They still have games with Arkansas and USC, they are also not going to get a conference championship game bump or a 13th game. For them to make the playoff they have to win out and hope that there are a couple of other two lose teams that they can take a bid away from. They are Notre Dame and that will matter, over a 2nd B12 team or a lower 4th place team from the B10 or SEC.
*** Official #14 IOWA STATE vs Arkansas State Game(Day) Thread ***
- Thread starter CycloneRulzzz
- Start date
Rocco not running much may be due having a true freshman right now as the backup. Happened with Purdy also.
We got destroyed by a running QB, but we won. We will see a semi similar one next game, so now we know we have issues to clean up and two weeks to address it.
Could be a positive from this game.
Just seems like the OC calls gadget plays way too early in the game. Wait until ISU has a comfortable lead and the play blows up or works, so we don't kill off momentum. We could have worn them down with basic running plays and short throws to the TE, instead of having our D on the field all day.
If this game was at home the narrative would be much different but going on the road to a Sun Belt team the close game won’t matter. If anything the national pundits are scratching their heads and asking why the f*ck is Iowa State playing there.
We need more speed at LB. Campbell has started true freshmen LB in the past. Wonder how Hawthorne is coming along?
IMO the turning point in the game was our roughing the punter penalty. We held ASU to a 3 and out and then bailed them out. They proceeded to rip off a long TD drive which absolutely drained our defense on a hot day. They had all the momentum after that drive.
Folks we need to calm down here, anyone that thought we were going to win going away yesterday was fooling themselves. Games like this in the past we lose, missing extra points, field goals, the defense not getting off the field would have added up to a head scratching loss. But we had all those things and pulled out a victory on the road. No it was not pretty, I thought many times watching it "that is why we are Iowa State", but we won. Just like last week, when we were pushed into a corner, we came up with enough plays to pull out a win. It was not pretty, not going to help our case in the polls, but it was a win. Take it and move on to the bye week. Go Cyclones.
This game will have no bearing on the playoff.
Now I’ll say I wish they would’ve scored in the last drive to help the perception with AP voters but the coaches don’t give a rip about that.
Now I’ll say I wish they would’ve scored in the last drive to help the perception with AP voters but the coaches don’t give a rip about that.
The line on that game was 3 TDs for a reason. We beat this team last year 52-7. Arkansas beat them last week 56-14. The offensive game plan was questionable. The defensive plan couldn't seem to adjust to the running QB when everyone on earth could see that was all they had. The punt block play call was damn near coaching malpractice.
Glad we won, and sure many teams of our past wouldn't have overcome, but that game gave lots of legitimate reasons for concern going forward.
ISU averaged 7.7 yards per play vs Arkansas State's 5.2 yards per play. ISU was clearly the better team, but ISU allowed Arkansas State to stay in it due to ISU's (a) poor red zone offense (again), (b) roughing the kicker penalty and (c) dropped passes including the one by Brahmer that was intercepted.
ISU was once again able to overcome issues that would have sunk us in past years. I give most of the credit in this game to Rocco, our OL, our RBs and our DBs. Moore and Townsend were also very good, but overall the TEs and WRs get a C minus. Special teams get a D minus.
ISU was once again able to overcome issues that would have sunk us in past years. I give most of the credit in this game to Rocco, our OL, our RBs and our DBs. Moore and Townsend were also very good, but overall the TEs and WRs get a C minus. Special teams get a D minus.
An ISU team that goes 11-1 in the regular season will make the playoff. Look at Indiana last year. An ISU team that goes 10-2 in the regular season will not make the playoff. So all the games matter.
That roughing the kicker penalty was a game changer. ISU would have likely taken control of the game at that point, but gave Arky new life.
I've never understood relying on a prior season's outcome to dictate how things should go the next year.
Each season is different with different players and situations and every week is different in a similar vein.
ISU wasn't sharp yesterday (understatement) but I'm guessing ASU was sharper than the week prior and also Arkansas might just be really good.
Since it was a win it won't or shouldn't matter if ISU were to keep winning.
Running Sama out of the wildcat on third down was a freaking head scratcher. They had no answer for our run game and we decided to get cute. Plus Sama tried to stretch it out instead of getting down hill. If he just puts his head down and gets back to the line of scrimmage we probably go for it. Silly plays like those early in the game can absolutely change things.
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I was pretty down on Abu’s prospect as a RB, but he is showing a lot of progress this year. Not perfect yet, but seems to be making strides each week. With his break away potential he could be a load in the future if he continues getting better.
Their game with Arkansas was a road game, they were at home yesterday, it was hot and ISU was coming off an emotional victory over the squawks. We were do for a let down, its been a long 4 weeks to start the season, with only two of the games at home. We did not play well on defense, I have given my opinion many times on our defense, and its problems. We give a good QB too much time in the pocket and they kill us. But the offense did play well yesterday, we were moving the ball, but again struggled punching it in once we got into the red zone. Missing an extra point and a field goal did not help. But the offense just could not get on the field, once there they looked pretty good. I agree we could and should have pounded them with the run more early, but I understand that we wanted to get the WRs more involved in the offense. The punt block was a killer but we overcame it.
Sorry I was going off of the argument regarding if this bad looking WIN would have an effect on our playoff chances. The answer is no, absolutely not.
Why would a 2025 10-2 Iowa State not make the playoffs but a 2024 10-2 SMU did?
The 12 teams last year already have 9 combined losses and we're entering only week 4.
Teams may cannibalize each other the way things are now.
Its just too early to make absolute statements.
