Peterson: Iowa State wants back in Big 12 race. First, Matt Campbell needs an answer for Oklahoma State
Randy PetersonDes Moines Register
AMES — I don’t know how to explain Oklahoma State’s dominance in the won-lost category, except to say the Cowboys have done what Matt Campbell says Iowa State must do to win close games.
They’ve been on the right end of positional mismatches.
They’ve made a big play when needed.
They’ve watched the Cyclones miss a field goal or forced an interception.
When it comes to Mike Gundy and the Cowboys — he’s beaten Iowa State at its own game. How else can you explain Oklahoma State’s four victories in Campbell’s five seasons happening by a touchdown or less?
You can’t.
That’s how close these teams are — a Cowboys' advantage that includes winning the past two games. Furthermore, the Cyclones are 1-8 against Oklahoma State since that eventful evening in Ames 10 seasons ago.
Remember it? Iowa State 37, No. 2 Oklahoma State 31 in two overtimes in Ames. Cowboys’ national championship dream out the door. Gone.
Of course, that doesn’t mean anything heading into Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. game against Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium, but this does:
If any Big 12 team has had Iowa State’s number since Campbell came onto the scene in 2016, it’s Oklahoma State — and yes, it’s also still October.
Gundy's gotten his revenge ever since that upset all those years ago.
While Campbell’s team has unblemished records against six of the seven Big 12 opponents during this month, the nemesis has been Gundy’s Cowboys.
They beat Iowa State in 2019, then again last season. They’re the only team standing in the way of October perfection.
Eliminate mistakes, and the Cyclones enter Saturday’s Homecoming game with a 17-0 October record, instead of 15-2.
Crazy, eh?
Indeed, considering 15 ties the second-most wins during this month nationally — behind 16-1 Alabama and with 15-1 Clemson. Call it the Oklahoma State affect. Call it crazy, but it's reality.
Winning Saturday not only would mean a bit of Iowa State redemption, but more important, it’d be against the nation’s ninth-ranked team. It’d be against an unbeaten.
It’d be owning the tiebreaker against another team with a legitimate chance of facing someone like Oklahoma in the conference championship game.
For all those reasons — and more — Saturday is huge for an Iowa State team already with a conference loss against Baylor.
One mistake and/or big play, just one, could cost either team the game.
“They matchup well with who we have,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “They have safeties that can cover our tight ends. They’ve got corners on the outside that are really good in coverage. The D-line is good.
“To be honest, we’ve competed with them every single year since I’ve been here. It just comes down those crucial moments — those moments when you have to win late in the games.”
Purdy threw a pick-six two seasons ago in a seven-point. The Cyclones missed field goals of 48 and 33 yards in a three-point loss last season.
“We’re expecting a fourth-quarter game," Gundy told reporters Monday. "This is a good football team.
“They’re playing considerably better over the last three, four weeks. Purdy’s playing good; he played good again Saturday (at Kansas State). The tight ends are obviously playing good. (Breece Hall) is what we thought he was.”
Iowa State, however, is better able to handle a close game now than ever, during Campbell’s tenure. If Andrew Mevis going 4-for-4 last Saturday didn’t restore fans’ confidence in the field-goal department, then nothing will.
There’s no more doubt whether Kolar and Hall are healthy. They’re as healthy as they’ve been in their careers. Purdy is coming off what I’ve been calling the most efficient game of his career. The defense continues to the Cyclones’ backbone.
Now, it’s just a matter of doing it against a team that’s proven it knows how to win these games.
What’s the key?
“For us, its finding a rhythm,” Campbell said. “At times, when I reflect back to some of the games we’ve played against them, we’ve been able to find rhythm, but maybe not enough rhythm to win the game.
“When we’ve won, we’ve been able to find our rhythm long enough. Both teams will be searching for that in this football game.”
Iowa State’s search starts with not making mistakes. It includes making field goals and Purdy not forcing passes into where passes shouldn’t be forced. It includes standout play in phase of the game.
“We understand what we’re capable of, but we have to go out and show it on Saturday,” Purdy said. “We’re not freaking out. It’s another game.
“We have to continue to win every single game that we play, to be where we want to be at the end of the year.”
