Iowa State is heading into Week 9 with plenty to fix, and the timing could hardly be worse. After a rough trip to Arizona ended in a 39-3 loss, the Cyclones return home for another Big 12 test, this time against Oklahoma State.
That defeat in Tucson checked just about every bad box for Iowa State. The offense never found a rhythm, the quarterback situation has turned into a headache with Jaylen Raynor getting benched, and the defense had no answer for Noah Fifita. The Arizona quarterback carved them up for 300 passing yards in Iowa State’s worst loss of the season.
Now the Cyclones have to regroup quickly, but the opponent waiting on the other side does not offer much relief. Oklahoma State comes in as a Top 25 team and a far different challenge than the one it presented a year ago, when it was one of the Big 12’s weakest teams. This season, the Cowboys have been pushed forward by Drew Mestemaker and an offense that can stress a defense through the air.
The biggest issue for Iowa State is exactly that passing attack. Mestemaker has been one of the nation’s most productive quarterbacks, piling up 2,326 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns so far. He has topped 300 yards in six of his seven games, with the lone exception coming in the opener.
That puts the Cyclones in a tough spot. They’ve already shown cracks on both sides of the ball in conference play, and slowing down a quarterback operating at that level is a steep ask. If Mestemaker reaches 300 yards again, Iowa State’s path to a win gets awfully narrow.
After what happened against Arizona, the Cyclones are looking for a reset. But with Oklahoma State and its passing game coming to town, Week 9 brings another problem that looks every bit as difficult.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State Suddenly Has A Tough Iowa State Decision To Make
Oklahoma States first player availability report for the Iowa State game offered an early look at how thin the margin can get late in the season. Tight end Carson Kolb will miss the matchup after suffering a left foot injury against Colorado, while safety Quinton Hammonds, wide receiver Dayvon Standard and defensive tackle Landon Dean are listed as questionable. Cornerback Beni Ngoyi, defensive end Caden Crawford and defensive tackle Ka'Mori Moore are already ruled out, giving the Cowboys a short list of healthy options at several spots.
That leaves Eric Morris and his staff sorting through the tight end depth chart with more urgency than they likely wanted heading into a game that already carries plenty of weight. Morris addressed the injury situation and said lineup changes are on the table at tight end, where Oklahoma State will need to piece together a plan without Kolb and manage the ripple effects elsewhere on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State's Defensive Rebuild Is Starting To Turn Heads In Recruiting
Oklahoma States defensive rebuild is starting to pick up real momentum on the recruiting trail, and the latest additions suggest the staff is getting traction beyond just plugging needs. Cornerback Jlynnd Kellow, a three-star prospect from Willis High School in Texas, and linebacker Bryson Brown of Stillwater, Oklahoma, both joined the class after backing away from prior commitments, giving the Cowboys a pair of defensive pledges with some local and regional appeal.
For a program trying to show progress under new defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity, those kinds of flips matter because they signal confidence in what the staff is selling. Kellow had been headed to Mississippi State, while Brown had been committed to Baylor, and Oklahoma States ability to pull both into the fold gives the defensive class a little more weight as the rebuild continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State's Recruiting Surge Just Picked Up Another Intriguing Sign
Bryson Browns decision gives Oklahoma State another notable win on the recruiting trail, and it comes with a bit of local flavor. The linebacker from Stillwater had been on Baylors commitment list before ending up with the Cowboys, a move that adds to the sense that Oklahoma States momentum under Eric Morris is starting to show up beyond the field.
Brown is the second defensive player to commit to Oklahoma State in recent days, giving the Cowboys a noticeable lift on that side of the ball. The timing matters, too, with Baylor moving on from Dave Aranda and Oklahoma States strong start under its new coach helping create a more appealing picture for recruits who are looking at stability, opportunity and a program on the rise. [Read more 🡒]