Numbers To Know: Iowa State

Oklahoma State will look to build on the impressive win over Texas as the Iowa State Cyclones come to town on Saturday. The Cowboys are a 17-point favorite at home, and there’s really no reason why Oklahoma State shouldn’t roll this week.

This is a Cyclone team that has fallen to Northern Iowa (!), lost by 42 to a pretty meh Iowa team, have their one win against San Jose State, but gave Baylor a run for their money last week, playing them tougher than even Oklahoma State did.

The Cyclones have a brand new coaching staff, with Matt Campbell coming over from Toledo and bringing most of his staff over to Ames with him. It’s been a rough start, but if the last two weeks are any indication, they are getting closer. Let’s dive into a few numbers and learn more about the Iowa State Cyclones.

1. We beat them every year, right?

For the most part, yeah. The Cowboys needed a late rally to win in Ames last season, but are going for their fifth straight win over the Cyclones since THAT GAME in Ames happened in 2011. Before that, the Iowa State Cyclones had not beaten the Oklahoma State Cowboys since Mike Gundy’s first season in Stillwater in 2005!

This is helped slightly by the fact that the ‘Clones played in the Big 12 North and the ‘Pokes played in the Big 12 South up through 2010. A win Saturday would make it seven out of eight over Iowa State, and the Cowboys should take care of business at home again.

2. Justice Hill is primed for a third straight 100-yard game

The Cyclone defense have given up 261 rushing yards per game in 2016, good for an ugly 123rd NCAA ranking. Justice has been freed the last two weeks against Baylor and Texas as the starter, and he’s answered the bell — in two games as the starter, he’s gone for 45 carries, 257 yards, and a couple scores. The freshman from Tulsa is already evoking comparisons to Joe Randle and Kendall Hunter, but for now, it’s just refreshing to see a Cowboy back with that kind of explosion.

3. The Cyclones aren’t exactly road warriors

The ‘Clones have dropped 12 road games in a row, and this year are 0-2 against Iowa and TCU. Oh, and they’ve been outscored 83-23 in those games … not good. Matt Campbell deserves more time and patience in Ames, but it’s been a rough go thus far in his first season.

The Cowboys are coming up on a very favorable part of the schedule, getting Iowa State at home, a bye week, at Kansas, before facing the surprising West Virginia Mountaineers for Homecoming on October 29. The Pokes can hang around in the Big 12 race until late November, and will look to pick up another home win on Saturday.