AMES — Following now-No. 11 Iowa State’s thrilling 38-35 comeback win over UCF on Oct. 19, the Cyclones hit their second bye week of the season with their undefeated streak kept alive.
But now, the 7-0 record will be put to the test in potentially the toughest month Iowa State has played this season. The month of November will tell the tale of whether the Cyclones can reach new heights or not.
Iowa State will host three out of the five remaining games, as each game will alternate between home and away games.
In these telling times, it takes a strong group of players to be able to put together the strength and will to fight through the last month of regular season play.
No group has prepared to do that more over this second bye week than the offensive line.
Through the first seven games of the season, the Iowa State offensive line has been pivotal to the many successes that the Cyclones’ offense has brought to their perfect season, whether it comes in the passing game or the rushing game.
The offensive line has been able to bring Iowa State’s offense into the top seven in every category in the Big 12, with its best being in the total average yards per game, as they sit fourth in the conference with an average of 437.6 yards per game.
Having the fourth most yards per game comes from the offensive line’s ability to keep the running lanes open and the pocket open for redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht, who has helped lead this Iowa State team to its undefeated start.
Becht has given the offensive line its flowers, as they have only given up a total of eight sacks on the season, which is tied for the second-best in the Big 12.
“I think it’s the best through the first seven games the offensive line has played since I’ve been here,” Becht said.
Along with Becht, the Cyclones’ offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser has praised the offensive line group for battling through every defense they’ve faced thus far and admires what it takes to compete in such a crowded room.
“I think a lot about what the culture looks like in that room,” Mouser said. “You hear the next guy up mentality is a thing, but I think it’s the toughness, violence, physicality and preparation it takes because you don’t know when your moment is coming.”
But with a crowded room comes opportunities in any way, but perhaps the biggest opportunity has come from the injuries that have been sustained by this group.
Only four offensive linemen have played in all seven games this season: Brendan Black, Jarrod Hufford, Tyler Miller and James Neal
However, as the season progressed, opportunities arose for different players such as the Princeton transfer Jalen Travis, Trevor Buhr and Deylin Hasert to make an impact on this group.
“That group has grown each week,” head coach Matt Campbell said. “They’ve been challenged at times with injuries from the beginning to the midpoint of the season. Guys have stepped in there and have been able to answer their opportunity to get into the game and play good football for the team.”
Having the bye week this late into the season gives the offensive lineman a chance to rest and heal their bodies for what is preparing to potentially be the toughest push they’ll have to do this season.
“The bye week we just had was critical,” Miller said. “I think we utilized it extremely well. Guys were able to get healthy and just get our bodies back.”
Now as the bye week concludes and Iowa State prepares for its next opponent, which happens to be hosting Texas Tech on Saturday, the offensive line will be looking to get back to the fundamentals to prepare for this final five-game stretch.
“I think one nice thing about the bye week is that you can reset yourself fundamentally,” Campbell said. “There’s no greater position that has fundamental excellence than the offensive line. Having the ability to reset ourselves fundamentally helps us do what we need to do best.”
