It’s been a tough season for Iowa State football. Losing a number of players to illegal betting (namely Hunter Dekkers) was a tough blow to Matt Campbell and the Cyclones.
But beating Iowa in the annual rivalry game would take the sting out a little bit.
Iowa comes to town just one week after being bounced from the AP Top 25 rankings thanks to a lackluster showing against Utah State. Will Iowa State pull off the upset?
I think yes. And here’s why.
3. Iowa State will take away the tight ends
There’s one thing to know about an Iowa offense under Brian Ferentz: There’s not much to it outside of extensive tight end usage.
Iowa went out and added Erick All from Michigan this offseason to pair with Luke Lachey who figures to be the next great Hawkeye tight end. There’s a reason many tab Iowa as ‘Tight End U’ and it’s because that’s the focal point of the offense.
Sure, running the ball has always been important for Iowa, but utilizing the tight ends is almost priority No. 1. Just look at all the Iowa tight ends in the NFL.
I think Iowa State is going to neutralize the tight ends and make Cade McNamara utilize his receivers more which is going to lead to some forced throws and ineffective drives.
If Iowa State takes away the tight ends, it’ll shut that offense down.
2. Iowa’s offense still looks inept
Watching Iowa struggle to score against Utah State was tough. The Hawkeyes were expected to have a much better offense this season with Cade McNamara at quarterback and he looked like he was going to be the answer as he led Iowa to its first season-opening first-drive touchdown pass in over 30 years.
After that touchdown, however, Iowa’s offense stalled out.
The Hawkeyes scored just 24 points and were actually out-gained by Utah State 329-284. So that tells me that the defense may not be as good as it usually is and the offense hasn’t exactly turned a corner yet.
That’s going to play right into the hands of Iowa State.
Iowa State’s defense played OK in the opener, holding Northern Iowa to just 279 total yards and nine points in a three-touchdown win.
This defense is going to hold Iowa’s offense in check.
1. The atmosphere in Ames is going to be electric
Former presidents will be in town for the game of the week. OK, this is definitely not the game of the week but it is a rivalry game that people across the country truly enjoy.
It’s never high-scoring, it’s usually ugly, and it’s always filled with hatred on both sides. Iowa and Iowa State just don’t like each other.
The crowd at Jack Trice Stadium will be ready to explode at the thought of an upset. Iowa was ranked to start the season and slipped to the first team out of the AP Top 25 after a 10-point win over Utah State and it enters the game on Saturday as the favorite. This would be a fun upset.
I just know the atmosphere in Ames is going to be electric.
Cade McNamara has thrived in these situations before, but I don’t think he has a true grasp of this rivalry yet.
And the last time he went on the road in a big rivalry game (2021 at Michigan State), he threw a critical interception to lose the game.
I expect the same result in this one.