2021 WRNL Digital Game Program VI: Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State
A mammoth showdown in Ames awaits.
WRNL Insights: The Most Obvious Matchup
When Oklahoma State comes to town on Saturday they'll be a defense-first team. And that's good for Iowa State.
By: KnowDan
There comes a time in every season where the teams become who they are and the stats reflect that. Similarly, there are matchups every season where you look at the stats and go “Yeah, that seems right.”
This is one of those games. I won’t bore you with a detailed intro as to why - or even spend time talking about Kansas State - today’s column is purely devoted to Oklahoma State and how Iowa State wins on Saturday.
The Models & Spread
When the opening spread came out on Sunday in Iowa State’s favor by a touchdown there became questions about how this happened. Then the popular models validated it and it became a talking point about the Cyclones being favored by as much as a touchdown at home over a Top 10 team.
Models love balance, or teams that are so extremely good in one area and not deficiently awful in others. Unfortunately for Oklahoma State only one team with that balance will be in Ames on Saturday and it wears red.
Iowa State is an analytical darling because the offense has really only played three bad halves of meaningful football (Iowa and 1st half against Baylor) and the defense has been great to elite all season. Models crave balance and Iowa State has it in spades.
Conversely, Oklahoma State has an elite defense paired with an offense that would be the worst in the Big 12 if Kansas didn’t exist. The gap between the two units drags Oklahoma State’s overall numbers down, reflects in their standings, and in Vegas.
The Offenses
Iowa State: SP+: 21st, FEI: 12th
Oklahoma State: SP+: 80th, FEI: 44th
Offensive Line: With the palette cleansers of the Kansas schools behind us let’s check in on how the offensive line is doing with Points Earned Per Snap
Jarrod Hufford (LT): .042 (Foster has dropped to .036)
Trevor Downing (LG): .041 (.06 increase post-Kansas schools)
Colin Newell (C): .035 (.03 increase post-Kansas schools)
Darrell Simmons Jr. (RG): .036 (.09 increase post-Kansas schools)
Derek Schweiger (RT): .028 (.13 point increase post-Kansas schools)
While none of these numbers are elite, the offensive line has done exactly what they needed to do against inferior opponents: dominate and grow. While the schedule gets tougher, the trend upwards should continue as the line gels and gets comfortable in their roles.
On the other side of the ball, the Oklahoma State offensive line is not a sieve, but not a strength. Their starters average out in the mid-.02 range across the board and will give up opportunities to Iowa State’s defensive line.
The Quarterbacks: Brock Purdy is still playing some of the best ball of his career even if the TD/INT ratio does not reflect it. He’s only pressured on 28.8% of his dropbacks, throwing over 80% of his balls on target, and almost 90% are rated as catchable. He’s as efficient as he’s ever been and his spots where he pulls out Pump Fake Purdy have been opportune and worked in Iowa State’s favor.
Spencer Sanders: Not Brock Purdy. While the senior is a solid enough threat to keep defenses honest, it’s his ability as a thrower that holds Oklahoma State back. He’s throwing only 59% of his balls on target and 80% of them rate as catchable. His legs remain his biggest advantage as he’s only been sacked on 5% of dropbacks despite being pressured 31% of the time. It’ll be critical that Iowa State finds a way to limit the impact with his legs with spies and varied pressure packages on Saturday.
The Running Backs: Breece Hall. Still good. He's hitting his designed gap on 75.4% of plays and running for a 1st down on 30.6% of rushes. The K-State game did him no favors on havoc numbers and he now stands at being hit at the line 35.1% of the time and stuffed behind the line 19.4% of the time. Anecdotally, however, those stuffs happen less when Iowa State needs the yards and more when they're purposefully chewing clock.
As for Oklahoma State's Jaylen Warren, he's talented but probably not the second coming of Mr. Hall. He doesn't have the line in front of him that Hall does and it shows up with him hitting the designed gap on only 52% of runs and being hit at the line 34.5% of the time. His gap choices will be even more critical against the disciplined run defense of the Cyclones.
