Two-minute drill: The Kansas Jayhawks

Two-minute drill: The Kansas Jayhawks

  Kansas Jayhawks (3-7, 1-6) at Iowa State Cyclones (1-9, 0-7)

 Iowa State Rush Offense vs. Kansas Rush Defense

The Cyclones' offensive line is opening up holes to produce a somewhat steady stream of four to five yard runs from Aaron Wimberly, DeVondrick Nealy and Shontrelle Johnson, but it's not happening enough to make the running game a strength. ISU hasn't totaled more than 123 yards on the ground in any of the past three games. The Jayhawks allow 187.7 rushing yards per game, though. (Slight) Advantage: Iowa State 

 Iowa State Pass Offense vs. Kansas Pass Defense

Cyclone quarterback Grant Rohach still figures to be the thrower, while Sam Richardson is more a runner. Rohach is coming off his best statistical performance - 21 of 34 for 179 yards against Oklahoma. He also threw two interceptions, so look out. The Jayhawks have picked off 12 passes this season. Top downfield threat Quenton Bundrage re-emerged with six catches for 66 yards. (Slight) Advantage: Kansas

 Kansas Rush Offense vs. Iowa State Rush Defense

James Sims left, right and up the middle - now more than ever. The Jayhawks have lost electric, yes, electric, H-back Tony Pierson for the season, so Sims looks to get all instead of most of the non-quarterback carries. Sims is 84 yards from his second straight 1,000-yard season and 32 carries from a single season career high. ISU ranks 108th in rush defense, allowing 228.9 yards per game. Advantage: Kansas

 Kansas Pass Offense vs. Iowa State Pass Defense

What pass offense? The Jayhawks have dispensed with it for good reason. Kansas throws for just 1442 yards per game - and quarterback Montell Cozart has never thrown for more than 69 yards in a game. He's completing 36.4 percent of his passes, but is a dangerous runner. Throwing QB Jake Heaps has completed 50.2 percent of his passes with 7 TDs. The Cyclones have just five interceptions. Advantage: Iowa State

 Special teams

ISU punter Kirby Van Der Kamp needs to be spot on on a bone-rattling day. He's dropped 25 punts this season inside the opponent's 20-yard line and doing so today would stand paramount to success given the Jayhawks' proclivity for running the ball. Watch out for KU kick returner JaCorey Shepherd, who ranks third in the Big 12 and 25th nationally at 26.3 yards per return, with a long of 69. (Slight) Advantage: Iowa State

 Intangibles

Emotion is always high with a Paul Rhoads-coached team, but senior day sentiments soar. What does it mean? Not always a win - as the Cyclones have lost their final home games in two of the past three seasons. ISU's been waiting a long time for something to break positively, consistently, and today that could be turnovers. Namely, fumbles. The Cyclones have recovered 10, which is tied for 11th nationally. The Jayhawks have fumbled 16 times, losing eight. Now, Kansas' emotions are running high, too. After ending a 27-game conference skid last week against West Virginia, the Jayhawks aim to end a road losing streak that spans a stunning 23 games, including an early season loss at Rice. A win would ensure a non-last place Big 12 finish for the first time since 2009. (Slight) Advantage: Iowa State. 

 Iowa State will win if ... it corrals Sims and Cozart in the running game, forcing Kansas to (gasp!) throw the ball. Heaps has been picked off seven times and the Cyclones are due for at least a couple more interceptions. ISU must run the ball well, too - for the first time since rolling up 201 yards in the Texas loss.

 Kansas will win if ... it finds a way to confuse the Cyclones with it's straight-ahead approach. That will be hard to do. Various looks have stymied ISU at times, forcing missed assignments and unmanned gaps. The Jayhawks will have to physically dominate the line of scrimmage to put points in the board.

 Prediction: Iowa State 10, Kansas 7

 Three things to watch

 Iowa State's DeVondrick Nealy

The sophomore running back saw his four-game streak of scoring a touchdown ended in last week's rout at Oklahoma, but he did emerge as the most productive runner, turning six carries into 48 yards (8.0 per attempt). He, unlike the banged-up Wimberly, can shoulder a load. He's also a capable pass catcher.

 Kansas “BUCKs”

Ben Goodman and Michael Reynolds bring plenty of production and energy to this linebacker spot in the 3-4 defense. Goodman has two sacks, an interception and a blocked kick. Reynolds boasts a team-best 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Goodman returned his interception 54 yards last week in the West Virginia win.

 The forecast

As of Thursday, a daytime high of 24 degrees and low of six degrees is expected, so dress accordingly. Winds of 16 miles per hour also are forecast, which will create one of the coldest-feeling atmospheres in Jack Trice Stadium history. A 1991 game between the Cyclones and Colorado kicked off to 17 degree temperatures and snow.