AMES – It has been 86 years since Iowa State started a football season 6-0. Now, the Cyclones are in a position to match that.
That sixth win will be no easy feat, however. No. 11 Iowa State will enter the hostile environment that is Morgantown, West Virginia.
The Mountaineer fans are some of the most passionate in the Big 12, and they will no doubt bring the noise Saturday night. This will be the first time West Virginia wears its “coal rush” uniforms, which is the Mountaineers’ take on a blackout uniform.
“They’ve got one of the greatest fan bases in the country in terms of the pride they have for their Mountaineers,” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said. “This is why you play college football, to play in games like this.”
Atmosphere aside, West Virginia has started its Big 12 season strong. The Mountaineers eked out a win over Kansas and destroyed Oklahoma State to start 2-0 in conference play.
Like West Virginia, Iowa State is undefeated in Big 12 play. The Cyclones shut out Houston on the road and took care of business at home against Baylor last week.
“We try to appreciate each small victory,” Campbell said. “You’re really judged by who you are at the end of the year and who you become through this journey.”
Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene can be compared to many quarterbacks the Cyclones have faced this season. Greene is a dual threat, having thrown for over 1,000 yards and run for nearly 300.
His running game, and that of West Virginia as a whole, is better than its passing game. Greene has run the ball 55 times, and running backs CJ Donaldson Jr. and Jahiem White have run 71 and 56 times, respectively.
Donaldson Jr. has 361 yards, and White has 352 on the season. The Cyclones have a similar rushing attack and their own group of three ball carriers.
Senior Jaylon Jackson has 48 rushes for 295 yards, sophomore Abu Sama III also has 48 carries for 242 yards, and sophomore Carson Hansen has 41 carries for 211 yards.
“Being able to grow and evolve in the run game, we’re going to have to,” Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said. “Those guys have grown in a positive direction.”
Both defenses will be challenged by the rushing attack on both sides. The passing game is where the game could be won or lost.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has thrown for nearly 1,200 yards and has nine touchdowns to two interceptions. Greene, on the other hand, has seven touchdown passes to four interceptions.
Greene could especially be in trouble when faced with the challenge that is the Iowa State secondary. The Cyclone defensive backs have forced eight interceptions this season.
“We all just go out there and want to get one,” Iowa State defensive back Jontez Williams said. “We want to get the ball back to the offense, get those guys in a great position to score.”
Williams has two of those interceptions, one of which came last week against Baylor.
The No. 11 Cyclones invade West Virginia at 7 p.m. Saturday. The game will be nationally televised on FOX.
