Iowa State @ Oklahoma State preview
Boone Pickens Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 18, 2011 ) Oklahoma State 31, Iowa State 37
Iowa State and Oklahoma State have both replaced quarterbacks this season but who will start in Stillwater for the host Cowboys on Saturday is up in the air. Freshman Wes Lunt may be available after injuring his knee in Week 3. J.W. Walsh has gone 1-1 in two starts for Oklahoma State and still has the Cowboys ranked as one of the top offenses in the country. Cyclones sophomore Jared Barnett is also 1-1 in his first two starts of the season and Iowa State will rely on its defense to try to pull off another upset of Oklahoma State.
TV: 12 p.m. ET, FX. LINE: Oklahoma State -14.5
ABOUT IOWA STATE (4-2, 1-2 Big 12): Barnett replaced starter Steele Jantz after the senior had four turnovers against Texas Tech three weeks ago. Barnett, who has two road wins against ranked opponents in his career, is 32-of-66 for 380 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions this season. Barnett threw for 376 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in last year's 37-31 double-overtime win against then-No. 2 Oklahoma State. The Cyclones' rushing game is ranked 85th in the country after gaining 65 yards in last week's 27-21 loss to Kansas State. The Cyclones are holding opponents to 17.7 points per game and 3.4 yards per carry. They have forced 13 turnovers and 13 sacks on the year. Iowa State already has two big road wins this season - at rival Iowa and ranked TCU - and the Cyclones earned their first BCS ranking, coming at No. 24 in this year's initial list.
ABOUT OKLAHOME STATE (3-2, 1-1): Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Lunt could have played last week in an emergency situation. Lunt (51-of-75 for 588 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions) and Walsh (70-of-107 for 1,052 yards, nine touchdowns, three interceptions) will split snaps in practice, coach Mike Gundy said. Running back Joseph Randle leads the Big 12 with 614 yards but was held to less than 100 yards for the first time this year in last week's 20-14 victory against Kansas. Oklahoma State had a season-low 371 yards in that game and had its streak of scoring at least 30 points ended at a NCAA record-tying 22 games. The Cowboys are still ranked No. 1 in total offense (601.4 yards) and in the top 10 in rushing (263.2), passing (338.2) and scoring (48.6). They have only allowed two sacks this season, the second-fewest in the country. A victory would make Gundy (62-32) the winningest coach in his alma mater's history.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Iowa State hasn't had a 100-yard rusher (Shontrelle Johnson, 120) since a Week 1 win against Tulsa.
2. Iowa State's Ernst Brun Jr. has scored in three straight games and is the first Cyclone TE with four touchdown catches in a season since Al Dixon in 1976.
3. Oklahoma State is ranked 116th with four takeaways in five games after leading the country with 44 last year.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 38, Iowa State 24