The Defenses
Iowa State: SP+: 15th, FEI: 14th
Oklahoma State: SP+: 10th, FEI: 7th
Defensive Line: Will McDonald is 4th in the conference in QB pressures with 18. Oklahoma State has FOUR players who have at least 13 EACH, including linebacker Devin Harper. They try to create havoc and generally are successful at it.
Above all else this is the most worrisome spot for Iowa State's offense. If Tom Manning calls a game that gets the ball out quickly and takes advantage of space then this could get out of hand. If Want It All Manning shows up then it's Iowa 2.0.
Secondary: Oklahoma State corner Jarrick Bernard-Converse has played 211 coverage snaps this season, faced 33 targets, allowed 16 catches, and is allowing only 42 yards per game. He'll likely draw Xavier Hutchinson, which makes it even more important for a solid WR2 to step up on Saturday.
Final Thoughts
This game has college football cliche written all over it. 2:30 fall afternoon kick. Strong defenses. Game comes down to the margins.
What are those margins?
Again, very cliche. Turnovers and field position. Oklahoma State thrives on pressure driving bad decisions and Iowa State forces you into bad decisions due to lack of disciple/focus. It'll come down to which team blinks first and breaks their mold.
If the Iowa State that lost in 2019 shows up it'll be another loss in Ames. If last week's team shows up then the Vegas line may not be enough.
Fortunately for this fan base the metrics are trending in the right direction for the good guys in this month of Brocktober.
Betting the Big 12: Week 8
Celebrate homecoming with winners!
By: Austin Keeney
It’s pretty common knowledge that October is the best sports month of the year. We’re at that magical time where all 4 major pro sports are happening at the same time with college football is in full swing as well. I’m also a sucker for pumpkin flavored products (mostly beer and pumpkin bars).
If there is one complaint I can make, and I will go ahead and do that right now, it’s that the weather in October 2021 has not been good at all. My old man complaint is that I’d so much rather have some consistency. Let me turn off the air conditioning during the day and the heat at night, please. If it’s time for sweatshirts, I need a firm commitment to it.
On the field, we’ve finally made it into the green, and I mean finally. The slow climb to profitability is complete and I don’t plan on slowing down now. We’re nearing the end of bye week season and about to hit an exciting stretch run to Jerry World. I’m feeling more confident than ever in the picks as there are 2 months worth of data at there. Enjoy Homecoming weekend, Cyclone fans, and lets celebrate with winners!
THE GAMES
Kansas State (3-3) at Texas Tech (5-2)
Kickoff: 11:00am | TV: ESPN | The Line: Kansas State -1
It seems crazy to think that Texas Tech can clinch bowl eligibility with a win in this game. Good for Matt Wells, who has been feeling a lot of heat for his job. Kansas State just seems broken at this point. The line certainly makes no sense here, and I’m a little weary knowing K-State is favored, but I’ll trust my gut and give out the home team.
Pick: Texas Tech +1
#3 Oklahoma (7-0) at Kansas (1-5)
AD
Kickoff: 11:00am | TV: | The Line: Oklahoma -39
No need to elaborate too much here. Kansas is an auto fade until they cover the spread against anybody. Oklahoma’s objective going forward is to get Caleb Williams as many reps as possible before a possible playoff run. Sooners by 50.
Pick: Oklahoma -39
#8 Oklahoma State (6-0) at Iowa State (4-2)
Kickoff: 2:30pm | TV: | The Line: Iowa State -7
Homecoming. 10 years since this match blew up the BCS. Iowa State has come so far as a program since then. The vibes are going to be great in Jack Trice Stadium, especially now that we’ve hit the point where the sun will be setting in the 4th quarter. On the field, this is a Cyclone team playing with a ton of confidence. Bijan Robinson was able to run wild on the Cowboy defense last week. Breece Hall should have no issues doing the same. The analytics love us. Just hope for a safe Brock Purdy game and no special teams shenanigans and Iowa State will roll.
