PETE: Iowa State will handle the “Biggest Game Ever” stage just fine

My journalistic red flag goes up when hearing people classify one specific sporting event as The Biggest, a conversation that’s become as predictable this week, people figuring the ever-popular “feels like” temperature when it’s cold. Is Saturday really the biggest game in Iowa State football history?

The Cyclones-Kansas State game at Jack Trice Stadium, and at the customary 6:30 p.m. starting time, is huge. Implications are off the charts. Anticipation is at an all-time high about what can happen if the Cyclones win their second Farmageddon in a row.

** School-record 10 regular-season wins: Check.

** Senior Night: Check.

** Big 12 championship game participant: 99.999% of a check.

** Possibility to play in the new 12-team College Football Playoffs: Check mate.

You bet there’s more at stake Saturday night than any of the previous games Iowa State has played since the school started hoops in 1892. So, let’s just go with Saturday’s Iowa State-Kansas State game as the biggest in school history.

We’ve been anticipating this since the Big 12’s 16-team unbalanced, loophole-filled, and tiebreaker-riddled conference schedule came out. It’s not just the Big 12. It’s every conference in which teams don’t play everyone. Which is everyone, unfortunately in this age of obese leagues.

Nutty? Sure, but get used to it. This stuff ain’t soon changing, and it may get worse. How’s this for an example:

Iowa State can win Saturday night, and still not know if it’s in the Big 12 championship until possibly after the BYU-Houston game. That game, by the way, starts at 9:15 p.m., which actually could mean 9:30 ish. Yes, the very last game on the final Saturday of the regular season could determine who plays who goes to JerryWorld on Dec. 7.

From a Big 12 public relations and television talking-point standpoint, I suppose that type of suspense might be marketable. I’d still rather have the conference championship bracket determined by who plays who, not with a who doesn’t play who situation looming large as a factor.

So, until what could be late night of scoreboard watching, let’s go with Saturday being Iowa State’s biggest football game ever. And thanks to a friend who works at Iowa State and who knows more Iowa State football than all of us, here’s five Big Game Honorable Mentions – previous games that, also at the time of kickoff, accurately could be called the biggest game in school history.

1931: Iowa State’s first Big Six title was on the line during the season’s final game at Nebraska. The Huskers won, 23-0.

1938: Huge game. Big Six title and the school’s first Orange Bowl bid were at stake during the season wrap-up against Oklahoma at Ames’ Clyde Williams Field. The Sooners won, 10-zip.

1959: The school’s famed Dirty Thirty needed a season-ending win at Oklahoma to advance to its first Orange Bowl. The result: Oklahoma 35, Iowa State 13.

1976: With a chance to share the Big Eight Conference title and outside shot at the Orange Bowl, Iowa State went to Oklahoma State for the season’s last game. Oklahoma State 42, Iowa State 21.

2004: Iowa State’s chance to win the Big 12 for the first time was the prize during the regular-season final game against Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium. Missouri won 17-14 in overtime.

What about 2020, when Iowa State faced Oklahoma, with a chance to win its first Big 12 championship game?

Depends on how you define biggest. The College Football Playoffs weren’t an Iowa State possibility in that game, whereas it’s definitely out there if the Cyclones beat Kansas State on Saturday, and then advance to what instantly becomes another Iowa State high stakes football game.

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THE RED ZONE

First down: Will Mike Gundy be the Oklahoma State coach next season if his Cowboys don’t win a conference game? Let’s just say he’s not getting canned. If he still wants to be the coach during this NIL and transfer portal world he’s fiercely critiqued this season, he’ll be the coach.

Second down: Iowa State has done a wonderful job managing the transfer portal – both the comings and goings. Especially the goings. Few, if any, significant players, have left Campbell’s program. The portal opens again for 20 days after Dec. 7 conference championship games. And we all know what sometimes happens after conference championship games, right? Players not satisfied with their team’s postseason destination, sometime opt out of the game. It’s happened at every school.

Third down: The Big 12 gave Arizona State a break, when it fined the school $25,000 for storming the field last Saturday. There were actually two field stormings during that win against BYU – one before the clock officially expired, and the other after BYU ran the game’s last play. The press release didn’t say whether the $25,000 was for Storm One or Storm Two.

Fourth down: North Carolina’s firing of Mack Brown reminded me of Iowa State’s 28-21 victory in 2010 against Brown-coached 22nd-ranked Texas in Austin. It was the Cyclones’ first win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 18 Oklahoma, 33-31 in Norman in 1990, and it came on the Saturday following Iowa State’s 52-0 loss at Oklahoma. No clue why his North Carolina firing reminded me of a 2010 Iowa State game.

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Here’s our final picks of the regular season for the alleged Iowa Everywhere experts.

KANSAS STATE at IOWA STATE
6:30 p.m., FOX

Randy Peterson:Jon Heacock’s defense has been mostly rock solid. It’s been the backbone of the Cyclones, despite the rolls and rolls of tape that’s been used to keep players’ parts together. Part of the winning formula is doing something about Kansas State’s potent rushing game, an attack that’s averaging more than 210 ground yards a game. That includes keeping QB Avery Johnson between the hash marks. Another part of the formula is Rocco Becht against what hasn’t been a great pass defense. Remember last season’s Farmageddon? The only missing element is the snow. Iowa State 38, Kansas State 27.

