Oklahoma State @ Iowa State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2014 ) Iowa State 20, Oklahoma State 37

Oklahoma State is one of six undefeated teams in the FBS as it prepares to visit Iowa State on Saturday, but it appears the Cowboys could be left out of the College Football Playoff even if they win their final three games. Oklahoma State - No. 8 in the CFP rankings and No. 5 in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll - has to navigate through significant traffic to reach the top four and will likely need one of the seven teams in front of it to suffer an upset loss along the way.

After the Cowboys remained in national championship contention with a 49-29 victory over TCU (then-No. 8 in CFP) last week, they face a far different challenge against the Cyclones, and as defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer told reporters: "It's just a change of speed now.'' Despite being a 14-point favorite, Oklahoma State cannot get caught looking past Iowa State with home games against Baylor (No. 6 CFP) and rival Oklahoma (No. 12 CFP) remaining. The Cyclones have lost four of their last five contests following a 52-16 loss at Oklahoma last week, but are hoping for a repeat of 2011 when they knocked the Cowboys out of the national championship picture with a 37-31 double-overtime shocker at Jack Trice Stadium. "We are also playing for something," Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads told reporters as his club needs to win its final three games to qualify for its first bowl game since 2012.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Oklahoma State -14

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (9-0, 6-0 Big 12): Sophomore quarterback Mason Rudolph (64.1 completion rate, 17 touchdowns, eight interceptions) directs the No. 8 passing attack in the nation (354.1 yards) and faces the nation's 108th-ranked pass defense among 127 FBS teams. Sophomore wide receiver James Washington (21.4 yards per on 36 catches) recorded three of his team-best seven touchdowns against TCU, including a 74-yard score. Junior defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah averages one sack per game, which is fifth nationally, and leads the Big 12 in sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (13.5).

ABOUT IOWA STATE (3-6, 2-4): The Cyclones will likely try to keep the vaunted Cowboys' offense off the field and have the means to do so with Lawton, Okla., native Mike Warren, the top freshman rusher in the nation with 997 yards. Iowa State is averaging 209.1 yards on the ground over its last seven games but gained only 114 against Oklahoma, with Warren recording 43. Senior defensive end Dale Pierson is tied for 14th in the country with 7.5 sacks while redshirt freshman defensive back Brian Peavy has team bests of two interceptions and seven pass break-ups, and is second in tackles with 59.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oklahoma State is trying for its 12th straight victory, which would be the second-longest streak behind the school-record 13 in a row set from 1944-46.

2. Iowa State recorded four sacks versus Oklahoma and has 23 for the season, its most since recording 24 in 2006.

3. The Cowboys lead the series 28-18-3 while splitting 25 encounters in Ames (12-12-1), and have won the last three overall meetings by a combined 69 points.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 44, Iowa State 21