Jack Trice Stadium could be the crossroads for both Iowa State and Oklahoma on Saturday

There’s probably not an entire lot that Iowa State and Oklahoma have in frequent. 

One is a program on the rise, the opposite a standard energy. One is within the seventh yr underneath its head coach, the opposite is in 12 months 1. 

The Cyclones and Sooners, although, discover themselves in the identical disappointing place heading into their dash by means of the ultimate weeks of the common season – hovering round .500 after undefeated begins to the season gave approach to shedding streaks. 

As the 2 come off their bye weeks and meet Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium (11 a.m.; FS1), one group will transfer nearer to reclaiming their season whereas the opposite will sink deeper right into a spiral. 

“One of many issues I take nice satisfaction on this group and this group is whilst gut-wrenching because it was to get within the locker room after that sport in opposition to Texas,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell mentioned, “I believe the spirit and the soul of this group has been one in every of resiliency and the flexibility to create nice momentum.

“One of many issues we talked about within the bye week is we’re going to self-reflect, we’re going to do every little thing in our energy to basically and bodily get ourselves wholesome after which let’s do a terrific job of making nice momentum for ourselves the second half of the season. What I watched from our youngsters, they had been unbelievable by means of the bye week.” 

The Cyclones (3-4, 0-4 Huge 12) have misplaced 4 straight by a mixed 14 factors. 

“It was a extremely good time to sit down again and replicate on the final couple video games,” Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers mentioned of the bye week. “It’s irritating as a result of we’re not getting the result we wish and we all know it’s due to ourselves.” 

The Cyclones’ path to a sixth-straight yr of bowl eligibility would seem to undergo the Sooners (4-3, 1-3). If Iowa State can’t beat a wounded Oklahoma group at dwelling, it’ll have to win not less than one highway sport in opposition to a present High-10 opponent (Oklahoma State and TCU) along with sweeping its last two dwelling video games (West Virginia and Texas Tech) to safe six wins. 

“Their backs are in opposition to the wall,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables mentioned. “They’ve a possibility to struggle their means out of some powerful losses, simply as we do as properly.” 

The Sooners are in an identical place after an 0-3 begin to Huge 12 play that included a 49-0 loss to rival Texas. After persistently showing within the Faculty Soccer Playoff underneath former coach Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma’s struggles within the first yr of Venables’ tenure – and with a transfer to the SEC coming sooner or later – have been notable. 

“Right here we’re at 4-3 and there’s chaos. To me, you’ve bought to have calmness by means of all of it,” Venables mentioned. “You imagine in the best way that you simply do issues. You imagine in what it takes, and also you go about your corporation.  

“You may’t develop weary in doing that.” 

Each groups have cause for optimism after a bye week which presumably allowed them to get more healthy. Iowa State’s run sport has stalled with Jirehl Brock and Cartevious Norton each battling accidents whereas Oklahoma’s offense was in impartial till the return of quarterback Dillon Gabriel of their 52-42 win over Kansas earlier than the bye week.

“When their quarterback’s been wholesome, they’ve been as explosive as anyone within the convention,” Campbell mentioned. “A younger man that is aware of the system rather well. Has performed and had numerous success within the system. They nonetheless have dynamic playmakers at their ability positions and have a operating again that’s enjoying actually good soccer. 

“They’ve actually tried to dwelling in on who they need to be throughout the board, and also you noticed perhaps their finest sport of the season in opposition to Kansas. I believe you see a group that’s very comparable (to us) that’s looking for its means and has some dynamic playmakers there.” 

Travis Hines covers Iowa State College sports activities for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or  (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.