Chris Hassel:I picked Iowa State to enter this game at 9-2 and lose when we did our preseason picks, and I’m going to stick with it. Kansas State can and will run on the Iowa State D. I think the pressure of the Big 12 title is just going to be too much. Kansas State 27, Iowa State 24.

Chris Williams: At its best, Kansas State might be the best team in the Big 12. The problem is that the Wildcats have just been pretty inconsistent this season. Iowa State's offense rises to the occasion in a game that features a crappy matchup for the D. Iowa State 27, Kansas State 21

Keith Murphy:Iowa State has never had more to play for at home, and longtime Cyclone fans are in the crash position. I get it, but I think ISU gets it done. Iowa State 38, Kansas State 31.

Andrew Downs:The dream dies on a cold night at Jack Trice. Kansas State 31, Iowa State 30.

Matt VanWinkle: This is what it’s all about. Big stakes. 10 wins on the line. Farmageddon. Football weather. The Cyclones overcame disaster on special teams at Utah. They won’t get away with that against K-State. This game will be dictated on the cold Jack Trice turf. Contain Avery Johnson and you punch your ticket to Arlington. Iowa State 27, Kansas State 24.

Jake Brend:K-State is not a good matchup for Iowa State. At all. They are going to be able to move the ball on the ground, the key will be can they hold the Wildcats to field goals, or bait Avery Johnson into a couple of turnovers? I think despite 250 rushing yards allowed, Iowa State will force a timely turnover and put together a timely touchdown drive to win the biggest game in Jack Trice Stadium History. Iowa State 27, Kansas State 23.

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NEBRASKA at IOWA

6:30 p.m., NBC

Peterson: There’s no way Nebraska moves the ball against one of the nation’s best defenses. The only way Iowa moves the ball is on the ground, and with Kaleb Johnson toting the rock – that’s a big advantage, especially in Iowa City. Iowa 27, Nebraska 24.

Hassel:Iowa is better with Jackson Stratton at QB than with Cade McNamara. They’ll also be able to run all over Huskers. Iowa 30, Nebraska 24.

Williams: A lot like Iowa, Nebraska has been a totally different team away from home this season. Iowa 24, Nebraska 20

Murphy:Nebraska is already bowl eligible, so this becomes a "who wants it more?" game. I think that’s Iowa. Iowa 24, Nebraska 17.

Downs:Kaleb Johnson and the defense carry Iowa to another trophy game win. Iowa 28, Nebraska 20.

VanWinkle: It’s a shame this game doesn’t have many implications. Both teams are bowl eligible. I guess it’s who wants the Heroes Trophy more? Give me the home team on senior night. Iowa 28, Nebraska 17.

Brend:This game is always close and I mean always. The last six meetings between these two teams have been decided by one score and I don’t think that’s trend continues. With Nebraska already reaching the very impressive six-win milestone, I don’t think they’ll be nearly as motivated as most years. Plus, Iowa has dominated Big Ten teams at Kinnick because of the defense and Kaleb Johnson. That will be the case again on Black Friday. Iowa 34, Nebraska 20.

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OKLAHOMA STATE at COLORADO

Peterson: Colorado 38, Oklahoma State 31.

Hassel: Colorado 40, Oklahoma State 20.

Williams: Colorado 52, Oklahoma State 17

Murphy: Colorado 42, Oklahoma State 24.

Downs: Colorado 35, Oklahoma State 21.

VanWinkle: Colorado 42, Oklahoma State 21.

Brend: Colorado 49, Oklahoma State 20.

ARIZONA STATE at ARIZONA

Peterson: Arizona State 30, Arizona 17.

Hassel: Arizona State 34, Arizona 21.

Williams: Arizona State 31, Arizona 28

Murphy: Arizona State 35, Arizona 21.

Downs: Arizona State 35, Arizona 21.

VanWinkle: Arizona State 38, Arizona 28.

Brend: Arizona State 27, Arizona 20.

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HOUSTON at BYU

Peterson: BYU 27, Houston 17.

Hassel: BYU 33, Houston 20.

Williams: BYU 24, Houston 21

Murphy: BYU 35, Houston 21.

Downs: BYU 24, Houston 10.

VanWinkle: BYU 34, Houston 14.

Brend: BYU 21, Houston 13.

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MARYLAND at PENN STATE

Peterson: Penn State 41, Maryland 20.

Hassel: Penn State 50, Maryland 17.

Williams: Penn State 40, Maryland 14

Murphy: Penn State 35, Maryland 13.

Downs: Penn State 31, Maryland 9.

VanWinkle: Penn State 49, Maryland 14.

Brend: Penn State 31, Maryland 6.

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NOTRE DAME at USC

Peterson: Notre Dame 31, USC 27.

Hassel: Notre Dame 24, USC 21.

Williams: Notre Dame 27, USC 21

Murphy: Notre Dame 28, USC 21.

Downs: Notre Dame 27, USC 24.

VanWinkle: Notre Dame 35, USC 17.

Brend: USC 24, Notre Dame 20.