PETE: And just where would Iowa State be in the football race, if the Big 12 wouldn’t have expanded?

And just where would we be without the most recent round of Big 12 expansion?

Tough to know, but I believe we can safely assume right now that Iowa State would darn near be a lock for its second conference championship game.

Instead, there’s BYU and Colorado closing in on playing in that game, in which Matt Campbell’s team played in 2020. There’s Arizona State lurking – and who among us us saw that coming?

Since the Cyclones’ appearance in their first and only conference championship football game:

** The conference has grown by Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF and Utah.

** Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State team has fallen, and it can’t get up – from 6-3 in the conference in 2020, to 0-7 with two games left.

** Texas and Oklahoma defected to the SEC.

** Texas is doing quite well in the SEC.

** COVID ran our lives back then, and now, we’re being told hold the onions and carrots during our Thanksgiving feasts – or risk coming down with E. Coli.

** Deion Sanders was coaching his first season at Jackson State – not having his second Colorado team in position to win the Big 12 title.

** Football players went from being paid illegally under-the-table, to very legal Name, Image and Likeness payments.

** Iowa State needed a Fiesta Bowl victory against Oregon to match a school-record nine-win season, and now, it’s two regular-season wins shy of a school-record 10.

So, where will we be in another five years?

The SEC and Big Ten could be living in a college football planet all to themselves. College football players will be earning oodles more money than they are now. College football games will have gone from linear, to pay-per-view, and back to linear (I hope).

And we’ll still be complaining about the College Football Playoffs.

**

THE RED ZONE

First down: I don’t have enough mental bandwidth to bring you all the Cyclones’ championship-game possibilities, but if you geek out on such stuff, take two Tylenol and proceed to the web site. The best thing I can suggest to Cyclones fans, is to hope for two well-positioned losses on Saturday. Root for Arizona State over BYU, and Kansas to continue its upset string by beating Colorado.

Second down: And, of course, the Cyclones must win at Utah on Saturday, then at home against Kansas State on Nov. 30.

Third down: I find it interesting, even humorous, all the administrative and coach clamoring about favoritism and potential TV ratings having something to do with College Football Playoffs ratings. Weren’t they the ones who proclaimed the expanded playoffs meant the 12 participants would be determined by play on the field? That’s a joke. Either direct or wink-wink input from the networks, will have a say in that, as well.

Fourth down: Saturday games to watch, for Iowa State and the chase for the Big 12 title game – 2:30 p.m., ESPN+ Colorado vs. Kansas at Arrowhead, and BYU at Arizona State on ESPN; 6:30 p.m., Iowa State at Colorado FOX; 7 p.m., Cincinnati at Kansas State.

**

You’ve only got two more weeks to make fun of the Iowa Everywhere experts and their picking of selected weekend games. He we go:

IOWA AT MARYLAND

11 a.m., BTN

Randy Peterson: Statistically, Iowa wins, but how much will Will facing former Hawkeye OC Brian Ferentz be a factor? Maryland has allowed a bunch of passing yards, but are Iowa’s QBs up to the task of exploiting that, if needed? Maryland 27, Iowa 24.

Chris Hassel:I’m a lot more interested in this one if Stratton starts and I don’t think he’s a downgrade from Cade. Iowa gets back to pounding it on the ground rushing for 250 yards and winning. Iowa 31, Maryland 13.

Chris Williams: Iowa is a totally different team away from home and it feels like this game will be competitive because of that. I give the Hawks an advantage coming off of the bye. I’d prefer Cade McNamara not be the signal caller. It feels like Iowa has a better chance to win with Jackson Stratton.Iowa 27, Maryland 21.

Keith Murphy:Iowa's shaky quarterbacking situation would be more of a concern most anywhere, but Maryland is 17th in the Big Ten for a reason. Iowa finds a way.Iowa 21, Maryland 17.

Andrew Downs: Kaleb Johnson returns to form, Cade McNamara is fine, and Iowa rolls into Black Friday feeling good. Iowa 31,Maryland 13.

