Been there, done that.

With No. 5 Oklahoma coming to Jack Trice Stadium, some of Iowa State’s most seasoned veterans plan to draw upon previous big-game experiences in an effort to help prepare for yet another ranked opponent.

Last season, Iowa State lost to the Sooners 34-9 in Norman, Okla., but junior offensive lineman Tom Schmeling said the team did get a lot of big-game experience out of the game.

“You can’t really knock that either way,” Schmeling said. “Everybody knows about Oklahoma, they’re always in the top 25 every year, but, playing against them, experience is a big thing.”

Senior wide receiver Todd Blythe, who had 60 yards and a touchdown against Oklahoma last year, said it will help having seen the Sooners’ defense before.

“Obviously, that was last year, and they have a lot of new personnel,” Blythe said. “I’m sure they’ll have a lot of new wrinkles for us, but we’ll take what we can from the game last year.”

Oklahoma returns nine players on offense and five on defense who started multiple games on an 11-3 team a year ago.

That includes four on its offensive line and its entire secondary, who all played in Oklahoma’s Big 12 Championship game victory over Nebraska and their Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State.

There was also another a fairly strong sentiment from the ISU football team about its upcoming game against the Sooners, whom the team has only defeated five times in 73 meetings, with the last coming in 1990, when both teams were still in the Big Eight Conference.

Coach Gene Chizik said if you’re looking for a weakness on the Sooners, it’s not worth your time.

“For me to say they have a weakness that we are glaringly better at, I don’t know if I can say that,” Chizik said. “We have to do the things we do the best we can do it.”

The Sooners (6-1, 2-1 Big 12) are currently in a four-way tie for first in the Big 12 South, and pose a challenge in the trenches for the Cyclones.

Oklahoma averages just over 322 pounds on the offensive line and just fewer than 275 on the defensive line, while the Cyclones average approximately 302 and 274, respectively.

The hefty Oklahoma offensive line blocks for a stable of running backs that includes speedy redshirt freshman DeMarco Murray, who leads the Sooners in touchdowns and runs a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash.

Senior defensive lineman Bryce Braaksma said the Sooners a good combination of size and speed.

“We have to match the physicality and try to go after them play after play,” Braaksma said.

The Sooners, who are ranked fifth in the first BCS rankings of the season, are coming off of a 41-31 victory Saturday over previously unbeaten Missouri.

Oklahoma also defeated the Texas Longhorns – who beat Iowa State 56-3 Saturday – 28-21 two weeks ago.

Blythe said the Sooners, especially defensively, are very similar to Longhorns.

“They will have great athletes at every position,” Blythe said. “We have to be real technically sound in everything we do and we’re going to have to be ready for a real fight.”

Braaksma said this game, despite the opponent, is the same as every other one, however.

“You just have to go to work and read your keys,” Braaksma said. “Whatever they bring, you have to go out and play.”