PETE: More controversy in an Iowa State-West Virginia series that’s seen its share of friction?

Iowa State and West Virginia have history. It’s not that they don’t like each other, it’s just that things sometimes happen when these two Big 12 teams meet on a football field, as they do Saturday.

I don’t know who wins this game in which the Cyclones have an opportunity to start 6-0 for the first time since 1938. We don’t know who wins. We guess. We predict. We analyze and over-think before finally doing that palms-up, “got me,” thing.

All I know about the 7 p.m., game at the Mountaineers’ Milan Puskar Stadium is that, thank goodness, it’s on the FOX Network. It’s not the dreaded ESPN+, like the last time the Cyclones made the long trip out east.

That’s just one of the instances that have become part of this this series’ lore.

There’s been an ex-coach criticizing Iowa State fans. There’s been a star player running into a Cyclones assistant coach at halftime. A former Iowa State head coach wore a hard-hat during this game, too, but nothing beats the one about not enough adequate TV review angles on a critical late-game play.

You betcha, this rivalry has history.

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ON FURTHER REVIEW . . .

Did Breece Hall really fumble at the 1-yard line and into the end zone with 5 minutes left in the Cyclones’ 38-31 loss in 2021 -- the last time Iowa State played at West Virginia? Depends on your vantage point of the play in a game that was televised on ESPN+.

The ref on Iowa State’s side of the field signaled touchdown. Another ref called it a fumble recovery by West Virginia in the end zone – and that’s the call that finally was upheld.

After re-watching the play a day later, my conclusion was that Hall’s knee was on the ground at the 1-yard line, before losing the ball into the end zone, but what I saw mattered about as much as what the ref signaled on Iowa State’s side of the field. It meant nothing.

Replay officials didn’t have as many alternate camera angles to view, as they’d have had if this on an over-the-air network. From what they saw, the fumble-no fumble was inconclusive. From the limited angles they saw, they had to stick with the call on the field.

“There are multiple factors that determine the production level within each of their (network) platforms,” Big 12 administrator Bob Burda texted me shortly after the 2021 game, when I asked if all televised college football games have the same number of replay angles.

Top 25 games have more TV replay angles that some games not involving Top 25 teams. Stadiums are different, too. Some are set up for more camera placements than others.

“. . . Some (stadiums) can accommodate more camera locations than others,” Burda’s email response continued. “Some may have enough room on the sidelines for a camera cart. Some games have sky cams, some don’t.”

Again, hopefully Saturday’s game doesn’t come down to a replay.

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PAUL RHOADS: A Hard-hat kind of guy

With 10 minutes left in the final Iowa State game Paul Rhoads would coach, which was 2015 at West Virginia, he donned a white hard-hat. He wore it for the remainder of what became a 30-6 Cyclones’ loss, and in a way, it was a fitting walk-off for the blue-collar, motorcycle-riding coach who played his high school ball at Ankeny High School.

“We’re a blue-collar program,” Rhoads told reporters after the game. “For seven years, I’ve put my hard hat on and gone to work.

“It’s symbolism. It’s symbolism for what we stand for, and what we represent — what the people of Iowa represent.”

Rhoads was a perfect example of our roll-up-your-sleeves Iowa work ethic. The hard hat epitomized that. Anyone that criticized him for wearing it as his final Iowa State coaching season ticked to an end – you didn’t know the Paul Rhoads that I knew.

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WEST VIRGINIA COACH unhappy with the fans

Iowa State fans stormed the field at Jack Trice Stadium, after the Cyclones’ 30-14 upset of Dana Holgorsen’s sixth-ranked West Virginia team in 2018. The Mountaineers’ coach sounded off about that during the next weekly Big 12 coaches’ teleconference.

“It was unprofessional,” Holgorsen told reporters participating on the teleconference. “Our job is to keep student-athletes in a safe place. When you have thousands of people coming at you — it’s not good.”

Holgorsen became the Houston coach the next season. The Cougars fired him after last season.

