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Notre Dame football: Keys to victory against Oklahoma State

By Brad Weiss

BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 09: Isaiah Foskey #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in action against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half of the game at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 09: Isaiah Foskey #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in action against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half of the game at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Spencer Sanders #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys tries to find his receiver in the end zone as he runs from linebacker DaShaun White #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 27, 2021, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys won ‘Bedlam’ 37-33. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Spencer Sanders #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys tries to find his receiver in the end zone as he runs from linebacker DaShaun White #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 27, 2021, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys won ‘Bedlam’ 37-33. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: 3 Keys to victory against Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl

Force the Cowboys to be one-dimensional on offense

During the Big 12 title game, the Oklahoma State Cowboys were without star running back Jaylen Warren, and it affected what they like to do on the offensive side of the ball. Warren is a player who must be stopped in this one, as he racked up over 1,100 yards on the ground this season, to go along with 11 touchdowns.

After missing the Big 12 title game, you can be sure that Warren will be ready to roll against the Irish, and the plan has to be to keep him under wraps. Against Baylor, quarterback Spencer Sanders struggled without Warren behind him, tossing four interceptions, as the offense was very one-dimensional.

That has to be the plan for Freeman and this defense on Saturday, as it is clear that Sanders is going to struggle if the Cowboys cannot get the run game going. Luckily for the Irish, they have tremendous talent on the first two levels of their defense, making it easier to neutralize the run game, and this could be the best defensive front Warren and this Cowboys offense has faced this season.

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