Just yesterday, Iowa State had dreams of claiming their first conference championship in over a century. One drive into the game, and all cylinders seemed to be firing for the Cyclones. Iowa State was looking good after a sustained drive had allowed them to take a 7-3 lead over Arizona State. Then everything fell apart.
Iowa State’s offense sputtered on every drive until garbage time. Cam Skattebo was harder to get ahold of than a greased watermelon. Consecutive turnovers effectively put the game out of reach of even the wildest of comebacks early in the third quarter. Arizona State looked like a team that belonged in theBig 12 Championship game, and in the College Football Playoff. Iowa State took on the role of the pretender, while Arizona State grabbed the role of the contender.
With the win, Arizona State enters the playoff with a first round bye while simultaneously playing their best football of the season. As of writing this piece, Iowa State’s bowl assignment remains uncertain, although it will likely be an appearance either in the Alamo Bowl vs Colorado or the Pop Tarts Bowl vs Miami.
On paper, both teams match up more favorably against Iowa State than Arizona State did, but they present different challenges that Iowa State has yet to face this year. Both teams lean much more heavily on strong passing attacks than their ground game, precisely the opposite of the strategy that Arizona State so successfully used against the Cyclones. If Miami or Colorado want to play their style of offense, they’re going to have to go through the teeth of the defense in the secondary where Jeremiah Cooper, Darien Porter, Jontez Williams, and Myles Purchase are roaming. Neither team has faced a comparable secondary.
Iowa State, on the other hand, has to make some scheme adjustments. Arizona State just broadcasted to the whole world how to beat the Cyclones, and Iowa State should prepare for their bowl competition to follow a similar formula. The tackling form has to improve. Skattebo was able to break more tackles than any mortal man could count yesterday, and it was not made more difficult for him because Iowa State’s defense tended to try to grab on around the shoulder pads or make shoestring tackles, leading to poor leverage or just outright missing the tackle. Following the fundamentals of tackling is the biggest step in the right direction the Cyclones can take.
On the offensive side of the ball, personnel choices are likely to have the biggest impact. the return of Ben Brahmer at tight end gives much needed depth to the position, taking pressure off of Gabe Burkle and Stevo Klotz. How the different running backs are used may also need adjustment, as Carson Hansen leads the team in yards, yards per carry, and touchdowns, while still not holding the starting spot over Abu Sama III. Sama is excellent in space, but he has to get there first. The Cyclones may be better off using him primarily on passing downs as a check down option for Rocco Becht.
Iowa State still has a chance to end the season on a positive note. If they’re going to do that, they need to take the concrete steps to get there.