And remember what you just read, when reading the following:

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A WEST VIRGINIA player ran into an ISU coach

At halftime of the 2012 at Jack Trice Stadium, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith ran into Cyclones defensive coordinator Wally Burnham as the teams headed toward their locker rooms. Back then, the visiting team at Jack Trice Stadium was on the opposite side of the tunnel leading to its locker room. Consequently, the teams had to crisscross.

"I was just walking," said Burnham, who was 71 at the time, said. "He pushed me."

One of the first to see it, was Wally's son, Iowa State defensive line coach Shane.

"We were holding for the West Virginia team to clear the field," Shane recalled the following week. “There was some extra-curricular activity after the last play of the half. Geno didn't appreciate something somebody said, and he took it out on dad."

And, as expected, Shane reacted.

"Part of it, is that it's your dad, and part of it is it's your Iowa State brother,” Shane said. “It was family and football family for me -- a double-whammy. He had some choice words for dad, and I might have had a few choice words in return."

After the game, Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott wrote on social media:

"G Smith trying to push over Coach W Burnham at half was the most classless thing I've seen. Esp. from a "leader” #Growup"

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THE RED ZONE

First down: With Jets coach Robert Saleh’s Tuesday firing, will alleged experts who have never even met him anoint Campbell as the next head coach, considering he coached three of the Jets best players? That’d be Breece Hall, Allen Lazard, and Will McDonald. Kene Nwangwu, by the way, is on the Jets’ practice squad. Campbell was mentioned in the Jets conversation in 2020. “I know where my passion is — and my passion is this ability to take an 18-year-old young man, and by the time he becomes 22 or 23, to have succeeded in getting that young man to become the best version of himself that he can become,” Campbell said during a 2019 interview with The Des Moines Register.

Second down: Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins extends his streak with a touchdown reception to eight games. He does it during a very good first half, in which the Cyclones lead 21-7.

Third down: In case you forgot, the last time Iowa State played a day game was 1 p.m., against Arkansas State on Sept. 21 at Jack Trice Stadium. The next opportunity to play a day game is Nov. 2 against Texas Tech – also at Jack Trice – although we don’t know for sure yet what that game starts.

Fourth down: West Virginia rushed for a whopping 389 yards during last Saturday’s 38-14 victory against Oklahoma State – the Big 12’s most disappointing team. Saturday will be the biggest test yet for the Cyclones’ defense, and particularly the improving every game young linebackers.

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AND HERE WE GO WITH OUR “EXPERT” GUESSES

No. 11 IOWA STATE (5-0) at WEST VIRGINIA (3-2)

7 p.m., FOX, Milan Puskar Stadium

Randy Peterson: So what, that West Virginia beat Oklahoma by 24 last Saturday. Oklahoma State isn’t very good. Load the box against what’s been a good Mountaieers rushing game, and this is Iowa State Win No. 6. IOWA STATE 30, WEST VIRGINIA 27.

Chris Hassel:Before the season I had Iowa State winning 9 of its 10 games with this being their only loss. And I’m sticking to it. The atmosphere is going to be wild in Morgantown and the Mountaineers will be able to run on Iowa State’s banged up defense. WEST VIRGINIA 30, IOWA STATE 27.

Keith Murphy: Won't be the runaway from last week, but Iowa State will be 6-0 for the first time since Babe Ruth coached the Brooklyn Dodgers. Iowa State 35, West Virginia 31.

Matt Van Winkle: The Cyclones found a new weapon to their arsenal on offense in Jaylon Jackson. Iowa State's defense has been lights out in the second half of games this season. This will be their biggest test of the season in a tough road environment. Clones throw water on the "coal rush" and stay perfect. IOWA STATE 34, WEST VIRGINIA 27.

Chris Williams: Iowa State hasn't seen the schedule that West Virginia has. I question how much heart this Oklahoma State squad the Mountaineers bullied last week was playing with. Feels like a coin-toss game. Give me the good guys. IOWA STATE 27, WEST VIRGINIA 24

Andrew Downs: The Cyclones play well but come back to earth. West Virginia 28, Iowa State 27.

