Oklahoma rookie head coach Bob Stoops and Dan McCarney are close. For ten years, Stoops and McCarney shared the sidelines at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, enjoying success as part of a then-powerhouse Iowa Hawkeye football program.

Stoops split his ten years in half as a standout defensive back and as a graduate assistant coach. McCarney was the Hawks’ defensive line coach.

On Saturday, friendship yields to fierce competition as Stoops’ Sooners (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) contend with McCarney’s Cyclones (4-5, 1-4 Big 12) in a conference tilt in Ames.

“I don’t think there’s any real enjoyment in competing against a guy you’re really close to,” Stoops said in a press conference Tuesday, as reported in the Daily Oklahoman. “It’s a business; it’s sort of business as usual. I look at it as playing programs. This isn’t Dan McCarney against me. It’s Oklahoma vs. Iowa State.”

The Sooners’ high-flying, big-play offense enters the contest leading the Big 12 in passing, averaging 339 yards per game.

Junior quarterback Josh Heupel is the catalyst and has thrown at least two touchdown passes in each of the Sooners eight games.

Heupel, in his first year as a starter, has accomplished more in one season than many previous Oklahoma quarterbacks have in their entire collegiate careers.

His single-game records include: most passing yards (429), total offense (410 yards), completions (37) and touchdowns (5).

The list goes on and on, but suffice it to say that Heupel is having a history-making season for the traditionally wishbone, option-oriented Sooners.

In 1999, Heupel has connected on 231 of 375 passes for 2,629 yards, 25 touchdowns (a single-season Big 12 record) and 13 interceptions. He’s also rushed for four touchdowns.

Twenty different Sooners have caught passes in 1999, and on four occasions at least 13 different players have grabbed at one pass or more each.

Converted defensive back, quarterback and running back Brandon Daniels and Jarrail Jackson, both seniors, are tied for the team lead in receptions with 28.

Jackson, who is also a potent punt returner, enters the game as the reigning Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after dashing for 140 yards against Missouri last Saturday, including a 70-yard touchdown return.

Antwone Savage, who is the Sooners’ all-time leading freshman receiver, has gathered 25 receptions for a 15.4 yard per catch average.

Due to Oklahoma’s passing prowess, the running game is employed just enough to keep opposing defenses honest and ranks last in the Big 12. The Sooners are averaging 5.5 yards per carry, however, and received a boost last week when true freshman Quentin Griffin shed his redshirt and stepped in to rush for 69 yards on 14 attempts.

“Solid performance,” Stoops said of Griffin’s debut. “Quentin jumped in and did a great job. He’s got great vision, and he’s got an excellent running style.”

Rugged junior running back Seth Littrell paces the Sooner backfield in touchdowns with five and averages 8.3 yards per carry.

On defense, Oklahoma has been sporadic, surrendering 131 points on the road (32.7 per game) and losing at Notre Dame, Texas and Colorado. The Sooners’ lone road win came at Conference USA’s Louisville, 42-21.

Last week, however, the Sooners posted their second shutout of the season, clobbering Missouri 37-0 in Norman.

“Realize that [last week’s win] will mean very little if we’re not able to go out and play that way up at Iowa State,” Stoops said. “We’ve got to be able to keep that same kind of focus and concentration on the road to be able to go out and execute there as well.”

Due in large part to its uneven play away for home, Oklahoma’s defense is ranked 65th nationally, allowing 369.4 yards per contest.

“We’re pushing hard and trying to establish consistency,” Stoops said. “At times, it’s been very good. At times, it’s been very bad.”

Oklahoma, a once mighty program, appears on its way back up under Stoops and is poised to post its first winning season since 1994, with a possible bowl appearance looming — in sight — on the horizon.