After a 37-27 loss to No. 5 Oklahoma, Iowa State finds itself fighting for its first win of the season. This week, the Cyclones (0-2, 0-1 Big 12) take on the Akron Zips (2-0, 0-0 MAC) Saturday at 11 a.m on Fox Sports Networks.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell spoke with the media during the Big 12 coaches teleconference Monday to preview Akron and discuss Iowa State’s start to the season.

McMillen III out for season

Redshirt junior linebacker Bobby McMillen III has been ruled out for the rest of the 2018, Campbell said during the teleconference.

McMillen III was injured during Iowa State’s loss to Oklahoma.

“Unfortunately for Bobby, he did tear his ACL in the game,” Campbell said. “So he will be out for the year. It’s been a tough road for Bobby and Bobby’s been one of those guys that has been a do-everything guy for us, especially in the world of special teams.”

McMillen III recorded nine tackles last season and one sack, playing mostly on special teams. This year he was in the running for the starting mike linebacker spot, which was eventually won by freshman Mike Rose.

McMillen III saw some time at linebacker against Oklahoma but did not record a tackle.

His injury likely leaves redshirt freshman O’Rien Vance as the backup to Rose at mike linebacker.

Noland makes strides against Sooners

After redshirt senior Kyle Kempt went down with a knee injury against Iowa in the Cyclones’ first game of the year, redshirt sophomore Zeb Noland stepped in to play quarterback.

Noland pieced together a career-best performance. He threw for 360 yards on 25-of-36 passing, adding two touchdowns and one interception. He and redshirt junior receiver Hakeem Butler hooked up for two touchdowns against the Sooners.

Campbell commended Noland for his growth and said Noland will be the starter against Akron. Kempt will be out for the Akron game but is “questionable” for the TCU game on Sept. 29.

“I think right now we’re really just taking it one week at a time,” Campbell said. “We don’t think it’s a long term deal. A lot of it is just a matter of how quick he heals… I know he won’t be ready this week.”

Noland is 1-1 in his career as a starting quarterback. He led Iowa State to a 23-13 win at Baylor last season in his first career start.

Noland will have to replicate that success against Akron, which is 2-0 on the season after defeating Morgan State, 41-7, and Northwestern, 39-34.

“There were times within the game where they’re trying to take Hakeem away,” Campbell said. “His ability to find Chase Allen at times, his ability to find Deshaunte [Jones] at times and Matt Eaton at times, I thought that was really big.”

Big 12 wide open

Iowa State finished 5-4 in conference play last season, good enough for a fourth-place tie.

Through one game, against the preseason pick to win the Big 12, the Cyclones look like contenders for the conference championship. Before Saturday, the last time Oklahoma played a closer regular-season game than the 10-point margin of victory was Nov. 4, 2017, at Oklahoma State (also a 10-point margin of victory for the Sooners).

That means Oklahoma had played five regular-season games since having a battle as close as its game with Iowa State.

The Cyclones have played the toughest schedule in the country so far according to Sagarin, meaning it can’t get much harder for Campbell and company — presumably, the toughest non-conference game and the toughest conference game have both been played already.

TCU, last year’s second-place Big 12 team, lost to Ohio State 40-28 on Saturday. West Virginia, similar to Iowa State, has only played two games due to a weather cancelation.

Even the usual last-place teams, such as Kansas, are playing better this season. Kansas is 2-1 and just beat Rutgers 55-14.

“I think you take a peak at everybody within this conference right now and everybody’s playing really good football,” Campbell said. “I think there’s a lot of growth, a lot of really good coaches, a lot of really good football teams.

“Going into my third year in this conference, there’s not many teams that are rebuilding.”