At 3-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12, Oklahoma’s national title hopes are non-existent. But to a player, the Sooners believe they still have a lot to play for.

They don’t understand the belief some hold that seasons end after a loss to Texas.

“We have a lot of big games ahead of us,” quarterback Paul Thompson said. “I’m not going to go into specifics as to what our goals are, but we definitely have big goals set out in front of us and we believe a lot of them are achievable. I think our mindset after yesterday’s practices is good and I think we are going to be pointing in the right direction.”

OU faces Iowa State at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Owen Field. And the Sooners are 7-0 in post Texas games under coach Bob Stoops.

Fortunes can change in the second half of the season.

“Anything can happen if we win the rest of these games and we’ll only have two losses,” wide receiver Manuel Johnson said. “We can still go to a great bowl game. I don’t think anybody should start panicking right now.”

Bulked up

OU kicker Garrett Hartley leads the Big 12 in field-goal percentage at 90.9 percent (10 of 11) and is second in Division I in field goals made.

The junior said he’s a different player this season because of the muscle he put on in the offseason. He added about 15 pounds to his 5-foot-9 frame.

“I believe it’s made me a better kicker,” he said. “Overall being fit and being in tune to how my muscles work and how to prepare my legs before the game by relaxing, knowing that they’re feeling good and strong.”

Long history

Iowa State coach Dan McCarney and Stoops have a long history together. McCarney was an assistant coach at Iowa when Stoops was a defensive back there from 1979-82. Stoops was also a volunteer assistant there from 1983-87.

The coaches have remained close.

“I have a very close relationship with his family,” Stoops said. “I just talked to his dad last week. In fact. I call him every fall to see how he’s doing, so we’ve got a long history together and a close one.”

But Stoops has also been very successful when facing his former mentor. OU is 5-0 against Iowa State under Stoops.