Pick: Iowa State -7
West Virginia (2-4) at TCU (3-3)
Kickoff: 6:30pm | TV: | The Line: TCU -4.5
It’s hard to tell who needs this game more. In situations like this where frankly, it’s impossible to get a good read either way, we’ll be better off taking the home team with the superior quarterback. Zach Evans for TCU is also quite impressive running the ball. Can West Virginia string drives together? I say no.
Pick: TCU -4.5
BEST BET AROUND THE COUNTRY
Air Force -3 vs San Diego State
This checks all the boxes. San Diego State is an unconvincing undefeated team. Air Force is favored as the underdog at home vs the ranked Aztecs. The triple option is rolling this year. It will always be a beast to prepare for with only one week’s notice. Oh, and Air Force is really, really good. Love the Falcons.
NFL PICK OF THE WEEKEND
Football Team +7.5 at Packers
This is a truly dreadful slate of NFL games. I almost didn’t want to give anything out in this spot. But, Green Bay hasn’t exactly been blowing teams out. They always seem to do just enough to win, plus a little luck from the opposing kicker. This is a last ditch, kitchen sink game for WFT. They won’t win, but they won’t lose by more than a touchdown.
PROP OF THE WEEK FOR KANSAS FANS
Pumpkins picked at the patch by Cyclone fans this Sunday
O/U 499.5
SEASON RECORD: 28-25 (+0.5 units)
WRNL Interrogates: Cowboys Ride For Free
Maybe they will want to talk about 2011 for fun
By Matthias Schwartzkopf & Micah Allen
1. The Oklahoma State offense hasn’t been their usual high flying offense but their defense has been outstanding. Can the Oklahoma State offense return back their run up the score ways or are we seeing what this year’s version of Oklahoma State is? Run the ball and stuff you defensively.
I think the reality is that this is who the Cowboys are this season. They haven’t shown a true ability to put up a lot of points. That being said I think they are starting to find their stride. Jaylen Warren has proven to be incredibly effective for them. So it’s become a game of score just the right amount of points and the defense can take care of the rest. When your defense has proven they’re up to the task...why not?
2. What’s been the one thing that has most surprised you about this team so far?
Their ability to pull games out of thin air. If you asked me after game one if I thought we’re 6-0 following the Texas game, I would have said you were insane. I’m amazed OSU has not lost a game yet. They have the grit that has surprised me.
3. Let’s highlight some of the underappreciated players. Who are some players that Iowa State fans don’t know yet and will by the end of the day on Saturday?
We’ve talked about him before, but Jaylen Warren. For Iowa State fans that might not have been able to catch any Oklahoma State games are in for an awakening. Warren is the truth and I don’t think he’s getting the national recognition he deserves. He had a break-out game against Boise State where he ran for more than 200 yards.
4. How does Oklahoma State win this game?
Stopping Breece Hall and the offensive line creating good position for Jaylen Warren to run. I think that has to be your game plan. If they can be effective in the run game and stuff Breece I think OSU comes out of Ames with a win.
5. Do we wanna talk about the last time Oklahoma State came to Ames as a top ten team?
No and you’re a jerk for putting this question in. hahahahaha THE FIELD GOAL WAS GOOD!
6. Prediction time! Who do you got?
35-28 Clones....I don’t know why but this game gives me bad vibes
Let’s go Pod-y: Oklahoma State Cowpeople
I listen to opponent's podcasts so you don’t have to!
By clonesjer
Welcome to Let’s Go Pod-y, where I listen to opponent’s podcasts so you don’t have to!
Podcast: Cowboys Ride For Free (CRFF)
Pod Length: 49 minutes, the last 10 mins is just OSU basketball talk, you can stop listening about the 40 min mark.
