College Football Playoff 2017: Case for the Iowa State Cyclones
By Dana Becker
Iowa State football has become the Cinderella for this year, shocking TCU and Oklahoma. Now, can the Cyclones win out and earn their spot in the 2017 College Football Playoff?
Back at the start of October, Matt Campbell and ISU sat at 2-2 and had just been left with a heartbreaking defeat to Texas. Starting quarterback Jacob Park left the team, putting walk-on Kyle Kempt into the spotlight with a game at No. 3 Oklahoma on the horizon.
All Kempt did was complete 18 of 24 for 343 yards with three touchdowns in directing Iowa State to a 38-31 victory in Norman. Kempt outperformed two-time Heisman finalist Baker Mayfield that day and has continued to shine for the Cyclones since.
Kempt, who has over 800 yards passing and a 9-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, has benefited from the play of David Montgomery, not turning the ball over and a defense that is playing as well as anybody in the country.
During the current four-game win streak, the Cyclones have allowed just 20 points in their last three games and 27 points dating back to the second half of the Oklahoma game – a span of 14 quarters played against the Sooners, Kansas, Texas Tech and TCU.
No other team boasts wins over two Top-5 teams like Iowa State, and the Cyclones could add another quality win in two weeks when they host Oklahoma State. Factor in the Big 12 adding a title game this year, and if the Cyclones survive that, there would be no denying them a spot at the table.
Let’s further examine the case for and against Iowa State’s Playoff dreams.