Matt Van Winkle:Maryland has allowed the most passing yards per game in the Big Ten this season. That may be the lone bright spot for Iowa this week amidst the QB flux down the stretch. If Cade McNamara is back under center, I think he will have something to prove before it's all said and done. Hawkeyes find a way to win it. Iowa 28, Maryland 24

Jake Brend:Forget the uncertainty at QB, can Iowa’s defense show up for a road game? We haven’t seen that happen since late September and I’m not convinced it’ll happen Saturday. Stratton or McNamara… I don’t think the offense will have enough in the tank to overcome another lackluster defensive performance. Maryland 24, Iowa 20.

**

IOWA STATE AT UTAH

6:30 p.m., FOX

Peterson: Jon Heacock’s guys will have one of their best showings this season, during a game in which his defense will score multiple touchdowns. Big game for Rocco Becht? Big enough to lead the Cyclones to their ninth victory. Iowa State 34, Utah 17.

Hassel:Hate this spot for Iowa State. Issac Wilson finally found something in the 2nd half last week against Colorado and will be able to create enough offense for the Utes to upset the Clones. Utah 23, Iowa State 21.

Williams:Doesn’t this feel a little bit like the K-State game last year for Iowa State? The Cyclones appeared to hit rock bottom against Kansas and should be on an incline after last week’s win over Cincinnati. Utah is one of the worst rushing teams in college football, which is good for the Cyclones who struggle to defend it. Meanwhile, Colorado was able to pass all over the Utes last week.Iowa State 24, Utah 17.

Murphy: Utah's weaknesses and Iowa State's strengths match up well for the Cyclones. Iowa State gets to the final week with hope. Iowa State 24, Utah 21.

Downs: Utah’s losing streak continues, as the Cyclones move closer to program history.Iowa State 28, Utah 24.

Van Winkle:While it's been a down year for Utah, they're actually among the better defenses in the league. Iowa State has struggled to run the ball effectively, so we'll see if Rocco Becht can orchestrate the offense like he did last week. Play clean football, force Utah's freshman QB to make a mistake, and the Cyclones should walk out of Salt Lake with a hard-fought road win. Iowa State 24, Utah 21.

Brend:Isaac Wilson will be just the second non-mobile QB Iowa State will have played in conference play. Because dual-threat quarterbacks have presented such a a challenge, that should bode well for Jon Heacock’s chances of a good defensive performance. As for the other side of the ball, Utah is good but not dominant on defense… I think ISU ultimately pulls away from a nail-biter in the fourth quarter. Iowa State 30, Utah 16.

**

PENN STATE AT MINNESOTA

Peterson: Penn State 31, Minnesota 24.

Hassel: Penn State 28, Minnesota 27.

Williams: Penn State 31, Minnesota 13.

Murphy: Penn State 34, Minnesota 24.

Downs: Penn State 35, Minnesota 20.

Van Winkle: Penn State 35, Minnesota 28.

Brend: Penn State 31, Minnesota 20.

**

INDIANA AT OHIO STATE

Peterson: Indiana 41, Ohio State 38.

Hassel: Ohio State 28, Indiana 20.

Williams: Ohio State 38, Indiana 24.

Murphy: Ohio State 35, Indiana 21.

Downs: Ohio State 38, Indiana 28.

Van Winkle: Indiana 27, Ohio State 24.

Brend: Ohio State 37, Indiana 20.

**

BYU at ARIZONA STATE

Peterson: Arizona State 27, BYU 24.

Hassel: Arizona State 30, BYU 20.

Williams: Arizona State 30, BYU 28.

Murphy: Arizona State 38, BYU 28.

Downs: Arizona State 30, BYU 21.

Van Winkle: BYU 31, Arizona State 24.

Brend: BYU 24, Arizona State 21.

**

COLORADO at KANSAS


Peterson: Kansas 41, Colorado 35.

Hassel: Colorado 34, Kansas 28.

Williams: Colorado 35, Kansas 31.

Murphy: Colorado 42, Kansas 31.

Downs: Colorado 31, Kansas 27.

Van Winkle: Kansas 35, Colorado 28.

Brend: Colorado 37, Kansas 27.