I was worried about this week. All of the “Texas Recap” pods I listened to on Monday from Oklahoma State were so nice and respectful that I wondered if there would be anything worth quoting from the previews for an article. Thankfully, CRFF came through in the clutch with some overly confident chatter that, while not the vitriol of K-State, will still leave you shaking your head in disbelief. Enjoy!
On Confidence
“I am nervous, I am still nervous, I want to have a good feeling … right now I am just ready to get to Saturday and watch this game”
“I’m terrified of this game, but the more people talk about it - I’m like, we’re gonna win, and we’re gonna win walking away”
On the Iowa State Offense
“The Iowa State offense is not very good – but you can say the same thing about Oklahoma State – but our defense (OSU) is that good”
On Brock Purdy
“Brock Purdy is not that good”
“Brock Purdy is on that level Spencer Sanders is, good not great”
“Against a good defense Purdy turns over the ball, when Purdy has turnovers [Iowa State] has lost”
“I’m calling for 2 picks (from Purdy)”
“Purdy is only averaging 250 [passing] yards, he’s not that special, he’s not the guy playing for Texas”
On Breece Hall
“That dude [Breece Hall] is not Bijan, that dude is not Bijan, and we shut [Bijan] down”
“He [Breece Hall] isn’t that dynamic”
On the Defense
“Their [Iowa State] defensive stats are inflated by a ton (because of games against UNLV & Kansas)”
“Their defensive prowess is way overblown”
“They have this ‘really good run defense’ [sarcastically], but they’re allowing 50 more rushing yards per game in conference play… I think Warren gets close to 200 again”
“The thing I worry about is … their pass defense is really solid”
“They gave up almost 200 yards on the ground to Kansas, to Kansas!”
“In Big 12 play, their yards-against have gone way up on the ground … I think Warren goes 25 carries for 185 [rushing yards]”
On Iowa State in General
“They’re very similar teams [Oklahoma State & Iowa State]”
“Iowa State is a good team, I have nothing but hate for them, but they are a good team”
On Matt Campbell
“This is probably Campbell’s last year at Iowa State. He’ll end up and USC or in the NFL”
On Oklahoma State’s Defense
“If we’re up 17-10 at half, this game is over. The defense is that good”
“I think Oklahoma State’s defense, as fired up as they’re going to be, will hold Iowa State to under 200 yards total offense”
On the Spread
“For whatever reason Vegas has us -7. What do they know that we don’t?”
“-7, it’s big, it’s a big line”
On the 2011 Game
“Gundy tends to not lose these type of games … except in 2011”
“First off, that kick was good [in 2011] … it was a Friday night instead of Saturday, if it was a Saturday game we’d have probably won by 20”
“I think Gundy will use [the memory of 2011] and this defense will come out and just break Iowa State’s back, it’s gonna be full on Bane on Batman, over the knee from the start, [game] over.”
“I agree with you, it will be a rallying cry game, you’ll see motivated Cowboys”
On Higher Aspirations
“This is the year Gundy realizes he’s got one more shot at the Natty … this could be a statement game”
“If we make it through this game, we should … I won’t say it … but we should … until, going into Bedlam”
“I’ve lived through a lot of ‘Poke-Chokes*’, but this team is different”
*Author’s note: They have a NAME for it !?!?
On Crushing our Souls
“I honestly think this will be a crippling loss for Iowa State”
“If Iowa State loses, they sit at 4-3, so their season is essentially lost”
Score Predictions
“I’m on the hope train, this train is going to 11, and we’re gonna win this game 28-14”
“We will beat Iowa State”
“Not only with Oklahoma State win, but they will win by 14, and they will not be trailing at halftime”
2021 Game VII: Iowa State Vs Oklahoma State Football Preview
A colossal matchup in Ames this weekend between two elite defenses.
By Matthias Schwartzkopf and Levi Stevenson
2021 Game VII: Iowa State (4-2, 2-1) vs. #8 Oklahoma State (6-0, 3-0)
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 2021
Time: 2:30PM CST
Location: Jack Trice Stadium
Capacity: 62,500
Line: ISU (-5.5)
Television: FOX
Radio: Cyclone Radio Network
SB Nation Website - Cowboys Ride For Free
When we last left off....
