Oklahoma rush defense

Iowa State running back David Montgomery only got nine rushing attempts against Texas last Thursday.

The Cyclones are going to need him to play a much bigger role against the Sooners if they want a shot at the upset.

Oklahoma has a stout defensive line, only allowing 3.5 yards per rush, good for 31st in the nation. At the second level, the Sooners are led by senior linebacker Emmanuel Beal, who has 29 tackles this season, including two for a loss.

Even though Montgomery only got nine carries, he still averaged nearly four yards a carry. It'll be up to offensive coordinator Tom Manning to get Montgomery the ball.

Advantage: Oklahoma

Iowa State pass offense vs. Oklahoma pass defense

Jacob Park struggled against the Texas defense. He only completed about 50 percent of his passes and threw three interceptions. He and the offensive line had a tough time handling the Longhorns defense.

Oklahoma provides a lot of the same issues. The Sooners' pass rush is led by Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who has 4.5 sacks for a loss of 31 yards, which leads the Big 12. As a team, Oklahoma has 11 sacks, tied for the most in the Big 12.

The Cyclones will have to use some quick hitting routes to get the ball out of Park's hands to avoid the inevitable pressure. Iowa State has plenty of weapons to do that, but they need to avoid being predictable. Oklahoma's Parnell Motley is tied for second in the Big 12 in interceptions with two, including one returned for a touchdown.

If Iowa State's offensive line holds up and gives Park time, the Cyclones could have success.

Advantage: Oklahoma

Oklahoma rush offense vs. Iowa State rush defense

Iowa State's run defense has been a surprising bright spot for the Cyclones this season. They're only allowing 3.38 yards per carry. However, the Sooners are averaging 5.75 yards per carry, led by Abdul Adams who's averaging over 10 yards per carry.

More: Ray Lima, ISU defensive line face biggest challenge yet in Oklahoma

Iowa State has faced quality running backs in Iowa's Akrum Wadley and Akron's Warren Ball and done well, so if the Cyclones can penetrate at the point of attack, they could find some success in stopping the run.

The problem is Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield also is a threat to run and just in case Adams is having an off day, freshman Trey Sermon is more than capable, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

Advantage: Oklahoma

Oklahoma pass offense vs. Iowa State pass defense

Iowa State's pass defense is among the worst in the FBS, allowing 263 yards per game through the air, which ranks 103rd. Oklahoma has one of the most potent pass offenses in the FBS, averaging 388 yards, good for fifth nationally.

The Cyclones have experienced defensive backs, but they've been susceptible to the big play, and surrendering third-down conversions. Given Mayfield's ability to extend plays, and Iowa State's struggles in the pass defense, the Sooners have a chance for a big day on Saturday.

The Sooners have four receivers averaging more than 15 yards per catch and have 10 or more receptions this season.

Advantage: Oklahoma

Special teams

Oklahoma's return game benefits from its offensive fire power. The Sooners have two kickoff returners averaging more than 24 yards a return. On punt returns, receiver CeeDee Lamb leads them with eight yards per return. Kicker Austn Seibert has only attempted two field goals all season and made one, a 35-yard attempt.

On the other side, Iowa State is struggling to find a consistent kick returner. Mike Warren started the season returning kicks, but last week freshman receiver Landen Akers got the call. Akers didn't get an opportunity to return a kick. Iowa State punt returners Trevor Ryen and Allen Lazard have done a good job.

Advantage: Oklahoma

Intangibles 

1. New leader — Lincoln Riley is in his first season coaching after Bob Stoops stepped down suddenly in the offseason. Riley, the offensive coordinator under Stoops, has stepped in flawlessly and led the Sooners to a 4-0 start, including a win over Ohio State.

2. The series — Iowa State hasn't beaten Oklahoma since 1991. The Sooners are riding an 18-game winning streak in the series and the overall record sits at 74-5-2.

3. Lazard watch — Senior Allen Lazard needs 31 yards to rank No. 2 on the ISU's career receiving yardage list.

3 and Out

1. Get off the field — Iowa State needs to capitalize on third down on defense. The Cyclones haven't had any trouble forcing third-and-long situations, but need to take the next step and get off the field.

2. Contain Mayfield — That's easier said than done, of course, but if Iowa State can make Mayfield throw from the pocket, it could force some mistakes from the shorter quarterback.

3. Establish the run — Montgomery needs to get the ball and he needs to get the ball often. The Cyclones need to show they're not afraid to run the ball against a bigger, more talented team.

Iowa State-Oklahoma prediction

Iowa State will in if ... Everything goes right. Iowa State needs to protect Jacob Park and get David Montgomery plenty of touches. Defensively, Iowa State needs to get off the field on third downs.

Oklahoma will win if ... It protects Baker Mayfield and gives him time to make plays. He's a Heisman contender for a reason.

Prediction: Oklahoma 52, Iowa State 24