The matchup to watch this week is the ISU secondary against the Oklahoma State passing game — at least when gunslinger Mason Rudolph is under center. 

Rudolph is one of the most prolific passers in the nation, likely to easily eclipse 3,000 passing yards on the season this Saturday, and he doesn’t even take all the snaps. The Cowboys’ pass offense is ranked eighth in the FBS, according to ESPN, and the Cyclones have been burned in the pass game before: see Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma. 

If Iowa State can force Oklahoma State to keep the ball on the ground this week, the Cyclones’ chances of winning will sky rocket.