Iowa State is preparing for a matchup with No. 5 Oklahoma, and coach Matt Campbell took time on Tuesday to speak to the media for his weekly press conference. 

Who’s the third-string quarterback?

The backup plan to the backup plan probably wasn’t what Campbell wanted to be talking about heading into a matchup with a top-5 opponent on national television (the game will be televised on ABC at 11 a.m.). But here he was, discussing which of the inexperienced trio of redshirt freshman Devon Moore, true freshmen Re-al Mitchell and Brock Purdy were next in line if something were to happen to redshirt sophomore Zeb Noland. 

With Kyle Kempt’s status up in the air, contingency plans have to be put in place. Campbell said that there was a competition going on between the three other quarterbacks on the roster, in case their presence is necessary on Saturday. 

“I still think how you practice, how you go to work every day, really allows a coach to be comfortable with putting you into a football game,” Campbell said. “I think practice is a great indicator of trust.”

None of the three quarterbacks have experienced regular-season college football yet, but Campbell didn’t sound too worried about putting them out there, if the situation called for it. 

Redshirt sophomore tight end Chase Allen—who had three receptions in the season-opener and was targeted frequently by Noland— said the quarterbacks have shown a lot of vigor and energy. 

“I’m sure that if any of those players get to get in, you’ll see an impact,” Allen said.

Kyler Murray praise

For the second-straight season, Iowa State heads into a matchup with Oklahoma tasked with defending a Heisman Trophy frontrunner at the quarterback position while its own quarterback situation is undetermined.

Kyler Murray, the former Texas A&M signal-caller who was Baker Mayfield’s understudy last season, has started off the year with absolute dominance. Murray has accounted for 607 yards of offense and seven touchdowns in two appearances. 

Campbell said that Murray is almost as special as Mayfield with the ball in his hands. 

“I really enjoyed watching the videotape,” Campbell said. “It’s almost as if they’ve picked up where they left off.”

Murray has yet to play all 60 minutes of a football game, as in both the Florida Atlantic and UCLA games the Sooners were far enough ahead to send in the backups.

Murray will likely play every offensive snap for the Sooners on Saturday — injury non-withstanding — and redshirt sophomore safety Greg Eisworth said the Cyclones will have their hands full.

“He’s phenomenal,” Eisworth said. “Obviously his athletic ability is a whole other challenge for us.”

Murray’s dual-threat capabilities present a far different challenge to the defense than Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley, and the Sooner offense as a whole will force Eisworth and the Cyclone defense to focus on the whole field, rather than the boxed areas they patrolled against the Hawkeyes.

Eisworth said he would have to cover more this week. 

“It’s just transitioning mentally from being a tackle guy, a box safety, to a cover guy,” Eisworth said.

Competition on the O-Line

One game out of 11 (or 12, who knows) is complete for the Cyclones, but the offensive line is far from being a finished product. 

Campbell said the competitions within the offensive line are very intense. 

“We do feel confident that some of these guys can come in and play,” Campbell said. “We’ll evaluate practice this week and make a decision for us.”

The Cyclones lined up with junior Julian Good-Jones at center instead of projected starter and redshirt freshman Colin Newell, shifting Sean Foster to the left tackle position in place of Good-Jones. 

The latest two-deep reflects that, but redshirt junior tackle Bryce Meeker said Tuesday the Cyclones don’t know yet who will be starting where on the offensive line. 

“We’ll figure it out today on the practice field and go from there,” Meeker said.

Iowa State’s line struggled mightily against Iowa’s stout front last weekend, and the Cyclones are trying to adjust and gain confidence before facing an Oklahoma defensive line that will look very different from 2017. 

Oklahoma lost three starters on the defensive line, but the unit has started out strong in 2018.

“Just like every year, they’re really talented,” Meeker said. “They’re Oklahoma, and we have to prepare that way.”