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Iowa State Football: How the Cyclones can win the Big 12

By Dana Becker

AMES, IA - SEPTEMBER 15: Safety Kahlil Haughton #8 of the Oklahoma Sooners breaks up a pass meant for wide receiver Hakeem Butler #18 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the end zone in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. Oklahoma Sooners won 37-27 over the Iowa State Cyclones.(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - SEPTEMBER 15: Safety Kahlil Haughton #8 of the Oklahoma Sooners breaks up a pass meant for wide receiver Hakeem Butler #18 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the end zone in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. Oklahoma Sooners won 37-27 over the Iowa State Cyclones.(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
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After starting the year with a canceled game and just a 1-3 record, things appeared to be on the downward spiral for Iowa State football and head coach Matt Campbell.

Since a 17-14 loss to TCU on the road, though, the Cyclones have reeled off four consecutive victories, including wins at Oklahoma State and over West Virginia at home.

With three Big 12 games left in the regular season, Iowa State needs just a little help – and to win out – to reach the conference title game and a rematch with Oklahoma in December. That would also cause a cancellation of a planned game with Incarnate Word, but I’m sure 99.9 percent of ISU fans would be fine with that.

The Cyclones begin their final stretch with a home game against Baylor before heading to Texas for a Saturday night showdown in Austin. They close back inside Jack Trice Stadium on November 24 against Kansas State.

West Virginia and Oklahoma meet to end the regular season, with the both still having to face Oklahoma State, as well.

Heading into this weekend, the Sooners and Mountaineers each have just one conference loss, with Iowa State and Texas sitting a game back. If the Cyclones win out and West Virginia drops at least one more league date, Iowa State will play for its first-ever Big 12 title.

A loss by Oklahoma in its meeting with West Virginia would keep the Sooners still in the Top-2 of the conference thanks to their 37-27 victory in Ames back in September.

There could also be some serious tiebreakers put into play if the Cyclones win out and both Oklahoma and West Virginia suffer one more loss each. The Big 12 uses a tiebreaker in which they compare the records of the teams remaining in the standings which will be sorted out over the final month of the year.

Next. CFB Bowl projections after Week 10. dark

Brock Purdy has turned himself into a contender for league newcomer of the year, as the freshman has thrown for at least 250 yards since taking over for Zeb Noland prior to Iowa State’s upset of Oklahoma State. He is joined by David Montgomery, who has turned in four 100-yard rushing performances, and Hakeem Butler, who has three consecutive games with at least 107 yards receiving.

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