Iowa State was tough. Like, really tough. It took a controversial ending to save the Cowboys’ Big 12 championship hopes.

Picking the winners of this week’s MVP Draft won’t be as tough, but it isn’t a cakewalk either. Let’s get going.

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Oklahoma State

Offense

Mason Rudolph had a poor first half, only throwing for 72 yards. However, in the second half he passed for 304 yards and three touchdowns in the second half in the win against the Cyclones. He didn’t commit a turnover either, the first time he has gone turnover-free since the Texas game three weeks ago.

With James Washington double and triple covered all day, Jalen McCleskey was able to beat the defense with five catches for 109 yards. However, he couldn’t find the end zone.

Justice Hill is the best back in college football. Just ask his coach. Against the Cyclones, Hill had 25 carries for 134 yards and three touchdowns. It’s incredible how incredible this kid is, and it’s a travesty if he isn’t on the Doak Walker Award semifinalist list tomorrow.

Marcell Ateman was a man among boys again this weekend, catching the Cowboys’ first touchdown and the one that pulled the Cowboys to within two points with a little less than six minutes left in the game. He finished with four catches for 97 yards and he earned every one.

I want to make something completely clear. Hill had an MVP-worthy week without a doubt, but since he was the pick last week, I like to try and mix it up. I’m not saying I will never pick the same guy two weeks in a row, but this week that was the case.

Defense

Rodarius Williams continues to be a blossoming starter, as he led the team with nine tackles this weekend, along with two passes defended.

Justin Phillips had six tackles, a TFL, a pass defended and a QB hurry. Not a bad day for the junior linebacker.

However, without a doubt, this week’s MVP is A.J. Green. The other young cornerback tied a career-high in tackles with six total. He also had the game/season/postseason-saving interception with 32 seconds left in the game. Iowa State fans will swear up and down that it was a touchdown, but it was ruled an interception on the field and there’s no chance that you can definitively overturn the call with replay.

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Iowa State

Backup QB Zeb Noland played admirably, as most backup QBs seem to do against the Cowboys. The freshman was 17-of-28 for 263 yards and the interception.

Alan Lazard had a great senior day, hauling in nine receptions for 126 yards and a pair of scores, including this impressive juggling catch against good coverage by Darius Curry.

However, he was the not the greatest offensive player on the field.

Let me tell you a little story from the Friday night before the game.

I was talking trash with one of my friends. He is an Iowa Hawkeyes fan, and we were talking about how great it would be to see the two teams matched up in a bowl game this year. I was talking about how good our run D is and how Iowa’s running back Akrum Wadley would get stuffed all day long.

There’s a chance I was a bit overconfident in our run D.

David Montgomery made the defense looks like Swiss cheese. He shredded the line for 105 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns. Montgomery’s final touchdown put the Cyclones up 42-34 and caused yours truly to tweet this.

Thankfully I was wrong, but Montgomery did everything in his power to rip my soul out.

Defense

JaQuan Bailey was a presence in the backfield, accounting for four tackles. He had 1.5 sacks and 1.5 TFL, along with a QB hurry.

With no Oklahoma State turnovers, it’s difficult to give the nod to one player over the other.

I’m going to go with Kamari Cotton-Moya. The senior DB had a nice final game in Jack Trice Stadium, racking up nine tackles, eight of which were solo. He had two tackles for loss and a pass defended. Not a bad day for the California native.

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Let’s tally up the points!

Cade - 2 points

OSU: O - Marcell Ateman | D - DeQuinton Osborne
ISU: O - Kyle Kempt | D - Kamari Cotton-Moya

“Pete” - 1 point

OSU: O - Marcell Ateman | D - Chad Whitener
ISU: O - Marchie Murdock | D – Reggie Wilkerson

Dustin - 0 points

OSU: O - Tyron Johnson | D - Calvin Bundage
ISU: O - Hakeem Butler | D - Willie Harvey

Joel - 0 points

OSU: O - Justice Hill | D - Ramon Richards
ISU: O - Allan Lazard | D - Joel Lanning

Micah - 2 points

OSU: O - J.D. King | D - A.J. Green
ISU: O - David Montgomery | D - Marcel Spears

Standings after Week 10:

1 - Micah: 14
T2 - Joel: 10
T2 - “Pete”: 10
T3 - Dustin: 9
T3 - Cade: 9

As you probably noticed, I messed up and allowed Marcell Ateman to be picked twice. That’s on me. I’ll do better in the future.

In the group chat this week, Joel was so confident in his picks and Micah was sure her lead was going to evaporate and she would be passed. LOL.

Congratulations to Cade for kind of climbing out of the cellar this week. With two weeks left, everyone appears to be chasing Micah and battling for second place.

Come back on Friday to see who everyone picks for Kansas State!