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Big 12 Football: Each team’s trap and peak games in 2021

By Andrew Tineo

Nov 21, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; The Iowa State defense celebrates a stop on 4th and goal during their football game against Kansas State at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Powers-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; The Iowa State defense celebrates a stop on 4th and goal during their football game against Kansas State at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Powers-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Iowa State

Trap Game: Iowa

Although the Cyclones swerved the chance of playing Iowa, the historic rivalry will return in 2021. The Hawkeyes have been Iowa State’s Achilles heal in the past, currently on a five-game losing streak.

For a team that has lost five straight and is a rival, it wouldn’t be the expectation for this game to feel like a trap. However, with the national attention Iowa State is garnering, Iowa is not letting it go unnoticed.

Per usual, Iowa had a top 15 defense in 2020, ranking in the top 10 in rush, scoring and total defense. The Hawkeyes return their entire secondary, led by Jack Koerner.

The Hawkeyes were also among the best teams in the country in turnover differential, with a +9 margin, good for sixth nationally.

Being played in Ames will help and the first big game post-COVID in Jack Trice Stadium will give the Cyclones tons of momentum and excitement

Peak Game: at. Oklahoma

When Iowa State is the consensus No.2 in the conference, the main peak game is expected to be the Oklahoma Sooners. Iowa State was able to hang on for a 37-30 upset in Ames, back on October 3 of last season.

Iowa State couldn’t get the season sweep, with a 21-27 loss in the Big 12 Championship game in December.

Brock Purdy on his best day is the best quarterback in the conference. However, it can get catastrophic relatively quick, if Purdy is not on. Breece Hall returns after exploding for 1,572 yards last year.

Alongside those two, is the entire receiving core giving it one last go. No question, this offense can score points on Oklahoma. 2020 All-Big 12 players linebacker Mike Rose and safety Greg Eisworth II headline the defense, which returns 10 starters from a year ago.

Oklahoma became a much better defensive unit near the end of last year, but struggled in the first half, especially against the Cyclones. If Iowa State can duplicate that performance, they could have a view of first place within the conference for the second year in a row heading into December.

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