IOWA STATE PASS OFFENSE vs TEXAS PASS DEFENSE
This is an area of the team that has been a lot better with Brock Purdy at quarterback. His passer rating (192) efficiency would rank Iowa State up there with the top passing units in the country if had been the Cyclones’ quarterback all year. Iowa State runs a spread offense, but the Cyclones do use their tight ends in the passing game some. More often than not though, ISU lines up in 3-, 4- or even 5-wide. Purdy is really good throwing the deep ball and has been better at hitting the downfield plays for big plays than consistently hitting passes all over the field. Wide receiver Hakeem Butler is the big-play receiver, the home run guy. He’s one of the best receivers Texas will see this year. Tarique Milton and Deshaunte Jones in the slot both catch a lot of passes (62 receptions combined). Matthew Eaton was catching more balls before Purdy took over. It took Purdy a while to find him but he’s now getting a lot of touches.
Edge – Iowa State **
IOWA STATE RUN OFFENSE vs TEXAS RUN DEFENSE
The key story here is that David Montgomery is out for the first half. Iowa State does have talented back-ups, but Montgomery starts for a reason. Sheldon Croney Jr. will probably get the start, but this will most likely be a running back by committee approach in the first half. Croney, Johnnie Lang and Kene Nwangwu will probably all get snaps in the first half. Not having Montgomery, one of the Big 12’s best backs, will hurt but Montgomery does most of his work in third and fourth quarters in games after defenses are worn down a bit. ISU’s run game was ramping up a few weeks ago, but has fallen off a bit the last couple games. This isn’t a group that’s going to line up and blow defenses away, although Montgomery does make yards after contact. Iowa State ranks dead last in the Big 12 in rushing offense and in yards per carry.
Edge – Texas **
IOWA STATE OFFENSIVE LINE vs TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE
Iowa State’s offensive line is a better pass-blocking group than run-blocking group. It’s a group that starts four juniors and one freshman and they’re all Iowa kids. The two tackles are juniors and the most experienced guys. Julian Good-Jones and Bryce Meeker are the tackles and they can run hot and cold. Collin Olson moved into starting line-up at left guard due to injury and has kept the position.
Edge – Iowa State *
IOWA STATE PASS DEFENSE vs TEXAS PASS OFFENSE
The Cyclones’ pass defense has been really good this year and ranks atop the Big 12 in pass efficiency defense. Iowa state will truly drop eight defenders sometimes and that’s kind of what this defense has become known for, but most of the time it will go with a three-man front and then blitz a guy or two from somewhere. The Cyclones employ a lot of cloud coverage, which Texas will almost certainly see to provide help on Collin Johnson (if he plays). Last year, ISU was truly dropping eight more often. This year the defense is more aggressive at getting after the quarterback with some guys.
Edge – Texas *
IOWA STATE RUN DEFENSE vs TEXAS RUN OFFENSE
Iowa State leads the Big 12 in both rushing yards given up per game and yards per rush. And they do it with mostly a three-man front. What gives Iowa State the most trouble is running quarterbacks, especially in scramble situations, so this could be a game where Sam Ehlinger is able to make some plays. The Cyclones do a really good job of not letting any runs get away from them for huge gains. The team’s tackles for loss totals this year is way up.
Edge – Iowa State *
IOWA STATE DEFENSIVE LINE vs TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE
Ray Lima, the nose tackle, is the key guy who makes it all work. Defensive end JaQuan Baileiy is the best pass rusher along the defensive line. It’s been a committee of guys at the other defensive end spot. Matt Leo has been the other starter, but Spencer Benton also gets a lot of snaps. If they have to go four down lineman, Jamahl Johnson lined up beside Lima, and he’s done a good job of giving Lima a breather when they’re running three down linemen.
Edge – Iowa State *
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special teams have really been a weakness for Iowa State this year. The kicking game has being an adventure, with ISU having a block punt go back for a TD and a blocked FG go back for TD. Kicker Connor Assalley hits a decent percentage of his attempts (77 percent), but he doesn’t have a huge leg. He’s hit only one kick longer than 40 yards all year. Punter Corey Dunn has been inconsistent. Iowa State is pretty conservative in the kick return and punt return games.
