Kansas @ Iowa State preview
Jack Trice Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2009 ) Iowa State 36, Kansas 41
Fresh off a landmark win, Iowa State hosts Kansas on Saturday trying to snap a five-game losing streak in the series.
The Cyclones (4-4, 2-2 Big 12) appear primed to do just that. They just knocked off Texas 28-21 in Austin for their first-ever win over the Longhorns. When they returned to their practice facility following the upset, a raucous crowd of 2,000 fans was there to greet them.
Iowa State is getting the Jayhawks at the right time. Kansas (2-5, 0-3) just got shellacked 45-10 at home by Texas A&M and has lost three in a row by a combined score of 159-24.
It’s been a nightmarish first season for Kansas coach Turner Gill.
Quarterback Jordan Webb and his backup, Kale Pick, both were injured in the loss to the Aggies. Webb hurt his throwing shoulder and Pick suffered a concussion. If they aren’t able to play Saturday, junior transfer Quinn Mecham would start.
The Jayhawks are equally bad on both sides of the ball. They rank 112th nationally in scoring (16.1) and 103rd in points allowed (33.9). They are minus-9 in turnover margin, which ranks 116th.
The opportunistic Cyclones beat Texas by forcing four turnovers. They are plus-9 for the season, which ties for ninth nationally. Defensive end Jacob Lattimer led the way with a forced fumble and two sacks.
Senior Alexander Robinson ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns, giving him the 11th 100-yard rushing day of his career. He’s run for 608 yards and seven scores this season.
Fellow senior Austen Arnaud has been less consistent, throwing for 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. But he’s been helped by the emergence of wideout Darius Reynolds, who grabbed an 18-yard touchdown against the Longhorns.
Special teams played a key role in Iowa State’s first win over Texas in eight tries. Freshman punter Kirby Van Der Kamp averaged 46.6 yards on nine punts, repeatedly pinning the Longhorns deep. He boomed a 74-yarder in the first half that was the eighth-longest punt in Iowa State history.
The victory, Iowa State’s first against a ranked opponent since 2005, gave the Cyclones a good chance to make it to a bowl. They can qualify by winning Saturday and one of their final three games: vs. Nebraska, at Colorado and vs. Missouri.
Kansas leads the all-time series with Iowa State 49-34-6, including last year’s 41-36 win in Lawrence. The teams have met every year since 1930.