There’s probably not an entire lot that Iowa State and Oklahoma have in frequent.
Advertisement
One is a program on the rise, the opposite a standard energy. One is within the seventh yr underneath its head coach, the opposite is in 12 months 1.
The Cyclones and Sooners, although, discover themselves in the identical disappointing place heading into their dash by means of the ultimate weeks of the common season – hovering round .500 after undefeated begins to the season gave approach to shedding streaks.
As the 2 come off their bye weeks and meet Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium (11 a.m.; FS1), one group will transfer nearer to reclaiming their season whereas the opposite will sink deeper right into a spiral.
“One of many issues I take nice satisfaction on this group and this group is whilst gut-wrenching because it was to get within the locker room after that sport in opposition to Texas,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell mentioned, “I believe the spirit and the soul of this group has been one in every of resiliency and the flexibility to create nice momentum.
“One of many issues we talked about within the bye week is we’re going to self-reflect, we’re going to do every little thing in our energy to basically and bodily get ourselves wholesome after which let’s do a terrific job of making nice momentum for ourselves the second half of the season. What I watched from our youngsters, they had been unbelievable by means of the bye week.”
Advertisement
The Cyclones (3-4, 0-4 Huge 12) have misplaced 4 straight by a mixed 14 factors.
“It was a extremely good time to sit down again and replicate on the final couple video games,” Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers mentioned of the bye week. “It’s irritating as a result of we’re not getting the result we wish and we all know it’s due to ourselves.”
The Cyclones’ path to a sixth-straight yr of bowl eligibility would seem to undergo the Sooners (4-3, 1-3). If Iowa State can’t beat a wounded Oklahoma group at dwelling, it’ll have to win not less than one highway sport in opposition to a present High-10 opponent (Oklahoma State and TCU) along with sweeping its last two dwelling video games (West Virginia and Texas Tech) to safe six wins.
Advertisement
“Their backs are in opposition to the wall,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables mentioned. “They’ve a possibility to struggle their means out of some powerful losses, simply as we do as properly.”
The Sooners are in an identical place after an 0-3 begin to Huge 12 play that included a 49-0 loss to rival Texas. After persistently showing within the Faculty Soccer Playoff underneath former coach Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma’s struggles within the first yr of Venables’ tenure – and with a transfer to the SEC coming sooner or later – have been notable.
“Right here we’re at 4-3 and there’s chaos. To me, you’ve bought to have calmness by means of all of it,” Venables mentioned. “You imagine in the best way that you simply do issues. You imagine in what it takes, and also you go about your corporation.
“You may’t develop weary in doing that.”
Advertisement
Each groups have cause for optimism after a bye week which presumably allowed them to get more healthy. Iowa State’s run sport has stalled with Jirehl Brock and Cartevious Norton each battling accidents whereas Oklahoma’s offense was in impartial till the return of quarterback Dillon Gabriel of their 52-42 win over Kansas earlier than the bye week.
“When their quarterback’s been wholesome, they’ve been as explosive as anyone within the convention,” Campbell mentioned. “A younger man that is aware of the system rather well. Has performed and had numerous success within the system. They nonetheless have dynamic playmakers at their ability positions and have a operating again that’s enjoying actually good soccer.
“They’ve actually tried to dwelling in on who they need to be throughout the board, and also you noticed perhaps their finest sport of the season in opposition to Kansas. I believe you see a group that’s very comparable (to us) that’s looking for its means and has some dynamic playmakers there.”
Travis Hines covers Iowa State College sports activities for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or(515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.
Former Iowa Hawkeyes star George Kittle is in the midst of what has to be the most trying season of his NFL career.
Kittle’s San Francisco 49ers—who were Super Bowl contenders heading into 2024—fell to just 5-6 with their loss to the Green Bay Packer this past Sunday, further hindering their playoff chances.
However, the tight end is not giving up hope in the midst of severe adversity.
“My optimism is not broken by any means,” Kittle told reporters. “We still have a lot of very talented players. We will get some guys back. And I still have full trust in the coaching staff to put our guys in position to make plays, and I got no worry about that. But definitely an uphill grind, and going to see what we’re made of, which I’m looking forward to.”
Advertisement
You have to love Kittle’s fighting spirit, but it seems hard to imagine the 49ers righting the ship in their current predicament.
