Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) scores a touchdown against Utah Utes linebacker Johnathan Hall (3) during the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
For the second time ever, the Iowa State football program has nine regular season wins.
After beating Utah 31-28 on the road, the Cyclones have a chance to secure their first 10-win season in program history if they can beat Kansas State Saturday night in what will be the biggest game in the history of Jack Trice Stadium.
Is this really the biggest game ever at Jack Trice?
There’s no contest. There has never been a bigger home game.
Iowa State (9-2, 6-2) will face the Wildcats (8-3, 5-3) for a chance to play in its second Big 12 championship game in program history.
It comes with a catch, and it’s a good one. Get to that game and win it, and you’re heading to the College Football Playoff for the firs time ever.
But back to the Utah game — and the play call that led to the Cyclones’ game-winning touchdown. It was a thing of beauty.
Can’t get over this dime from Carson Hansen 🌪 pic.twitter.com/axIrDC6B32
— OutCYde the Lines (@OutCYdetheLines) November 24, 2024
I don’t know if I’d call Carson Hansen’s first career pass to Gabe Burkle the biggest play ever, but it’s certainly up there. I guess it’s dependent on where the Cyclones go from here.
The Big 12 Scenarios
Nine teams are still alive to make the Big 12 conference championship game. None of them – you’re reading that right – none control their own destiny to qualify.
However, here’s the scenario for Iowa State to qualify.
Iowa State is in the Big 12 with a win and one of these results, listed in most likely order:
- No. 19 BYU beats Houston
- West Virginia beats Texas Tech
- BOTH Cincinnati (vs. TCU) and Baylor (vs. KU) win
- Arizona beats No. 14 Arizona State
- Oklahoma State beats No. 23 Colorado
rankings are from Sunday’s AP Poll, official CFP rankings are out Tuesday
Fans will likely have some more clarity before kickoff on Saturday.
Big 12 Week 14 schedule
Teams Iowa State fans should root for listed first
Friday, November 29
11 a.m. | Oklahoma State @ No. 23 Colorado, ABC
7 p.m. | Utah @ UCF, FOX (result has no bearing to tiebreakers)
Saturday, November 30
11 a.m. | Baylor vs. Kansas, ESPN2
11 a.m. | West Virginia vs. Texas Tech, FS1
2:30 p.m. | Arizona vs. No. 14 Arizona State, FOX
5:00 p.m. | Cincinnati vs. TCU, ESPN+
6:30 p.m. | No. 17 Iowa State vs. Kansas State, FOX
9:15 p.m. | No. 19 BYU vs. Houston, ESPN
Cyclone women split the in-state games, bringing back debate on if men’s series should return
Iowa State women’s basketball split its back-to-back, in-state games against UNI and Drake this week, and still came out at No. 15 in the rankings Monday.
Following the loss to UNI, Bill Fennelly had a quote that re-ignited the debate on whether or not the men’s programs in the state should play UNI and Drake, like they used to on an annual basis.
“These in-state games are hard. That’s why the men don’t play them.”
More from Bill Fennelly on tonight’s game: pic.twitter.com/EdHho0Ulco
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) November 21, 2024
Some didn’t like the timing of when Fennelly brought this up – and to those folks, I’d say you’re not paying close enough attention to the longtime coach. He’s long been on this side of the debate and has routinely expressed this opinion.
The games are hard. It’s for in-state pride. There’s a rivalry feel to them. The atmospheres in Cedar Falls, Ames and Des Moines (for Drake vs. Iowa) were different than the other games these teams will play in the first months of the season.
As for if the men’s programs should play – it’s a resounding yes for me, but with a caveat.
In the current system, beating a team that falls anywhere outside the top 100 in the NET rankings is more often than not the same as beating the team ranked dead last – or No. 364. My friends in Australia would call that rubbish.
It’s an absolute joke, and it needs to change. But you won’t hear that from the folks around the big schools until it stops rewarding them. There’s not a big enough incentive to play the games in the current makeup of college basketball.
But if you’re a fan out there who isn’t pushing for two more rivalry games to be on a schedule while claiming that you love college sports, I’d say you’ve lost your way. Give me more rivalries and big games – not less.
Men kick off Maui tonight
The Iowa State men tip off in Maui tonight in a top 5 showdown against No. 4 Auburn (8 p.m. ESPNU) in the program’s third trip to the prestigious Maui Invitational.
It kicks off a week filled with big matchups for Cyclone fans and opportunities for all three football and basketball programs.
Enjoy it with family, and I’ll see y’all on the other side.