Jake Brend: The injuries on the Cyclone defense and atmosphere make this a really scary spot for Iowa State but I’m not going to overthink this one. Iowa State is the best team in the Big 12 and West Virginia is in the middle of the pack. The Cyclones get a strong start from the offense and Jon Heacock holds the Mountaineers to a few field goals as Iowa State wins its 6th road game in a row. IOWA STATE 31, WEST VIRGINIA 16.

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WASHINGTON (4-2) at IOWA (3-2)

11 a.m., FOX, Kinnick Stadium

Randy Peterson: Quarterback Brendan Sullivan’s frantic second half rescue job isn’t is just enough to overcome what was a bad Hawkeye start. IOWA 27, WASHINGTON 24.

Chris Hassel:If the Hawkeyes have any hope of salvaging the season they have to win this game. And over the last few years Kirk Ferentz has shown the ability to keep his team motivated even when the fanbase is down. I think Kaleb Johnson goes for 100+ on the ground.  Iowa 23, Washington 17. 

Keith Murphy: Iowa has to win this one or the season takes a far more disappointing turn. Hawkeyes get it done. Iowa 21, Washington 17.

Matt Van Winkle: Iowa's offense has improved since last season, but Kirk Ferentz's stubbornness at the QB position is holding this team back. Brendan Sullivan has more upside and could open the offensive playbook with his playmaking ability. Iowa's defense will keep this close, but Washington escapes with a win at Kinnick. WASHINGTON 24, IOWA 20.

Chris Williams: I love Iowa here. Love them. Washington struggles on special teams. Low scoring game and a 9 a.m. kickoff Seattle time.IOWA 20, WASHINGTON 13

Andrew Downs: The Huskies get a Kinnick Stadium welcome. IOWA 24, WASHINGTON 13.

Jake Brend: This is the perfect spot for Iowa. No one rallies the troops after a blowout better than Kirk Ferentz. Washington is a good football team but they are probably overvalued from a win over a Michigan team that I don’t think is a top-30 team nationally. Plus, they’ve got to play at 9 a.m. Washington time. Iowa forces three turnovers and wins comfortably. IOWA 17, WASHINGTON 7.

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UTAH at ARIZONA STATE

Peterson: Arizona State 25, Utah 21.

Hassel: Utah 27, Arizona State 24.

Murphy:Utah 35, Arizona State 24.

Van Winkle:Arizona State 27, Utah 24.

Williams: Utah 27, Arizona State 24

Downs:Utah 31, Arizona State 27.

Brend: Utah 20, Arizona State 10.

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ARIZONA at BYU

Peterson: BYU 24, Arizona 21.

Hassel: BYU 28, Arizona 24.

Murphy:BYU 30, Arizona 24.

Van Winkle:Arizona 28, BYU 20.

Williams: Arizona 38, BYU 35

Downs:BYU 35, Arizona 24

Brend: Arizona 21, BYU 16.

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KANSAS STATE at COLORADO

Peterson: Kansas State 38, Colorado 35.

Hassel: Kansas State 30, Colorado 17.

Murphy:Kansas State 38, Colorado 28.

Van Winkle:Kansas State 31, Colorado 28.

Williams: Kansas State 30, Colorado 21

Downs:Colorado 30, Kansas State 24.

Brend: Kansas State 37, Colorado 27.

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OHIO STATE at OREGON

Peterson: Ohio State 30, Oregon 10.

Hassel: Ohio State 27, Oregon 24.

Murphy:Ohio State 28, Oregon 21

Van Winkle:Ohio State 31, Oregon 21.

Williams: Ohio State 24, Oregon 20

Downs:Ohio State 28, Oregon 20.

Brend: Ohio State 24, Oregon 14.

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MINNESOTA at UCLA

Peterson: Minnesota 27, UCLA 13.

Hassel: Minnesota 17, UCLA 13.

Murphy:Minnesota 27, UCLA 16

Van Winkle:Minnesota 42, UCLA 24.

Williams: Minnesota 27, UCLA 14

Downs:Minnesota 24, UCLA 17.

Brend: Minnesota 24, UCLA 6.