After receiving their first loss of the season against Cincinnati, the No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones look for redemption through a renewed rivalry as they take on Colorado Saturday.
With the rivalry originating in 1948, Iowa State will face the Buffaloes for the first time since 2010, when the Cyclones lost 34-14.
Iowa State will continue its road journey from Cincinnati, Ohio, where the Cyclones had a 38-30 upset loss against the Bearcats. The loss signified Iowa State’s first loss of the season and marked Cincinnati’s highest-ranked win since 2006.
“Nobody likes to lose, I would say we handled it well, we know that we shouldn’t take that loss and let it shut us down,” junior running back Abu Sama III said. “We just have to wash it away and just worry about the next game, cause we know we have a long season ahead and we know where we want to be at the end. So we shouldn’t let this one loss dictate what we’ve got moving forward.”
A variety of mistakes were evident for the Cyclones on the gridiron in Ohio, such as a lack of physicality, overall sloppiness and injuries that plagued the team. Iowa State will continue its on-the-road stretch as the team travels to Folsom Field.
Iowa State has lost the last five games in Boulder, Colorado, but with the addition of Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, the team now stands at a 23-22 record in road games, a large improvement from where the Cyclones initially stood at 17-48 on the road in 2017.
Although the Cincinnati loss was significant in many ways, redshirt junior quarterback Rocco Becht proved once again his belonging in the cardinal jersey. Down 31-7 in the first half, Becht was able to zone in and ended the game passing for 314 yards and scored two touchdowns to bring the score to a closer 38-30 loss.
The Buffaloes have a similar recognition of their quarterback, senior Kaidon Salter. In his first year at Colorado, Salter had accomplished 213 rushing yards, seven touchdowns and 901 passing yards so far this season.
“He fits that mold of obviously very skilled in terms of his ability to maneuver through the pocket, as a pocket passer,” Campbell said. “I mean, his ability in the quarterback run game, his ability to get outside the pocket and make plays. I think all those things show up, and you’re talking about a guy that got a lot of experience, not just at Colorado.”
“They have a solid quarterback, they got some skilled receivers, they are a pretty good team, a challenge,” redshirt freshman defensive back Quentin Taylor Jr. said. “I mean, same thing as always, just go in, prepare, ready for the moment.”
Salter and the rest of the Colorado team are coached by former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, who Campbell believes gave the Colorado program life. Sanders’ son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, led the team last year, but has now graduated and been drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
“I think a group of kids that obviously have great talent, I think he’s brought in a tremendous talent,” Campbell said. “I think a group of kids that play really hard, they’re really skilled. Right now, that’s just a young team that’s growing forward, and you kind of see that on the videotape, but I think hope, belief and conviction is what you see in this Colorado program, and that’s a tribute to him and his staff.”
The Buffaloes will take to the field after a 35-21 loss against TCU, extending them to a two-game losing streak. Colorado’s current record sits at 2-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play. Iowa State sits at a collective 5-1 overall and a 2-1 conference record.
The Cyclones will take on Colorado at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Boulder, Colorado. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
