ISU football fans can finally uncover their eyes this week.

They had to look away from the beat downs everyone all saw coming courtesy of Big 12 powerhouses Texas Christian and Baylor, who worked over the Cyclones with a combined score of 90-48. That’s not even mentioning the 66-31 loss to Texas Tech the week before. 

But good news is on the horizon.

The next offense on the ISU schedule is nowhere near as potent as the previous three. The Texas Longhorns will roll into town on a two-game win streak after starting the season 1-4. But, in the last four games, Texas hasn’t scored more than 27 points.

Meanwhile, Iowa State has made some changes in its offensive attack. Mark Mangino is out, and Todd Sturdy is in as offensive coordinator, after Mangino and ISU coach Paul Rhoads were no longer seeing eye to eye.

Additionally, Sam Richardson will take a seat, and Joel Lanning will take the reigns at quarterback. Lanning adds an extra wrinkle in the running game, whichb paired with breakout running back Mike Warren, should have ISU fans optimistic for the future.

Oh and Lanning can throw, too. He’s got the strongest arm on the team and has Allen Lazard and Quenton Bundrage to sling the ball around. It wouldn’t be fair to expect an MVP performance from Lanning, who, before taking over the quarterback position mid-game last week, had only attempted 12 passes the entire season.

But Lanning showed flashes of brilliance when he was called upon last week, completing 12-of-17 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. Under Lanning’s guidance, the Cyclones were almost able to make it a game after digging themselves a 35-point, first-half hole against Baylor.

If Lanning can perform at the same level he did in Waco, Texas, then the Cyclones might have something cooking. Especially if newly-minted offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy can tweak the playbook in Lanning’s favor.

The game plan should be simple. Let Warren run all over the field, with Joshua Thomas and Lanning complementing the ground game. Then open it up with the occasional Lanning deep ball.

It won’t be an old-fashioned Texas shootout, but the Lanning and Sturdy-led offense still gets the best of the Texas Longhorns.

Prediction: Iowa State 31, Texas 27