Quarterback to Back: Noland Looks to Rebound Against Corndog in Stillwater

The Cowboys are back at it in Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, with a visit from the 1-3 Cyclones of Iowa State. Leading that mostly listless offense will be redshirt sophomore QB Zeb Noland.

Cowboys fans will remember Noland who spelled an injured Kyle Kempt during last year’s tilt in Ames. He came into that game with a career total 10 pass attempts but showed some grit, nearly upsetting the visiting Pokes.

He has once again spelled an injured Kempt who has yet to return to the field since an ankle injury took him out of the Iowa State’s official season opener against Iowa.

Here’s a look at the two clashing QBs’ numbers through Week 5.

As mentioned above, the Cyclones have been far from prolific on offense through four games. Iowa State currently ranks 87th in passing offense, averaging 210.3 yards per game through the air. That’s better than only the two Kansas schools in the Big 12.

Noland is heading into just his fifth start and is 2-2 with a win in his first career start at Baylor in 2017 and a win over Akron earlier this season. Noland’s credited Ls came in a somewhat tightly-contested defeat by the Sooners and a rough 14-for-28 performance in which he only managed to throw for 79 yards and one score in a loss to TCU.

Meanwhile, Cornelius — who is eyeing just his sixth career start — is coming off of his best performance to date against Kansas. Has he turned a corner or was it just the Rock Chalk effect?

Despite his best option David Montgomery being banged up — Matt Campbell tabbed him as “day-to-day” — Noland has a big-time target in Hakeem Butler. The 6-foot-6 wideout is a walking mismatch and has basically accounted for all of Iowa State’s receiving production so far.

The Iowa State offensive line has been pretty averuj at protecting its QBs. The Cyclones are T-65th, allowing 2.0 sacks per game and they’re about to be fed a heavy dose of the nation’s leader in sacks, Jordan Brailford, and a returning Calvin Bundage who wants to catch up.

Assuming Montgomery plays and can be even close to 100 percent, expect the Cyclones to lean heavy on their touted defense and an elite running back. But there will be times when they need their QB to make a play or two. Will Noland be able to rebound in a big way from the that ugly performance in Fort Worth? He’ll need to if he wants to give his team a shot on Saturday.