Cyclones could make history Saturday

AMES - Firsts.

Bests.

Buzz-producing wins.

In an Iowa State football season that includes all three of those rarified elements, finding yet another may seem impossible.

It's not - as the bowl-bound Cyclones enter Saturday's 11:30 a.m. regular season finale at No. 16 Kansas State.

If ISU (6-5, 3-5 Big 12) can topple the Wildcats (9-2, 5-2) a new mark can emerge.

The Cyclones have never beaten three ranked teams in a single season - and an upset in Manhattan would require a record book reboot.

“We're looking for the spoiler against Kansas State,” said ISU quarterback Jared Barnett. “And we really feel like we're going to get it.”

The Bill Snyder-coached Wildcats could grab a share of the conference title with a win and Oklahoma State Bedlam game loss, putting them in line for a a possible BCS bowl berth.

“There are a number of things working to their advantage going into this last game,” said Rhoads, whose team lost 27-20 to the Wildcats last season in Kansas City. “They've had two weeks to prepare. They had two weeks to rest. It will be the final game for their seniors to play in Manhattan. ... That 10-win mark is a mark that everybody aspires to get to. So there's plenty for them to be playing for.”

Precisely where the Cyclones end up playing postseason football - Dallas? New York? San Diego? Elsewhere? - likely won't be fully determined until all of Saturday's college football action ceases.

“Hopefully it's somewhere warm,” ISU linebacker A.J. Klein said. “I know I want to go somewhere warm for Christmas.”

Whether a win today would enhance hopes for a balmier bowl stop remains to be seen.

What's clear is this season already has heated up the Cyclones' big-game reputation.

In September, Rhoads earned his first victory over arch-rival Iowa after a pair of lopsided Cy-Hawk Series losses.

Two weeks ago, ISU celebrated it's best upset win ever, a nationally-televised 37-31 double overtime thriller over then-No. 2 Oklahoma State.

“Our coaching staff as I look at it is underrated,” Cyclone safety Ter'Ran Benton said. “I think they deserve to win more games. We've just got to pick it up and take the coaching to the field, because they've put a lot of time and effort into prepping us for these games.”

That includes last week's 26-6 loss at Oklahoma.

The defense continued to flash it's opportunistic streak, collecting four takeaways.

But the offense sputtered, losing four turnovers in the first half.

It also struggled to attack a Sooner defense that sometimes rushed just two down linemen, kept another at the line of scrimmage and used another player to spy on Barnett, effectively snuffing out his scrambling ability.

“It's a different thing seeing it,” Barnett said of the scheme. “Now that I've had that experience, I know what we can do to make sure that we're still productive whenever defenses are playing like that.”

Injured starting running back James White is expected to play Saturday, but both Jeff Woody and Duran “Duck” Hollis have elevated their play recently, providing a more diverse backfield threat.

Steady wide receiver Josh Lenz could also return from a calf strain incurred in the Oklahoma State win to further enhance the passing game.

“We know what we can do,” said Barnett, who is 3-1 as a starter. “The offense just had a bad game against Oklahoma, but on the offensive side of the ball, we know what we can do. We know we can score a lot of points.”

The defense must focus on K-State quarterback Collin Klein, who's a middling passer (11 touchdowns, five interceptions), but a powerful runner (1,013 yards, 25 touchdowns).

“If we can't stop the run, we'd might as well get started with bowl prep,” Benton said.

When ISU has the ball

• Treasure it.

Despite a defense that ranks tied for 28th nationally in takeaways (24), the Cyclones are 99th in turnover margin. ISU has given up possessions 30 times - 16 fumbles and 14 interceptions. More than two against the Wildcats means trouble.

• Pound it.

Easier said than done against K-State's defense, but ISU must find some traction on the ground. Wildcats are allowing just 123.8 yards per game rushing (28th nationally), but Cyclones average 178.1 yards per game (37th).

• Go West.

A couple short kicks into the wind at Oklahoma downgraded Jarvis West's kickoff return average to 25.4 yards per touch, but the diminutive wide out is due to break one. ISU should continue to look for him in the passing game.

• Keep time.

K-State ranks 91st in sacks per game at 1.45 and a solid ISU offensive line must keep that number low for quarterback Jared Barnett to have much success. Cyclones allow two sacks per game (T-64th nationally).

• Jump ball.

Darius Reynolds' production has dropped off since a hot start. In the first five games, the big-play senior totaled 488 receiving yards and six touchdowns. The six games since? He's had 111 yards and one touchdown.

When Kansas State has the ball

• Crunch Klein.

Powerful running quarterback Collin Klein has rushed for more than 1,000 yards, but it's taken 267 carries to get there - more than any other QB. Controlling him gives ISU a solid chance at upset.

• More man.

With Klein rushing at least 19 times in all but one game this season, ISU can stack the box - in part because of heightened secondary play. Leonard Johnson and Jeremy Reeves can ably handle one-on-one coverage.

• Rush with abandon.

Only 13 teams have allowed fewer sacks than the Wildcats, who see Klein go down behind the line in passing situations 2.9 times per game. Cyclones have only 13 sacks, but a strong rush should add more.

• Clock talk.

Yes, it's true every week, but keeping Klein and K-State off the field is not only important, but difficult. The Wildcats rank third nationally in time of possession at 34:24 per game. Defenses tend to wear down.

• Sharper than Harper.

By design, K-State does not put up gaudy passing numbers, but its most potent pass-catching threat, Chris Harper, is Klein's go-to receiver. He's caught five of Klein's 11 touchdown throws.

Scoreboard: ISU's offense will get back on track somewhat, but not enough to waylay the Wildcats. K-State 23, ISU 20.