Northern Illinois
2nd MAC10-3
Iowa State
8th Big 125-7
Northern Illinois @ Iowa State preview
Jack Trice Stadium
Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads says his team isn’t ready for the Big 12. How about the MAC?
The Cyclones open their second season under Rhoades by hosting Northern Illinois Thursday. Rhoads told reporters this week that his defense is a “work in progress” and needs improvement in all areas before it can compete in the Big 12.
The visiting Huskies do not feature an offense as potent as the best of Big 12, but they can move the ball on the ground. Seven starters, including leading rusher Chad Spann, return from a Northern Illinois offense that averaged 195 rushing yards per game last season, the most in the MAC and 19th most in the nation. They are, however, breaking in a new quarterback.
Coach Jerry Kill held out until the last minute before naming his starter. Either juniors Chandler Harnish or DeMarcus Grady or redshirt freshman Jordan Lynch are the candidates. Harnish, with 18 starts under his belt, including nine last season, has by far the most experience of the group. But he wasn’t able to separate himself from the other two during the offseason. Grady is much more of a dual-threat than Harnish and likely will see time, even if he doesn’t start.
Whoever is under center for the Huskies will get a crack at a transitioning Cyclone defense that returns just four starters. It won’t help that starting strong safety David Sims, last year’s Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, is suspended for the opener.
Iowa State is in much better shape on offense, where senior quarterback Austen Arnaud and top running back threat Alexander Robinson are back. Arnaud and Robinson had a big game in last season’s 35-3 win over Kent State from the MAC. Few people are expecting a similar blowout on Thursday.
The Cyclone offense will miss guard Scott Haughton, arguably their top offensive lineman from last season. He was dismissed for a violation of team rules.
Northern Illinois is 1-2 against the Cyclones and 4-9 against the Big 12. Iowa State won a 48-41 shootout in the teams’ last meeting in 2004. Another high-scoring affair wouldn’t be surprising.
The Cyclones open their second season under Rhoades by hosting Northern Illinois Thursday. Rhoads told reporters this week that his defense is a “work in progress” and needs improvement in all areas before it can compete in the Big 12.
The visiting Huskies do not feature an offense as potent as the best of Big 12, but they can move the ball on the ground. Seven starters, including leading rusher Chad Spann, return from a Northern Illinois offense that averaged 195 rushing yards per game last season, the most in the MAC and 19th most in the nation. They are, however, breaking in a new quarterback.
Coach Jerry Kill held out until the last minute before naming his starter. Either juniors Chandler Harnish or DeMarcus Grady or redshirt freshman Jordan Lynch are the candidates. Harnish, with 18 starts under his belt, including nine last season, has by far the most experience of the group. But he wasn’t able to separate himself from the other two during the offseason. Grady is much more of a dual-threat than Harnish and likely will see time, even if he doesn’t start.
Whoever is under center for the Huskies will get a crack at a transitioning Cyclone defense that returns just four starters. It won’t help that starting strong safety David Sims, last year’s Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, is suspended for the opener.
Iowa State is in much better shape on offense, where senior quarterback Austen Arnaud and top running back threat Alexander Robinson are back. Arnaud and Robinson had a big game in last season’s 35-3 win over Kent State from the MAC. Few people are expecting a similar blowout on Thursday.
The Cyclone offense will miss guard Scott Haughton, arguably their top offensive lineman from last season. He was dismissed for a violation of team rules.
Northern Illinois is 1-2 against the Cyclones and 4-9 against the Big 12. Iowa State won a 48-41 shootout in the teams’ last meeting in 2004. Another high-scoring affair wouldn’t be surprising.