Iowa State went into Manhattan and beat the wheat right out of Kansas State in the annual Farmageddon matchup. Iowa State controlled the game right from the start off Breece Hall’s 75 yard touchdown run on the opening play from scrimmage. Iowa State would never look back en route to a 33-20 victory over the inferior farming school.
Breece Hall rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Brock Purdy threw for 208 yards, with one touchdown pass to Sean Shaw. Iowa State beat Kansas State down with balance on the offensive side of the ball which included a 10 minute drive in the second half.
The Iowa State defense showed a few holes as Kansas State rushed for 136 yards and Skylar Thompson had a decent day throwing the ball. The important part was keeping Kansas State out of the end zone when it mattered.
Oklahoma State Tidbits
Oklahoma State comes to Ames 6-0. Then Cowboys have had their fair share of tests and and closes games but nonetheless they find themselves in the AP top ten. This is the second time in 10 years Oklahoma State has come to Ames ranked in the top ten.
The most recent win came over Texas down in Austin, as the Cowboys came back from a 14 point deficit in the first half to win 34-24. Oklahoma State did most of their game in the fourth quarter where the offense gained 170 yards and scored 16 points. The Cowboy defense shut out the Longhorns and held them to a single yard in the final quarter.
Oklahoma State’s defense fun fact: the Cowboys have allowed fewer than 100 yards of offense in a half in each of its past five games. The Cowboys limited Baylor to 99 yards in the first, Tulsa to 89 yards in the first, Boise State to 64 yards in the second, Kansas State to 84 yards in the second and Texas to 92 yards in the second.
The Series
This game is the 56th meeting between Iowa State and Oklahoma State, with the series dating back to 1926. Oklahoma State leads the series 33-19-3 all-time series advantage. The Cowboys even hold the advantage in Ames with a 15-12-1 record. Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gundy is 11-3 against Iowa State.
Iowa State Offense
The Iowa State offense has finally started to take a turn towards their 2020 production, moving up their statistical rankings over the past few weeks. Iowa State is now ranked 12th in the country in points per game. So what was a bit of an Achilles heel for Iowa State finishing drives has seemingly started to heal, and they are finding the end zone consistently.
The Cyclone offense had one of the most balanced attacks that we have seen from a Matt Campbell team yet. The run game complimented the passing game and vice versa all night long, which allowed the Cyclone offense to control the game from the start. Did I mention it was a 75 yard touchdown run and basically drove a wood stake into the chest of the Kansas State fans? Glorious.
The Cyclones ran for 210 yards and threw for another 208 yards in the balanced effort. The balance was showcased most during a 10 minute drive in the third quarter which essentially sucked the remaining life out of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The drive ended with one of the best throws from Brock Purdy this season, and Sean Shaw made a great catch. Iowa State is going to need more of that going forward.
First Key To Victory - Replicate Manhattan
Iowa State faces another defense this week that can give them fits all over the field, but a well oiled balanced attack may be the key to taking that down. Though I do think the pass may have to be the one to open up the passing attack. If there is an area where Oklahoma State excels, it’s rushing defense. Brock Purdy will more than likely be critical in this matchup.
Oklahoma State Defense
Oklahoma State’s defense has been carrying the team so far in 2021, which is a complete 180 compared to most Oklahoma State teams we are used to seeing. I mentioned this a bit in the Night Cap, but excluding the two long runs and 185 yards last season in Stillwater, Oklahoma State had one of the most effective game plans on Breece Hall last season. The defensive line of Oklahoma State controlled the line scrimmage for most of that game and gave Iowa State fits all afternoon.
The Oklahoma State defense rose to the occasion and was vital in the Cowboy’s comeback in Austin last Saturday. Oklahoma State allowed 9 yards total over the last seven drives and completely shut down the Longhorn offense. Before the last seven drives Oklahoma State was trailing 24-13. They Cowboy defense did this and lost in the all this shuffle was a Jason Taylor II 85 yard interception return for a touchdown.
