Oklahoma State heads into Ames with a very different look on the sidelines this season, and the matchup itself comes with a new feel, too.
The Cowboys and Cyclones both have first-year coaches in charge after long runs from their previous leaders. Eric Morris is now steering Oklahoma State after 21 seasons of Mike Gundy, while Jimmy Rogers has taken over Iowa State after 10 seasons of Matt Campbell. Through that lens, the early returns have tilted toward Stillwater.
OSU’s offensive overhaul has put the Cowboys tied for second in the Big 12 standings. Iowa State, meanwhile, is tied for second to last.
Here’s the setup for Saturday night:
Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames
TV: FS1
Radio: KXXY-FM 96.1
Line: Cowboys by 10
Over/under: 57.5
Iowa State enters at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play, and the Cyclones’ offense has been built around former walk-on running back Aiden Flora. He’s been the most dangerous piece of the attack, averaging 7.0 yards per carry and topping 200 total scrimmage yards in two different games this season. In Iowa State’s lone Big 12 win, a victory over West Virginia, Flora rushed for three touchdowns and also threw for two.
Rogers’ vision in Ames is rooted in toughness and physicality, and that’s Iowa State’s path here. If the Cyclones can shorten the game and lean on Flora’s running, they can keep this inside one score entering the fourth quarter. Jack Trice Stadium is already a tough place to play, and the Cowboys may have to deal with a rainy Halloween night on top of that.
But the bigger edge still appears to belong to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys should have the firepower to score at a pace Iowa State can’t match, and the Cyclones haven’t found much consistency on offense. Last week against Arizona, Iowa State benched quarterback Jaylen Raynor at halftime and turned to sophomore Connor Moberly, but neither quarterback got much going as the Cyclones put up just three points.
That’s been a season-long issue. Iowa State’s offense ranks No. 14 in the Big 12 at 25.9 points per game, and it has been held to 17 points or fewer four times already this season.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State Finally Looks Dangerous Again But One Problem Still Lingers
After two seasons that left Oklahoma State searching for traction, Saturdays win over Colorado offered a much cleaner picture of what this team can be. The Cowboys had already surpassed their combined win total from the previous two years, and the victory felt significant not just for the record book but for the way it came together, with Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins and Justin Bowick all turning in the kind of performances that can carry a team when the schedule tightens.
The lingering issue is still hard to ignore, though. Oklahoma States defense wobbled in the first half before finally finding a turning point early in the third quarter, and if the Cowboys are going to keep building on this momentum, they will need that side of the ball to be steadier from the opening whistle instead of relying on timely swings to change the game. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Turned A Shaky Start Into A Statement Win
Colorado had the upper hand at halftime, and the first half did not exactly hint at what was coming next. Oklahoma State flipped the script in a major way, rolling to a 57-24 win that turned a shaky opening into one of its most complete performances of the season. The Cowboys found their rhythm on both sides of the ball after the break, when their quarterback helped drive the offense to a burst of points that quickly erased any doubt.
Oklahoma State's passing game did the heavy lifting, with the quarterback throwing for 386 yards and four touchdowns, while Sam Keltner kept adding to the scoreboard with a school-record five field goals. Colorado, meanwhile, was held to just 120 yards of offense in the second half as the Cowboys' defense slammed the door and turned a tight game into a statement win. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Forced Colorado To Face A Much Bigger Problem
The Colorado Buffaloes skid deepened in Week 8 with a 57-24 loss to Oklahoma State, their fifth straight defeat, but Joseph Williams still gave them one of the few bright spots on a rough afternoon. The receiver turned in a career game with nine catches for 135 yards, giving Colorado a needed spark even as the Cowboys kept the pressure on and forced the Buffaloes to keep chasing the game.
Williams pointed to the way the second half unraveled as the bigger issue, with penalties and the inability to put together a full four quarters once again costing Colorado. Even with the losses piling up, he said he still believes in what the team can become, which makes the frustration all the more obvious for a group still searching for a complete performance. [Read more 🡒]