Texas vs Iowa State: Preview, Prediction, and Game Odds
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Iowa State Cyclones.
GAME INFO
Saturday, November 18; 7:00 p.m. CT; Jack Trice Stadium; Ames, Iowa
TV: FOX
Radio: Longhorn Radio Network (Craig Way, Roger Wallace, Will Matthews); Cyclone Radio Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Records: Texas (9-1, 6-1); Iowa State 6-4 (5-2 Big 12)
Last Week: Texas 29, TCU 26; Iowa State 45, BYU 13
Rankings: Texas #7; Iowa State (NR)
Series History: Texas leads series, 15-5
Last Meeting: Texas 24, Iowa State 21 (2022)
Line: Texas (-7.5)
Fun Fact: Iowa State has won three out of the last four meetings including three out of the last four played in Ames.
Key Players
Iowa State Cyclones
The Offensive Line
I could talk about some of the playmakers such as Jaylin Noel, Benjamin Brahmer, Jayden Higgins, or even Rocco Becht, but I wanted to shine the spotlight on the offensive line. After the BYU game, this offense has rushed for over 150 yards in four out of their last five games. Against a good Texas front, I want to see if these guys up front can create some holes for their running backs like Abu Samia, Eli Sanders, and Cartevious Norton.
DB Jeremiah Cooper
It was pretty obvious to see just how badly this defense missed Cooper against Kansas a couple of weeks ago. Jeremiah is the Big 12 leader in interceptions and Iowa State needs him back as soon as possible to make some plays for them. While he did go through pregame warmups last week in Provo, he didn’t end up playing. However, he has been cleared for the Texas game.
Texas Longhorns
QB Quinn Ewers
Quinn Ewers made his return to the field against TCU last week after missing two games with an AC joint sprain. Getting him back was a massive upgrade for the Longhorns’ offense, which has been wildly inconsistent with Maalik Murphy at the reins. Ewers has been steady this season when healthy, and that’s exactly what Texas needs to get through the next two games and into a Big 12 Championship.
DT T’Vondre Sweat
The Texas defense line continues to be formidable with defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat at the middle of it all. Sweat gobbles up blocks in the middle and allows Texas linebackers to roam free and make plays in the running game that has been getting better each week for Iowa State. The Longhorns will need a guy like Swear to set the tone for the line of scrimmage on Saturday night.
Key Storylines
Texas Longhorns
Can Texas play a full four quarters? It seems like nearly every week they get off to a fast start and then let their opponent get right back in the game. I know that head coach Steve Sarkisian loves to use the phrase “All Gas No Breaks” but lately it has been all breaks no gas in the second half of some of these games. They can’t afford to play sloppy against a good Iowa State team on the road.
Iowa State Cyclones
Which Iowa State team are we going to see? Two weeks ago against Kansas, this team fell flat. Then last weekend in Provo, they looked like a Big 12 championship-caliber team. The Cyclones will need to play good, clean football against Texas. They have the defense to hang with them, but I wonder if the offense will be consistent enough to get the job done.
Prediction: Iowa State 27, Texas 24
The Big 12 has been absolute chaos this season. It’s nearly unpredictable each and every week. Texas has been playing with fire for weeks now and on Saturday night in Ames, I think they finally get burned. The Cyclones will win on a last-second field goal just like in 2019.