San Francisco is dealing with a plethora of injury issues up and down the roster, which includes quarterback Brock Purdy, who missed the Packers game with a shoulder problem.
Kittle himself had a strong performance in Week 12, logging six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. He has also been his usual impressive self overall this season, totaling 49 receptions for 642 yards and eight scores in nine appearances.
But not even Kittle can save the Niners from all of their current troubles.
The 49ers will face the Buffalo Bills in a matchup that could ultimately decide their playoff fate this Sunday.
No. 17 Iowa State goes into its home game against Kansas State on Saturday night as one of the Big 12 teams with the highest probability of making it to the conference championship game next week.
That calculation comes from conference officials putting pencil to paper to figure out all the scenarios that could unfold on the final weekend of the regular season.
Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said his team just needs to worry about itself and not the myriad of possibilities that could determine the matchup for next week’s Big 12 title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“To me,” he said, “all that other stuff is wasted time, effort and energy.”
Advertisement
If the Cyclones (9-2, 6-2, No. 18 CFP) beat the Wildcats (8-3, 5-3, No. 24 CFP), they probably would be in. Arizona State would be the likely opponent if the Sun Devils win at Arizona.
So much would have to align for the Wildcats to advance — starting with beating Iowa State — that coach Chris Klieman said he didn’t plan to address the possibilities with his players. He said he wouldn’t have to anyway.
“The kids know,” he said.
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. Credit: AP/Charlie Riedel
Going for 10
The Cyclones are trying to become the first team in the program’s 133-year history to win 10 regular-season games. Wildcats’ tight end Will Swanson said he wasn’t aware of the 10-win milestone until a reporter told him. He indicated he and his teammates would like to keep the Cyclones from achieving it.
Advertisement
“I’ll probably have to mention that,” he said, laughing.
Up and running
K-State quarterback Avery Johnson appears to be back to his old self. The staff tried to reduce his rushing attempts after he was injured Oct. 12 at Colorado. There were no limitations on him in last week’s 41-15 win over Cincinnati. He ran 10 times for 70 yards, including a 33-yard burst and a 21-yard touchdown.
“People saw when he’s healthy, we’re really good on offense,” Klieman said.
Cold, but no snow
Temperatures are expected to be in the teens in Ames, but no snow is in the forecast. Heavy snow fell during last year’s game in Manhattan, Kansas. Abu Sama III ran for 276 yards and three touchdowns and the Cyclones’ defense made a fourth-down stop in the final minute to preserve a 42-35 victory.
“I just remember the snow and Abu running wild,” ISU receiver Jayden Higgins said. “There definitely was a lot of snow on the field.”
Advertisement
K-State’s Swanson said the game reminded him of a backyard football game but that it “panned out terribly.”
“Some spots there were 6 inches of snow,” he said. “I remember I caught a ball and I got tackled. I was face-first in the ground and had a pound of snow between my face and my facemask.”
Injury update
Klieman said RB Dylan Edwards could return against the Cyclones after sustaining a no-contact leg injury two weeks ago against Arizona State.
Campbell said S Drew Surges will be available and DT J.R. Singleton and TE Ben Brahmer are on track to play.
Colorado Buffaloes (5-1) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (4-1)
Lahaina, Hawaii; Wednesday, 2:30 p.m. EST
Advertisement
BOTTOM LINE: Colorado and No. 5 Iowa State play at Lahaina Civic Center in Lahaina, Hawaii.
The Cyclones are 4-1 in non-conference play. Iowa State ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 41.2 points per game in the paint led by Keshon Gilbert averaging 9.2.
The Buffaloes are 5-1 in non-conference play. Colorado ranks fifth in the Big 12 shooting 39.3% from 3-point range.
Iowa State makes 49.0% of its shots from the field this season, which is 8.2 percentage points higher than Colorado has allowed to its opponents (40.8%). Colorado averages 13.9 more points per game (77.7) than Iowa State gives up (63.8).
The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting of the season for the two teams in conference play.
Advertisement
TOP PERFORMERS: Gilbert is scoring 16.8 points per game with 2.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Cyclones.
Elijah Malone is averaging 14.3 points for the Buffaloes.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25739950/247386_Elon_Musk_Open_AI_CVirginia.jpg "Inside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI")