Oklahoma State allows 4.7 yards per play which is 36th best in the entire country. Where they really shut the competition down is against the run. The Cowboy defense allow just 3 yards a rush and they tend to not allow a 100 yard rusher. The similarities in philosophy for both Oklahoma State and Iowa State defensively this season continue to be apparent on film. Shut down the run and pin the ears back on blitzes while you force opposing quarterbacks to win the game on their own.
The two main studs for Oklahoma State are linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and safety Kolby Harvell-Peel. Rodriguez has 59 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, eight QB hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery to start of the season. He is a physical linebacker that is not afraid to get in your face and make you pay for coming his way. Harvell-Peel sits third on the team in total tackles, but he has two interceptions as well. If Iowa State has trouble running the ball, he will be Brock Purdy’s biggest threat.
The Verdict - Even
Oklahoma State’s defense is really good. It could even tip in their favor that their defense could be a touch better than Iowa State’s offense at this current time. But, Iowa State has begun to find their footing on offense, mixing in a little balance along the way. I do expect this matchup to be a dog fight, and a good one at that.
Iowa State Defense
Iowa State’s defense put up another impressive showing against Kansas State last weekend. Skylar Thompson was mildly efficient, completing 65% of his passes, but outside of one long TD completion to Phillip Brooks, the Wildcat passing game was largely a non-factor.
Even Deuce Vaughn struggled to make a significant impact. He tallied 87 yards on 18 carries, but a decent chunk of that was gained late in the fourth quarter as Kansas State was picking up solid yardage on the run while Iowa State was content to sit in deep pass coverage to avoid the big play.
Add in a couple strip sacks by Will McDonald and an interception by Greg Eisworth, and you have a game that Iowa State is going to be able to win more times than not. Was it perfect? No. TJ Tampa missed an interception which turned into an unlucky deflection - directly in the K-State receiver’s hands for a touchdown - but that’s a play he’ll make more often has he gains experience.
Speaking of Mr. Tampa, it would seem as though he’s taken a firm hold of that second corner spot, and has played well. Teams are picking on him a little with Anthony Johnson locking up one side of the field, but he’s largely passed those tests with flying colors. His emergence bodes extremely well for the future of that position group.
We’re also starting to see an uptick in turnover production for the defense over the past few weeks, and continuing that trend would go a long way to neutralizing an already struggling Cowboy offense.
Oklahoma State Offense
To put it kindly, this Oklahoma State offense is...inconsistent. Gone are the days of the high-flying Cowboy offenses we’ve grown accustomed to seeing with Mike Gundy in charge, and in comes a very good defense with an offense that can run the ball occasionally, but is extremely inefficient in the passing game. Outside of Kansas, this may be the worst offensive unit in the Big 12, which is startling to say.
Many of the offense’s struggles revolve around the passing game, where senior QB Spencer Sanders seems to have grown very little over his time at Oklahoma State. Sanders is completing just 57% of his passes on the season, with only 63% being counted as on-target (compared to Brock Purdy’s 71.2% completions and 79% on-target rate). He’s also a tad interception-prone, registering a 6-to-5 TD/INT ratio.
It also doesn’t help that Sanders’ lacks the elite stable of receivers at his disposal that he’s enjoyed in previous seasons. Washington State-transfer Tay Martin has been solid this season, averaging about seven catches and 90 yards per game, but there’s not really anyone behind him that has been a consistent threat for the Cowboys. Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens can be counted on for a few catches each, but production drops off significantly after those three.
The saving grace for the Cowboy offense has been the emergence of Jaylen Warren at running back after transferring from Utah State. The dude runs hard.
In my opinion, Jaylen Warren is more impressive on tape than Chuba Hubbard was, even if Chuba was the better stat accumulator. He runs with an anger we just didn’t see from Hubbard, and is more capable of being productive behind OSU’s offensive line- which can be shaky at times - especially if they aren’t supplemented with a tight end or H-back.
