Usually after nine games in a college football season, a 7-2 record is looked upon in a good way. In the case of Iowa State, its current 7-2 record is looked at with some concern.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: the season is not over. The Cyclones will still make a bowl game at the very least and can still make the Big 12 Championship if they win out and get a little help.

But the path to 7-2 has been streaky, and that streak is headed in the wrong direction.

Kansas was the first game this season I truly thought Iowa State was fully outplayed on both sides of the ball. The answers for the Jayhawks were either too late or followed by a Kansas score or a Cyclone turnover.

What happened against Kansas? Will these losses snowball into more? What can be done to stop the bleeding? Is a 10-win season ever going to happen?

First, I think the two biggest issues against the Jayhawks were their experience overpowering the youth of the Cyclones and the fatigue and injuries Iowa State has faced.

Both correlate to each other. With the amount of injuries on both sides of the ball, younger players have been called upon to fill those roles.

Those guys are in a position where they have to step up and grow at a faster rate than first anticipated, and it’s starting to catch up to them. That’s how Kansas took advantage. 

A lot of Jayhawks who had a big day Saturday were in year five or six of eligibility. A lot of the Cyclones are underclassmen, and the senior leaders have been put in a tough spot of having to help them more each week.

But that’s part of the game. Injuries happen and people have to step up. However, the glaring issue is that a lot of the problems, specifically at the linebacker position, have been around all season.

It makes me wonder what else is going on. The answer could be as simple as teams are just starting to figure out what Iowa State does and how to stop it.

Teams have to know by now that the Cyclone defense is not good against the run, and that probably has to do with the fact that they use three linemen on nearly every play.

On Kansas’ opening drive, Iowa State used four defensive linemen. The Jayhawks punted.

After that, it was back to three. Kansas scored on the next six drives.

Kansas entered with a game plan and executed it to near perfection, and I’ll credit the Jayhawks for that. But Iowa State has to get something figured out and fast.

A 10-win season is looking bleak right now. For it to happen, the Cyclones have to finish 3-2 at worst, and that’s including the bowl game.

Looking at the remaining games, I just don’t know if that will happen. The next one on the calendar, home against Cincinnati, now becomes what I think is the most important game at the current stage and state of the season.

A loss means the Big 12 Championship hopes are gone. It would prove the snowball theory true. It would mean that Iowa State would have to upset Kansas State, who could win the Big 12 title, or whoever the bowl game opponent is to get to 10 wins.

I’m not giving up on this team yet. Things look grim, yes, but have hope. A win over Cincinnati changes everything. Saturday will decide the trajectory of the rest of the season.