Know Your Enemy: Q&A with Wide Right & Natty Lite about No. 17 Iowa State

No. 6 Oklahoma State has its first game in two weeks Saturday when the Cowboys host No. 17 Iowa State on at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. To learn more about the Cyclones, Cowboys Ride For Free did a question-and-answer series with Matthias Schwartzkop of SB Nation’s ISU website, Wide Right & Natty Lite.

CRFF: Which ISU player other than Brock Purdy or Breece Hall will OSU fans be talking about (or should know about)?

WRNL: Xavier Hutchison. He is quickly emerging as Iowa State’s best wide receiver in his first year in Ames. He is straight out of JUCO, but he is quickly proving he belongs in the Power 5 ranks. ISU is lucky to snag him as he almost found himself in Norman.

CRFF: What is the biggest ISU stat OSU fans should pay attention to?

WRNL: Rushing. The emergence of the rushing attack is huge, you would think with Brock Purdy as quarterback the passing game would be the most lethal but Breece Hall has turned it on and Iowa State has become ground and pound.

CRFF: What’s a strength of ISU’s defense that might cater to a weakness in the OSU offense?

WRNL: Front seven. The defensive line can generate a ton of pressure by itself as well as stopping the run but the linebackers behind them can cover and tackle all over the field.

CRFF: This game is always a big one. Do you think there are any emotions for ISU that go along with it?

WRNL: This sounds silly, but Matt Campbell has done a great job of getting these guys to lock in each and every game. They really don’t show anything different in the emotion aspect for any different game. They approach every game with the same manner. Doesn’t matter if it’s Texas, Oklahoma or Iowa. Campbell wants to win at all costs.

CRFF: What are the chances are these are the teams we see in the Big 12 Championship game?

WRNL: There is a great chance these two are the teams in Arlington. Kansas State will have something to say bout that before this is all said and done but the fact that Oklahoma and Texas are two games behind in the standings already is huge. Loser of this game I think gets to Arlington for sure. The loser is not out completely but they will have work to do.

CRFF: What’s your prediction?

WRNL: 31-30 Iowa State. This is just a full blown ISU fan pick here, but I am not confident in this once. Should be a great game.