If you could pick 1 guaranteed win...

[HFCS]

If saddens me how many fans do not understand how critical the Iowa game is every year.

And yeah, fans are reminded 50+ times per day what "conference" we play in...

It depends if the goal is 8-11 wins, getting ranked and bowl position, or if the goal is B12 CCG that's now also a playoff birth.

I'm sure it matters for recruiting somewhat but we've had one of our worst stretches against Iowa in recent history while bringing in some of the greatest QBs, WRs and RBs ever from out of state at the same time.

I view Iowa as just it sucks how often we've been 1-2 or 2-1 to start the year. Iowa is a huge part, but not all of that.

 

[Cyhig]

I watched us beat them, 2 years ago, in a non-conference matchup of titans.
We have a chance to win the B12 this year...I'm saddened.

 

[JohnnyFive]

Kansas State and it isnt close. If this team is as good as we think they could be, that will be an enormous game

 

[cyfan92]

TOE

K-State
Kansas

Baylor
WV
Texas Tech
Utah

Central Florida
Cincy
Houston

ND
Ark St

Non-conference games are SOOOO much more important than they used to be for the Big 12 conference... Anytime the league can get a win against a B1G, $EC, or ACC team should be cheered for!

 

[Cyforce]

Iowa is probably LAST on my list. Losing @ Iowa is a good loss, with no bearing on big 12 champ and playoffs.

Utah is the answer.

This answer is horrible and short sided. If we beat Iowa every year our in-state recruiting steadily increases.

 

[Cyhig]

This answer is horrible and short sided. If we beat Iowa every year our in-state recruiting steadily increases.

Using the 247 recruiting rankings, ISU has 6 of the top 10 in state recruits. Iowa has 3, and one has committed to Kansas. Not bad for going 1-7 vs Iowa the last 8 years

 

[demoncore1031]

I'll go with Utah.

Iowa is beatable every year, Campbell just needs to stop trying to beat Ferentz at his own style of game.

K-State is gonna be tough with Avery Johnson at QB. I hope we have a good game plan on defense for that one.

 

[Cydkar]

Do you live in Iowa? If so…. you’re lying.

I get people not wanting to give Iowa fans the satisfaction of us wanting to beat them more than anyone…. but deep down you know you want to beat these a-holes more than anyone.

If we had been beating them fairly often recently I could see it…. but CMC has sucked bad against them and it gets really old.

You are just wrong. People are individuals and think and feel differently.

 

[Cydkar]

We’re capable of beating everyone in the current Big XII every year on our own. Don’t need the guarantee.

We are capable of winning all of our non-con games as well.

 

[Cydkar]

or they want ISU to win a B12 championship...

Seriously though, if it is a guaranteed win for this year and this year only, then its Utah. If its forever, then its Iowa

We only play one team "forever" and it's Iowa. It's the only possible answer if that's how people are taking it. Of course, that's not what was asked.

 

[Cydkar]

TOE

K-State
Kansas

Baylor
WV
Texas Tech
Utah

Central Florida
Cincy
Houston

ND
Ark St

Non-conference games are SOOOO much more important than they used to be for the Big 12 conference... Anytime the league can get a win against a B1G, $EC, or ACC team should be cheered for!

A very good point.

 

[INTENSE_CY]

UTAH.... currently the least likely victory

 

[Cychl82]

to clarify, a guaranteed regular season game for just this year. Pitt wasnt a consideration bc I feel wvu should win that game.

As a WVU fan it would be Penn State. Older WVU fans hate PSU with a passion. most of us knew joe paterno was a pos long before the child abuse stuff was uncovered. interesting tidbit. his brother, who was my boxing instructor, didnt like him either.

Utah

 

[cyatheart]

Utah

 

[bosco]

Even if we beat Utah, we’d still manage to F the conference title up.

Maybe but a win over Utah carries more water than a win over Iowa.

 

[clone52]

to clarify, a guaranteed regular season game for just this year. Pitt wasnt a consideration bc I feel wvu should win that game.

As a WVU fan it would be Penn State. Older WVU fans hate PSU with a passion. most of us knew joe paterno was a pos long before the child abuse stuff was uncovered. interesting tidbit. his brother, who was my boxing instructor, didnt like him either.

If its 1 win on the season and the overall record is 1-11, I would pick Iowa.

If its pick one game on the schedule that is a guaranteed win and the rest of the games play out like normal, I'd probably choose @utah. I think thats the most likely loss for Iowa State and turning that into a win gives them the best chance to get to the Big 12 championship game.

 

[madguy30]

Maybe but a win over Utah carries more water than a win over Iowa.

The timing of it to boot.

Any November win is better than any September win.

 

[flycy]

Utah, twice.

 

[flycy]

Not saying Utah doesn’t have a good team but I remember how good these new teams were supposed to be and most did poorly. How good was the PAC from top to bottom? Did they get a few weeks or poor teams to rest on?

It will be interesting to see how the old PAC teams do in the Big 12 and 10. Its so difficult to judge conference to conference because there are so few cross conference games in the year. The narrative could be B.S.

 

[jctisu]

Texas in the CFP.

This would be absolutely beautiful. Holy **** could you imagine their tears and faces?