Good Cop

By Noah Rohlfing

It’s homecoming weekend. That means themed dress-up days, parade floats and a ranked matchup between No. 25 Iowa State and No. 4 TCU.

Wait, what?

If you had told me Iowa State would be ranked eight weeks into the college football season, I would have called you insane. Well, welcome to our weird, unpredictable, bonkers reality. 

This Iowa State team is good. But, so is TCU. The team is No. 4 for a reason. Their defense is a Gary Patterson vintage, aggressive and adept at nullifying an opposing team’s strengths. They will give up some points eventually, but they’ll make you work way harder than normal to get those points. 

Their offense is no slouch either. Junior quarterback Kenny “Trill” Hill, a Texas A&M transfer and yearly contender for the September Heisman, has continued his sparkling play through each of TCU’s seven wins. He leads an offense that is 26th in the country at 466.3 yards per game and 6.36 yards per play.

This will be a huge test for the Cyclones’ improving defense. 

The most important matchup to watch for, though, will be cult hero Kyle Kempt against the TCU secondary. David Montgomery will get his yards, and TCU will key in on him. That leaves Kempt and his receiving corps up against a secondary that gives up 210.6 yards per game.

The Horned Frogs have seven interceptions this year and have returned two of those for touchdowns. They’ll be out for blood, but Kempt has played well so far, and I think he can give the Cyclones the edge.

He’ll need to replicate his Oklahoma performance for the Cyclones to win. 

Will they? I sure think so. Will it be close and nerve-wracking? Absolutely.

Prediction:

ISU 28 | TCU 27

Bad Cop 

By Garrett Kroeger

I think my eyes are playing tricks on me. The Iowa State Cyclones are the No. 25 team in the country. *proceeds to pinch myself*

Well, I guess the ranking is real because I didn’t wake up after pinching myself. However, that ranking won’t last long because the Cyclones take on the No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs.

I know it’s homecoming week and all, however, TCU is just better. Junior quarterback Kenny “Trill” Hill has finally found consistent play this year and has so far led the Horned Frogs to a perfect 7-0 record.. He leads an offense that is 26th in the country at 466.3 yards per game.

While TCU’s offense has been phenomenal this season, so has its defense. Head coach Gary Patterson is known for producing high-quality, aggressive units that completely shutdown opponent’s offenses. This is hands down Iowa State quarterback Kyle Kempt’s biggest challenge to date.

Now, the Cyclones could pull off the upset. But I don’t think they will because on paper and on film, TCU just looks better than Iowa State.

Head coach Matt Campbell may not be gone like Kirk Herbstreit said he is. But Iowa State’s top-25 ranking will after this weekend.

Prediction:

TCU 56 | ISU 28