For nearly the entire first half, Iowa State had a lead and momentum against No. 18 Oklahoma. 

The Cyclones (1-9, 0-7 Big 12) led 10-3 with just more than a minute remaining when the Sooners’ (8-2, 5-2) Jalen Saunders returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown with 1:09 left in the first half to even the score at 10.

Oklahoma’s Damien Williams took the second play of the second half 69 yards on the ground for a touchdown and the team never looked back. The Sooners outscored the Cyclones 38-0 in the second half and ended the game scoring 45 unanswered points overall. 

Iowa State allowed four plays of more than 50 yards. Aside from the 91-yard punt return and 69-yard touchdown run, the Cyclones also allowed 63-yard and 56-yard touchdown runs in the second half. 

The Sooners rushed for 405 yards in the win, averaging 9.2 yards per carry while scoring four of their six touchdowns on runs. Two Oklahoma players, Williams (128) and quarterback Trevor Knight (123), rushed for more than 100 yards in the game. 

Knight entered the game for Oklahoma quarterback Blake Bell, who was knocked out of the game in the first quarter. 

ISU quarterback Grant Rohach went 21-of-34 through the air for 179 yards passing and two interceptions. Sam Richardson entered the game on-and-off in the ISU loss, passing just twice and rushing three times, once for the Cyclones’ lone touchdown. 

Iowa State returns to Ames next weekend for its final home game of the season. The Cyclones will face off against Kansas at 7 p.m. at Jack Trice Stadium. Kansas won its first Big 12 game Saturday, leaving Iowa State as the only team without a conference victory.