AMES – No. 17 Iowa State’s (7-1, 4-1) first loss of the football season came in the final minute against Texas Tech. While the one-point loss was a setback, the Cyclones still control their own destiny.
The “get right” path to a possible Big 12 Championship spot starts on the road against Kansas (2-6, 1-4). Now, while Kansas is listed as the host school, the game will be played in Kansas City, Missouri, at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the two-time consecutive reigning Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
“The uniqueness of that place that has great tradition and a team that is having the success they are having, I think that’s really cool,” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said.
Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel is particularly excited to play at Arrowhead, mostly because he is a Kansas City native.
“It’ll be really cool being able to play in a stadium like that, ” Noel said. “I grew up going to games there and watching my favorite team [the Kansas City Chiefs] play there.”
Many Iowa State fans are expected to make the trip in what has now become a crucial game for the Cyclones. Though the Jayhawks have struggled and need to win to make a bowl game, they might be one of the best two-win teams in the country.
For starters, Kansas has one of the most experienced teams in the country, and that is headlined by dual-threat quarterback Jalon Daniels. Now in his fifth season as a Jayhawk, Daniels has struggled at times, with 11 touchdown passes to nine interceptions, but has been better in recent weeks.
In the past three games, Daniels has thrown six touchdowns and just one interception, but it’s his legs that have gotten better in those games. Daniels ran for his current season-high of 66 rushing yards on 15 carries in Kansas’ last game in the 29-27 loss to Kansas State.
“[Daniels is] a guy that is dangerous,” Campbell said. “A guy that has won a lot of football games there. A guy that can do it with his arm. He has elite arm talent and yet he has this unique ability that he can really make you pay in the running game.”
He has steadily improved when running the football and could give the Iowa State defense problems, especially considering how sloppy the Cyclones’ rushing defense has been.
When Daniels is paired with running back Devin Neal, that duo is one of the most dangerous on the field. Neal has 758 yards and eight touchdowns across all eight of the Jayhawks’ games and has run for over 100 yards in five games.
“I feel like another week of talking about another tailback you got a lot of respect for,” Campbell said. “He’s tough, he’s physical.”
The Kansas offense tends to start hot, as it has scored a touchdown on six of its eight opening drives. That is something that Iowa State’s defense will be challenged with, considering the Cyclones have given up a score to the opposing team on the opening drive in each of the last four games.
However, the slow starts have not phased defensive coordinator Jon Heacock.
“They’re all drives,” Heacock said. “The next drive is just as important as the first drive. If you go out and get them stopped the first drive and they go score the second drive, then you [still] let them score, so the score is still seven [points].”
On the opposite side of the ball, the Iowa State offense will be challenged against cornerbacks Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson. Dotson had a pick-six against Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht last season.
Those two will be matched up against senior wide receivers Noel and Jayden Higgins, which might allow an opportunity for a third pass catcher to enter the picture, namely tight end Tyler Moore.
Starting tight end Benjamin Brahmer went down with an injury in the Oct. 19 UCF game and did not play last week against Texas Tech. Moore has had a limited role this season, but with Brahmer still out and Noel and Higgins in tough matchups, Moore might see a few passes come his way.
“It’s created new opportunities for guys,” Moore said. “It’s good to see that the room is able to step up when guys are injured.”
Against Texas Tech, it was Gabe Burkle who led the tight ends with four catches and 45 yards. Either he or Moore could be crucial against Kansas.
Iowa State and Kansas are set to kickoff at 2:30 p.m. Saturday from Arrowhead Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on FS1.
