AMES — Other quarterback. Other operating again. Other this and that.
However regardless of the entire Iowa State soccer adjustments from ultimate season, one head-scratching storyline stays — freaky September, when the Cyclones have been a safe bet to keep fans on edge of their seats from opening kickoff until the general play.
I’ve stopped asking trainer Matt Campbell about his pre-October file that reads 9-13 heading into Saturday’s 1 p.m. sport towards Southeast Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium. Regardless of the veteran trainer says, effects reputedly are all the time the similar.
Shut, down-to-the-wire, one-possession video games.
The Cyclones are 37-point favorites to win simply their fourth season-opening sport since 2016 Saturday, however watch, it’ll be somebody’s sport heading into the fourth quarter.
Iowa State’s six season openers have incorporated 3 one-possession video games. Additionally at the Sport 1 resume is a 31-14 loss towards Louisiana regardless of being an 11½-point favourite. After which there is a 10-point loss at Iowa in 2018, and a 25-20 defeat towards Northern Iowa in 2016.
Buckle up. That curler coaster begins once more on Saturday.
Iowa State enthusiasts have a voice
I’m converting up this layout a little bit from the previous. I’m asking The Register’s Iowa State text group for enter on 3 questions that I will supply for every sport. Moreover, every Saturday evening or early Sunday after video games, I’ll search the crowd’s evaluations of what they simply noticed. There’s nonetheless a lot of seats at this text-group desk. Prevent through. It’ll be amusing. Right here we pass with text-group responses to this week’s pregame questions:
Extra:Iowa State’s Hunter Dekkers has been awaiting this opportunity for a long time
What defines a excellent efficiency from Hunter Dekkers?
Textual content-group participants say:
- I need to see some lengthy, managed drives, the use of the entire receivers, operating backs, and having abundant time to throw the ball.
- Downfield passing, whilst additionally appearing he could make easy quick throws. Whilst we can not be expecting any QB to be as correct as Brock Purdy, I’d like to peer Dekkers within the ballpark.
- 20-to-25 completions, 2-to-3 landing passes, greater than 250 passing yards, 50 dashing yards, and consistency and command in operating the offense.
Your Week 1 Iowa State offensive and defensive MVPs and why?
Textual content-group participants say:
- Offense: Jirehl Brock, as a result of we’d like in an effort to run the ball. Protection: Beau Freyler, as a result of we want to prohibit SEMO’s protection, and we misplaced a large number of seniors from ultimate yr.
- Offense: Xavier Hutchinson catching balls towards a non-veteran secondary, 100-plus receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Protection: Linebacker Colby Reeder leads the team in tackles.
- Offense: Brock will get off to a cast get started. Protection: One thing tells me Reeder is in point of fact excellent. and he’s going to display it on Saturday.
What are your expectancies for the staff on Saturday?
Textual content-group participants say:
- It is time the o-line displays up. They want to be proving they may be able to be a weapon. If the offensive line does not in point of fact display up, then subsequent week in Iowa Town will likely be extra of the similar.
- I be expecting a sluggish get started, hanging the sport away in the second one and 3rd quarters, after which coasting throughout the fourth.
- It’s a Matt Campbell-led staff towards a lower-level opponent within the first sport of the season. I’m anticipating an overly vanilla sport that can really feel irritating to enthusiasts who need a quicker get started than in season’s previous.
Extra:Randy Peterson’s Big 12 predictions for the 2022 season
The Breakdown
Southeast Missouri (4-7 ultimate yr) at Iowa State (7-6 ultimate yr)
Time, TV, Tipico line: 1 p.m., ESPN+, Iowa State through 37 issues.
The place Southeast Missouri has the brink: Switch quarterback Paxton DeLaurent can be a marvel, making an allowance for Iowa State doesn’t have a ton of tape on him. “We’ve attempted to check him on some YouTube movies,” Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock stated. Redhawks operating again Geno Hess (1,116 yards ultimate season) can be a weapon, as smartly. “He is a hard-tackle man,” Heacock stated. “You are going to want two, 3 or 4 guys to address him.”
The place Iowa State has the brink: That is a type of video games by which the Cyclones must have a bonus all over the sphere. Whilst SEMO is among the favorites within the Ohio Valley Convention, it’s not anything like what the Cyclones will face beginning subsequent Saturday towards Iowa in Iowa Town. Will the Redhawks stay All-American defensive finish Will McDonald IV from chasing the quarterback?
Prediction: Hunter Dekkers will profit from a leaky protection with a barrage of mid-range or even a couple of lengthy completions. He’ll watch one of the fourth quarter from the sidelines, whilst backups shut out his first beginning victory. Ditto tailback Jirehl Brock, even if he began in ultimate season’s Cheez-It Bowl. And likewise this: Iowa State selections up the pace and rankings often after a detailed first quarter. Iowa State 41, Southeast Missouri 16
Extra:Peterson: New Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark touts bold vision. He’ll need it.
