Brocktober Continues
By Michael O’Deay (@MODeay70) Game 7 vs Oklahoma State Kickoff: 2:30 PM TV: Fox Radio: Cyclone Radio Network
Kansas State Recap: Iowa State started fast and never looked back. Breece Hall started the game with a 75 yard TD dash and Iowa State controlled the rest of the game. Brock Purdy was 22-25 for 208 yards with 1 TD and no picks. Breece Hall had 232 yards from scrimmage (197 rushing and 35 receiving). Sack Masters Will McDonald and Uwazurike combined for 3 sacks. Iowa State improved to 4-2 and 2-1 with their 33-20 win over Kansas State
Know your opponent: The Oklahoma State Cowboys are undefeated and ranked 8th in the AP Poll. Oklahoma State has recorded Big 12 wins against Kansas State, Baylor, and Texas. The Cowboys overcame a 24-16 deficit against Texas by shutting the Longhorns out in the 4th quarter, 16-0, to win 32-24.
The Series: Oklahoma State leads the overall series 33-19. The Cowboys have won 2 in a row and 7 out of the last 8. Last season Oklahoma State edged 24-24 in Stillwater.
Cyclone History: Iowa State had a huge win in 2011 when the 2nd ranked Cowboys came to Ames with National Title hopes, and left with a double OT loss. With Oklahoma State 24-7 in the 3rd, ISU mounted a comeback for the ages and beat those Pokes 37-31 in double OT. Jeff Woody scored the winning TD from 4 yards out. I still get goosebumps listening to John Walters call of the winning play. If you go all the way back to 2018, Brock Purdy took over for Zeb Noland in Stillwater and the legend of Brock Purdy began with a 48-42 win.
The Game: Despite ISU’s 2 losses these two teams are very evenly matched. Cowboy QB Spencer Sanders can make plays when all seems lost. He has tossed for 959 yards with 6 TDs and 5 picks. He also has 3 rushing TDs. When Chuba Hubbard went to the NFL, I thought, finally there is going to be a break in RBs. In comes Jaylen Warren who is averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He has 705 yards and 6 rushing TDs. The Cowboys have a suffocating defense. They are allowing only 307.2 yards per game with only 98.8 rushing yards per game. Iowa State has a good defense as well. The Cyclones are allowing 251.3 yards per game and 97.7 rushing yards per game. Breece Hall has nearly eclipsed the 200 rushing yard plateau twice in the last 3 games. 190 at Baylor and 197 at Kansas State. Hall extended his consecutive game rushing TD streak to 18 games.
Keys to the Game: 1) Win the turnover battle 2) Limit big plays 3) Convert 3rd downs
This is going to be a “big boy” football game. The turnover battle could be the difference. Iowa State has an opportunity to create turnovers as Cowboy QB Sanders has thrown 4 interceptions in Big 12 play. Oklahoma State has an explosive offense. The last time these two teams met in Ames, Oklahoma State had TDs from 71 yards, 50 yards, 65 yards, and a 4th quarter pick 6. In order for ISU to win and to limit the big plays, ISU must win the line of scrimmage. I say converting 3rd downs every week because it’s what good football teams do. In the knock out punch drive against Kansas State last week, ISU had a 93 yard TD drive where they 5 for 5 on third downs. Keep it up.
My prediction: ISU gets a hard fought 28-27 win.
Go Cyclones!