Oklahoma State has always done a good job of attacking Iowa State’s weak spots with the run game, especially at the seam, where Cyclone linebackers are forced to make a decision to either push the run to the outside or funnel everything to the middle. A good running back with a little blocking can exploit that spot and Warren is plenty good enough.
Scheme is where Oklahoma State has held the edge against Iowa State in the Matt Campbell era. Typically Iowa State fans have left this game feeling like it was an opportunity lost after the Cyclones self-inflicted wound after wound due to poor scheme adjustments or play-calling (looking at you, 2019 Tom Manning and your 62 pass attempts while Breece Hall was sitting in the backfield), rather than feeling overwhelmed by OSU’s talent.
If Heacock’s group can essentially keep doing what they’ve been doing all season, and there’s no reason to believe they can’t, then they should be able to put the Cyclone offense in a great position to win the game.
Second Key to Victory - Get off the field on third down
This is good advice to follow against every team, but it remains especially true. For all of Spencer Sanders’ struggles throwing the football, he can still be effective runner, especially on scramble situations outside the pocket. Not allowing Oklahoma State to convert third-and-long situations on broken plays via a quarterback scramble or a (very uncharacteristic) broken tackle can pay enormous dividends when it comes to field position, one of the few areas Iowa State has really struggled this season.
The Verdict - Iowa State
Iowa State possess one of the top five to ten defenses in college football (depending on what metrics you want to look at and who you talk to) that’s capable of putting a lid on virtually any offense thrown at it.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma State’s offense currently ranks near the bottom of the Power Five in many metrics, especially in the passing game, where Spencer Sanders still remains a far more effective runner than passer. Jaylen Warren is cause for concern, but he’s not substantially better than any running back Iowa State has seen and bottled up before.
This matchup skews heavily to Iowa State, and could be the key to the entire game if they can limit OSU’s scoring.
Special Teams
If you can believe it, Iowa State won the special teams battle in Manhattan. Andrew Mevis drilled four field goals, kept the ball out of Malik Knowles’ hands. All while Kansas State missed and field goal and an extra point. Take that, special team gods. We can do cool things after all!
Oklahoma State has switched place kickers in recent weeks. Tanner Brown a transfer from UNLV has gone 5-for-5 since taking over the place kicking duties. On punting duties for Oklahoma State is a 31 year old junior, Tom Hutton. He is native of Australia much like Corey Dunn. Must be something in the water for older kickers coming to play college football from Australia.
Oklahoma State kick returner Brennan Presley averages 33 yards per kick return to start this season. So take that information and do whatever you need to do with it.
Third Key To Victory - Don’t Mess It Up Again
The Verdict- Even
Iowa State had a great day in Manhattan, but it certainly still sits in the back of our head that something may go horribly wrong. I want to see Iowa State put back to back weeks together on special teams before I feel anywhere remotely comfortable.
Winning Scale from 1 to 10
You know, the further south you go the amount of great Cowboys goes down the tube. We all know the best Cowboy to ever live came right out of Winterset, IA.
On a scale from 1 to 10, with one being the Dallas Cowboys and ten being John Wayne. I give the Cyclones a “Billy The Kid” chance of winning this one.
Final Analysis
This is going to be a tight one all the way through. Iowa State’s offensive line will have to win up front if the Cyclones want to take this one. Both defenses will make the plays they will need to. It’s just going to come down to the offensive side of the ball.
Final Score
Iowa State - 24
Oklahoma State - 21
Tailgate Preview - Oklahoma State
Homecoming Edition!
By Meg A. Tron
Weather - Near Perfection
Happy Homecoming, alums, Cyclone fans, and Pep Queens! Ames is rolling out the red carpet for you this weekend with some serious football weather...and what promises to be an exciting and important football game! October in Iowa is such a treat. Saturday looks like a chilly, but dry day to be outside with friends and take down the number 8 team in the nation. Grab your sweater and saddle shoes (and maybe a coat, hat, and mittens) and get ready to tailgate!