Saturday’s different Large 12 video games
(All occasions CT, traces from Tipico Sportbook)
Texas-El Paso (7-6) at No. 9 Oklahoma (11-2)
Time, TV, line: 2:30 p.m., FOX, Oklahoma through 31½ issues
Prediction: There’s no way Brent Venables loses his first game as the Sooners’ head coach, and that’s now not as a result of UTEP misplaced its Week 0 opener 31-13 at house towards North Texas. Regardless of having round 40 gamers that haven’t even suited up for an Oklahoma sport, this will likely be an important blowout. The long checklist of beginners comprises quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a UCF switch. Oklahoma 52, Texas-El Paso 17.
Albany (2-9) at No. 10 Baylor (12-2)
Time, TV, line: 6 p.m., ESPN+, Baylor through 26½ issues
Prediction: That is the primary of many alternatives for quarterback Blake Shapen to validate trainer Dave Aranda selecting him over 2021 starter Gerry Bohanon. Baylor soccer expectancies have by no means been upper after beating Oklahoma State within the Large 12 championship sport ultimate season. The Bears will remove darkness from the scoreboard now not best as a result of they may be able to, but additionally as a result of giant wins glance spectacular on postseason resumes. Baylor 57 Albany 13.
South Dakota (7-5) at Kansas State (8-5)
Time, TV, line: 6 p.m., ESPN+, Kansas State through 23 issues
Prediction: Adrian Martinez, the Nebraska switch and Chris Kleiman’s beginning quarterback, will get his first alternative to turn out himself in entrance of enthusiasts who aren’t just about as challenging as those he simply left. He’ll have a significant affect, offering he’s now not reckless with the ball. This can be a unhealthy offense, with new coordinator Collin Klein calling the pictures. Don’t fail to remember All-American operating again Deuce Vaughn. Kansas State 40, South Dakota 20.
Murray State (6-5) at Texas Tech (7-6)
Time, TV, line: 7 p.m., ESPN+, Texas Tech through 24 issues
Prediction: That is as on the subject of a must-win sport as they arrive, with a brand new trainer, new group of workers and quarterback Tyler Shough nonetheless now not doing a lot after shifting from Oregon. No person’s predicting a blowout, making an allowance for the Pink Raiders’ protection may well be as dangerous because it has ever been. Texas Tech 42, Murray State 27.
Louisiana-Monroe (4-8) at Texas (5-7)
Time, TV, line: 7 p.m., Longhorn Community, Texas through 37½ issues
Prediction: Steve Sarkisian isn’t going to let anything else nasty occur on this sport. Hand the ball to Bijan Robinson and watch him shred the protection. Name some passing performs for Ohio State switch quarterback Quinn Ewers. Get momentum for the following sport, towards Alabama. Texas 63, Louisiana-Monroe 13.
Thursday: Central Michigan (9-4) at No. 11 Oklahoma State (12-2)
Time, TV, line: Thursday 6 p.m., FS1, Oklahoma State through 22 1/2 issues
Prediction: It sort of feels like Spencer Sanders has been the Cowboys’ quarterback eternally. He leads what will likely be an excellent offense, and when he isn’t one the sphere, he can watch one of the most country’s most sensible defenses. Oklahoma State 37, Central Michigan 17
Thursday: West Virginia (6-7) at No. 16 Pittsburgh (11-3)
Time, TV, line: Thursday, 6 p.m., ESPN, Pittsburgh through 7 1/2 issues
Prediction: I am intrigued through West Virginia switch quarterback J.T. Daniels. He began his occupation at USC, then went to Georgia, and now’s within the Large 12 Convention. Pitt does not have quarterback Kenny Pickett anymore, and that makes this Yard Brawl slightly intriguing. West Virginia 30, Pittsburgh 27
Friday: Tennessee Tech (3-8) at Kansas (2-10)
Time, TV, line: Friday, 7 p.m., ESPN+, Kansas through 27 1/2 issues.
Prediction: Excited about Kansas being a four-touchdown favourite? You are now not on my own. I believe the Jayhawks win, however now not through 27 issues. Kansas 37, Tennessee Tech 20
Friday: TCU (5-7) at Colorado (4-8)
Time, TV, line: Friday, 9 p.m., ESPN+, TCU through 11 1/2 issues
Prediction: Iowan Max Duggan remains to be operating the TCU display. It must be an excellent offense the 29-game starter in answerable for in Sonny Dykes’ first season as the top trainer. TCU 38, Colorado 37
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson launched into his fiftieth yr of writing sports activities for the Des Moines Sign up in December 2021. Achieve him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, 515-284-8132, and on Twitter at @RandyPete.
