After a 24-0 shutout against perennial college football powerhouse Texas, Iowa State will be riding high into its game in Norman, Okla., on Saturday against the Sooners. 

But Oklahoma has one thing that Texas did not: A bona fide quarterback, and with him, an effective passing attack.

The Sooners’ starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield, wasn’t projected to be the starter heading into the season. He beat out last season’s starter, Trevor Knight, for the job.

“In my opinion, over a year ago, Trevor Knight was one heck of a quarterback,” said ISU coach Paul Rhoads. “And for [Mayfield] to beat him out, that should tell you about his skill set right there.”

Mayfield, who started his career at Texas Tech as a walk-on, transferred to Oklahoma two seasons ago. He brought an impressive skill set with him, including the ability to pass and run the ball.

Those skills are paying off for Oklahoma this season. Mayfield boasts 2,470 passing yards. He also threw 25 touchdowns, the sixth-best mark in the nation.

Mayfield is helped by an Oklahoma offense that runs similarly to others that Iowa State has faced previously such as those used by Texas Christian and Baylor.

The Sooners rank eighth in the nation in yards per game, coming in at a 532.5-yard clip.

“[Mayfield] — as I told some of my corners today — he can zing it with plenty of distance to his ball,” Rhoads said. “He can get it out fast and execute the speed game on the perimeter. He likes to make things happen with his scramble, whether it be running or throwing. You’ve got to stop the throw first.”

But if the Cyclones can manage to stop the pass, their attention will have to turn to the running game. Unlike some of Iowa State’s previous opponents, Oklahoma boasts a well-rounded offense that ranks 30th in rushing and 14th in passing.

Mayfield has a big hand in that, gaining 198 yards and scoring four touchdowns on the ground. But what Iowa State will have to keep its eye on is running back Samaje Perine, who has 744 rushing yards this season, 44th in the NCAA.

Executing the pass well along with an effective rush, Oklahoma runs a play-action offense that will present a different challenge for Iowa State’s 3-4 defense.

“Oklahoma provides great challenges in that their effectiveness to run the football is a really great complement to their play action,” Rhoads said. “You’ve got to control the run, stop it if you’re able, to win football games. If you’re going to do that, they’re going to have opportunities with the play-action passing game.”

The key to stop both facets of Oklahoma’s offense will fall on the defense reading offensive keys.

“That’s what I want to see our guys do,” Rhoads said. “I want our guys to read the keys to play the run when they should play the run. And [I want them to] play the pass when they’re supposed to play the pass, and do it urgently.”

Coming off the shutout against Texas, the ISU defense comes into Oklahoma with the most confidence it’s had all season.

Like linebacker Jordan Harris said this week, the Texas game was a turning point for the team’s season. The Cyclones are coasting on the momentum from last weekend and piling on in practice this week.

“[The momentum has] been here since Baylor,” said safety Qujuan Floyd. “We have the bigger momentum, and we’ve been pushing off it. Basically, every week we just keep going off that and get better every day and get going fast.”