Kansas @ Iowa State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 3, 2018 ) Iowa State 27, Kansas 3

Iowa State rides the momentum of a last-second victory into its Big 12 game against visiting Kansas on Saturday. The Cyclones' four losses this season have come by a total of 11 points and they were headed for a similar setback until Connor Assalley saved the day with a 36-yard field goal that knocked off then-No. 23 Texas 23-21 last week.

“For our kids, hanging in there has kind of been the staple of us,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said during his weekly press conference. “My hope is when you watch our team play, you say, ‘Man the kids at Iowa State play really hard and play the full 60 minutes.’ That’s given us a chance to be in every football game we play and have chances to win.” The Jayhawks have lost 47 straight Big 12 road games after a 31-13 setback to No. 23 Oklahoma State and last won a conference away contest 35-33 over the Cyclones in 2008. "Our respect ... is just how those kids are playing,” Campbell told reporters about Kansas, which seeks its first four-win season since claiming five in 2009. “Obviously coach (Les) Miles coming in and doing an incredible job and the spirit and toughness that those kids are playing with right now, that’s the first thing that catches your eye.” Kansas and Iowa State have met in every season since 1932 and while the Jayhawks lead the series 50-42-6, the Cyclones have won four straight encounters and eight of the last nine.

TV: Noon, ET, FSN. LINE: Iowa State -24.5

ABOUT KANSAS (3-7, 1-6 Big 12): Senior quarterback Carter Stanley (21 touchdown passes, eight interceptions) was benched to start the second half against Oklahoma State but returned to throw two TD passes in the fourth quarter. "It’s tough to tell if it helped me,” Stanley told reporters about not playing. “I don’t think it really did. It was an experience.” Sophomore running back Pooka Williams Jr. needs 84 yards to reach 2,000 - which will make him the fastest Jayhawk to reach that milestone since Gale Sayers in 1963.

ABOUT IOWA STATE (6-4, 4-3): Sophomore quarterback Brock Purdy set a school record with 22 touchdown passes this season after throwing two against Texas and his 3,203 yards are third nationally. "I think it's so fun ... you're watching the evolution of someone special," Campbell told reporters about Purdy. "The moment has never been too big for Brock." Senior wide receiver Deshaunte Jones has 63 catches - second-most in the Big 12 - but only two touchdowns while sophomore tight end Charlie Kolar boasts a team-high seven TD receptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cyclones freshman RB Breece Hall has averaged 120.4 yards in his last five games while scoring all seven of his touchdowns during that span.

2. Kansas is last in the Big 12 in points allowed (33.1) and last in rushing defense at 232.7 yards - 64.5 more than the next-worst team (Texas Tech).

3. Iowa State is averaging 35.1 points, which would eclipse the school record of 33.5 set in 1976.

PREDICTION: Iowa State 34, Kansas 24