Iowa State (5-4, 2-3)

Last: Lost 35-10 at Texas A&M

The Cyclones are just as schizophrenic as every other team in the wacky north division. After providing one of the most inspiring and feel-good moments of the season in Lincoln, the Cyclones proceeded to go “thud” against the Aggies in College Station.

Austen Arnaud again missed the game, leaving the quarterback duties to a less than impressive Jerome Tiller. Alexander Robinson returned from an injury, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a surging Texas A&M team.

The real issue in Ames is the defense and lack of a pass rush. Just like every other team in the division, the Clones would have a couple more wins if they could just nail down one side of the ball in order to help the other.


Next: Oklahoma State

Having no pass rush is a death sentence against a Cowboy team that will be angry coming off of their blowout loss to Texas.


North Outlook

Believe it or not, with two wins, the Cyclones are in the best position of anyone not named Kansas State. Ok…maybe the OSU game is a stretch, but it’s not inconceivable to see the Cyclones winning at home against Colorado and at Missouri to finish at 4-4 and get into that tiebreaker mix.

Iowa State loses head to head with K-State and Kansas, and with those two wins, would have a 3-2 north record in case of a three-way tie.