Iowa State: Jirehl Brock (RB)

The Cyclones’ running back room has been slow going over the last few weeks, thanks to injuries slowing down Brock. 

It seemed as though Brock was in for a special season before leaving early in the Kansas game. Since then, Brock’s snaps have been limited, causing the run game to suffer. Other running backs got chances to show off their talent, but it’s clear that Brock’s presence makes a huge impact on the offense.

The bye week should have given Brock enough time to get back up to 100 percent, as head coach Matt Campbell talked about his confidence in the health of the running back room going into Saturday’s matchup. If Brock is back at full steam, Oklahoma’s defense could have a tough time stopping him.

Oklahoma: Eric Gray (RB)

The star running back on the other side of the field that will be looking for a strong day is Oklahoma’s Gray.

Gray has been a staple in Oklahoma’s run game this season, allowing the Sooners to dominate teams on the ground. He’s averaging over seven yards every time he touches the ball, putting up over 100 rushing yards in half of his games.

Gray is also coming off a monstrous week, where his 176 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns helped the Sooners get their season back on track with a win over Kansas. A game like that could be too hot for the bye week to cool down. Expect Gray to be a tough test for the elite Iowa State defense.