Edge – Texas **
This is an area of the team that has been a lot better with Brock Purdy at quarterback. His passer rating (192) efficiency would rank Iowa State up there with the top passing units in the country if had been the Cyclones’ quarterback all year. Iowa State runs a spread offense, but the Cyclones do use their tight ends in the passing game some. More often than not though, ISU lines up in 3-, 4- or even 5-wide. Purdy is really good throwing the deep ball and has been better at hitting the downfield plays for big plays than consistently hitting passes all over the field. Wide receiver Hakeem Butler is the big-play receiver, the home run guy. He’s one of the best receivers Texas will see this year. Tarique Milton and Deshaunte Jones in the slot both catch a lot of passes (62 receptions combined). Matthew Eaton was catching more balls before Purdy took over. It took Purdy a while to find him but he’s now getting a lot of touches.
Edge – Iowa State **
IOWA STATE RUN OFFENSE vs TEXAS RUN DEFENSE
The key story here is that David Montgomery is out for the first half. Iowa State does have talented back-ups, but Montgomery starts for a reason. Sheldon Croney Jr. will probably get the start, but this will most likely be a running back by committee approach in the first half. Croney, Johnnie Lang and Kene Nwangwu will probably all get snaps in the first half. Not having Montgomery, one of the Big 12’s best backs, will hurt but Montgomery does most of his work in third and fourth quarters in games after defenses are worn down a bit. ISU’s run game was ramping up a few weeks ago, but has fallen off a bit the last couple games. This isn’t a group that’s going to line up and blow defenses away, although Montgomery does make yards after contact. Iowa State ranks dead last in the Big 12 in rushing offense and in yards per carry.
Edge – Texas **
IOWA STATE OFFENSIVE LINE vs TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE
Iowa State’s offensive line is a better pass-blocking group than run-blocking group. It’s a group that starts four juniors and one freshman and they’re all Iowa kids. The two tackles are juniors and the most experienced guys. Julian Good-Jones and Bryce Meeker are the tackles and they can run hot and cold. Collin Olson moved into starting line-up at left guard due to injury and has kept the position.
Edge – Iowa State *
IOWA STATE PASS DEFENSE vs TEXAS PASS OFFENSE
The Cyclones’ pass defense has been really good this year and ranks atop the Big 12 in pass efficiency defense. Iowa state will truly drop eight defenders sometimes and that’s kind of what this defense has become known for, but most of the time it will go with a three-man front and then blitz a guy or two from somewhere. The Cyclones employ a lot of cloud coverage, which Texas will almost certainly see to provide help on Collin Johnson (if he plays). Last year, ISU was truly dropping eight more often. This year the defense is more aggressive at getting after the quarterback with some guys.
Edge – Texas *
IOWA STATE RUN DEFENSE vs TEXAS RUN OFFENSE
Iowa State leads the Big 12 in both rushing yards given up per game and yards per rush. And they do it with mostly a three-man front. What gives Iowa State the most trouble is running quarterbacks, especially in scramble situations, so this could be a game where Sam Ehlinger is able to make some plays. The Cyclones do a really good job of not letting any runs get away from them for huge gains. The team’s tackles for loss totals this year is way up.
Edge – Iowa State *
IOWA STATE DEFENSIVE LINE vs TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE
Ray Lima, the nose tackle, is the key guy who makes it all work. Defensive end JaQuan Baileiy is the best pass rusher along the defensive line. It’s been a committee of guys at the other defensive end spot. Matt Leo has been the other starter, but Spencer Benton also gets a lot of snaps. If they have to go four down lineman, Jamahl Johnson lined up beside Lima, and he’s done a good job of giving Lima a breather when they’re running three down linemen.
Edge – Iowa State *
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special teams have really been a weakness for Iowa State this year. The kicking game has being an adventure, with ISU having a block punt go back for a TD and a blocked FG go back for TD. Kicker Connor Assalley hits a decent percentage of his attempts (77 percent), but he doesn’t have a huge leg. He’s hit only one kick longer than 40 yards all year. Punter Corey Dunn has been inconsistent. Iowa State is pretty conservative in the kick return and punt return games.
Edge – Texas **