Food - Barbecue Beef Chili
Football. Homecoming. Autumn. You know what that means...it’s soup season! So let’s throw some chili in the crockpot, lay out all the fixings, and celebrate the wonders of the crockpot. This is a recipe I really love, but of course, chili is very customizable and you might have strong feelings about how to make it, or maybe you have a cherished recipe that’s won awards and people swear is the best chili they’ve ever tasted, so...try my chili because I’ve never steered you wrong.
Drink - Honeycrisp Apple Sangria
Listen. I’m a beer fan. At all the tailgates all year long, I will drink beer. Forever and ever. Amen. But in the spirit of all things cozy and autumny and footbally, here’s a little something to warm up your insides. Sangria is a great option for tailgates because you need to make it ahead of time and it gets more delicious as it sits. The prep is insanely easy (but not as easy as cracking open a beer can, so keep that in mind…) Bonus points if you make the cinnamon sugar rim...and if you bring one for me to try.
Game - Beersbee
I was introduced to this game a couple of years ago at a tailgate and it’s a fun one. It has all the makings of a good tailgate game - relatively compact, portable, easy to follow rules, and you have to hold a beer while you play.
Song(s) - Because I couldn’t pick just one
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel
Mama, I’m Coming Home - Ozzy Osbourne
Comin Home Baby - Mel Torme
A Kiss to Build a Dream On - Louis Armstrong
I had fun thinking of songs about “Home” to fit the Homecoming theme...and while I was digging around, I found a picture from 1966 of Louis Armstrong with vintage (terrifying) Cy, so I included a Louis Armstrong song, too. Is your tailgate lacking energy? Are things getting boring? Play some Mel Torme and Louis Armstrong to really get the party started.
Can’t wait to see you on Saturday!
Love,
Your Pep Queen,
Megatron
AHF Featured Farm: Creswell Farms
Actually Helping Farmers.
By Aiden_Wyatt
Here at Wide Right & Natty Lite, we do our best to Actually Help Farmers, and since we couldn’t afford stickers on a helmet with zero other purpose, we decided that we would make an effort to support Iowa farmers in another way.
In our AHF Featured Farm Project, we will honor one family farm each week of an Iowa State home game. We are searching for farms in Iowa that bring passion to the fields, both football and corn. Every nominated farm will have the option to purchase a custom shirt featuring their farm logo, and our AHF logo on the back (click here to buy the Creswell Farms AHF shirt). 50% of all shirt sales will go towards Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Farm Crisis Center in efforts to Actually Help Farmers.
This week, I spoke with Tyson Creswell of Creswell Farms. Creswell Farms is located just to the east of Reinbeck, Iowa, where they started in the early 1910s. Tyson is the 5th generation of Creswell Farms. His dad, Matt, currently leads the effort in farming the NE Iowa farm.
The Creswell’s have a history of ISU grads, making them big ISU fans. “My grandpa went to Iowa State for ag, my dad went for ag, and now I’m going for ag,” said the current Iowa State junior Tyson. Tyson’s sister, Paige, also currently attends the greatest university in the world. The whole family loves coming to any Iowa State events and rooting for the Cyclones.
When I asked Tyson what actually helping farmers meant to him, he said “Iowa State is able to give resources to farmers that they might not be able to get otherwise,” once again proving that Iowa State is the greatest university in the world.
On a personal note, I have known the Creswell family since I was young, being sandwiched between Tyson and Paige in school, playing sports from elementary to high school with Tyson (who was better known as “TC”), and having their mom, Nicole, as a teacher in elementary school. The Creswell’s are a great family and I’m honored to have a story about them and their farm!
Special thanks to the Creswell Family for their partnership and for Actually Helping Farmers!
Have a family farm or know someone actually helping farmers? Email widerightnattylite@gmail.com to be featured!