Iowa State Football: Post-spring game-by-game predictions for 2019

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AMES, IA – OCTOBER 13: Defensive back Greg Eisworth #12 of the Iowa State Cyclones tackles wide receiver Gary Jennings Jr. #12 of the West Virginia Mountaineers as he rushed for yards while linebacker Willie Harvey #2 of the Iowa State Cyclones defends in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

This isn’t the same West Virginia team that put up 40.3 points per game last season and averaged over 500 total yards. No, it’s a different team without Will Grier, David Sills V, Gary Jennings and head coach Dana Holgorsen. The first three have moved on while Holgorsen took the head coaching job at Houston — going from Power Five to Group of Five isn’t common.

The Mountaineers will be led by Neal Brown who was Troy’s head coach before and turned the Trojans into a winner, and he’ll look to do the same in Morgantown.

Will the first year under Brown be a transitional rebuilding year? It’s likely, but he does have talent returning such as Kennedy McKoy and Marcus Simms, but the losses may be just a bit too heavy to overcome.

Although this is a home game for the Mountaineers, Iowa State will come in with a ton of confidence, staring a 5-1 start to the season in the face and the Cyclones will get the job done.

After this one, people will start talking about Brock Purdy as a dark-horse Heisman candidate.

Final Score: Iowa State 34, West Virginia 21 (5-1, 2-1)

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