PETE: Who is Iowa State’s QB2? Maybe we’ll find that out on Saturday

Can Saturday’s non-conference finale against Arkansas State be so one-sided, that Iowa State coach Matt Campbell feels comfortable enough to show us just who is QB2?

How about a three-touchdown lead with 9 or so minutes remaining in the 1 p.m., (ESPN+) game at Jack Trice Stadium? How about Rocco Becht turning in his helmet after another good day at the stadium – and then watching from the sidelines as (you fill in the blank) replaces him?

That’s among the things I’d like to see, as the 20th-ranked Cyclones play a game that will result in their second 3-0 start since Campbell became the coach, and just third since 2012.

J.J. Kohl or Connor Moberley? That’s my question for a game in which Campbell will tie Dan McCarney as Iowa State’s winningest football coach.

Kohl, a redshirt freshman who played in three games last season as Rocco’s backup, hasn’t played this season. Moberly, a true freshman who join the program during the winter, played a few snaps at the end of the season-opening win against North Dakota.

Kohl was a four-star recruit, Moberly a three-star. Kohl played at Ankeny High School, Moberly up the road at Southeast Polk. Alex Manske, from Algona, is part of the 2025 quarterback recruiting class – and he’s top-shelf, too.

“There’s a lot of competition in that room,” Campbell said in April. “J.J. has grown; he’s had a really good spring. Connor Moberly has flashed. For a young football player, he’s got confidence and maturity.

“It’ll be fun to watch those guys on Saturday, to be quite honest with you, handling the offense in front of a crowd.”

Like this Saturday?

Stay tuned, however there’s more about which I wonder.

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RUSHING GAME: BUY OR SELL?

It’s still a buy, despite the Cyclones being 128th nationally, averaging just 87.5 ground yards a game. We’re going on assumption, though, considering early-season emphasis has been on the passing game.

When defenders crowd the line of scrimmage – pass. When Becht and talented J-Squared receivers (that’s the media relations department tag), Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, are doing what they do best – go to them.

Nothing wrong with getting sophomore tight end Ben Brahmer some catches, too. I get why he’s got two in two games; Noel and Higgins have combined for 26 of Becht’s 43 completions. From a team standpoint, it’s actually a nice passing balance. It’d be nice to see another deep threat sometime, but back to the rushing.

Arkansas State opponents have torched the Red Wolves’ defense for an average of 233.0 rushing yards a game. Abu Sama went 43 yards better than that average during last season’s Kansas State game, you recall.

Get Sama going on Saturday, and all’s well heading into the nine-game Big 12 grind. Heck, all’s well even if he doesn’t get his third career 100-yard rushing game. 

© Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

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MORE WORK FOR YOUNG LINEBACKERS

First-time starters Cael Brezina and Kooper Ebel need all the live game work as they can get, while Caleb Bacon and Will McLaughlin miss games with injuries.

Brezina is a true freshman. Ebel is a sophomore. Coaches talked them up throughout spring ball and fall camp, so we shouldn’t be surprised at their sudden emergence.

A good day at the position Saturday, and then head into the conference opener at Houston on Sept. 28. That’s the plan.

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ANOTHER LONG OPPORTUNITY FOR KONRARDY

We heard even during last season, that Kyle Konrardy could successfully make field-goals from long distances. His drum beat became louder during the spring, and even more booming during the fall.

KK’s game-winning 54-yarder with 6 seconds left against Iowa inside Kinnick Stadium showed Campbell wasn’t just willy-nilly pumping up a redshirt freshman walk-on from Dubuque.

It showed that the guy’s got leg, so how about another one from around 50 yards on Saturday, and while on that thought, Noel breaking another long kick return would be cool, too.

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 ARKANSAS STATE AT IOWA STATE

1 p.m., Jack Trice Stadium, ESPN+

Randy Peterson:I’m curious about who’s the Cyclones’ QB2, and at what point will we see him? I fully expect ISU to roll that impressively. Iowa State 40, Arkansas State 10.

Chris Hassel:Arkansas State isn’t as good as the final score at Michigan (28-18) would indicate. Cyclones should be able to have their way with them offensively and put up points.Iowa State 38, Arkansas State 10.

Keith Murphy:A bye week, and then the Red Wolves? Bring on the Big 12, PLEASE.Iowa State 31, Arkansas State 13.

Matt Van Winkle:Iowa State needs to show us that its offense can put up points, and I think it will. This is a perfect opportunity to get the running game going. The Red Wolves have given up the third-most rushing TDs and fourth most yards per carry among FBS teams. Iowa State 35, Arkansas State 10.

Chris Williams:Closer than most think. It won’t ever feel like Iowa State is going to lose the game, but the Red Wolves have enough talent to test Iowa State’s still learning second level of the defense. I suspect Matt Campbell will keep things very vanilla in the second half to get ready for Big 12 play next week. Iowa State 34, Arkansas State 17.

Andrew Downs:A name-the-score snoozer for the Cyclones. Iowa State 42, Arkansas State 10.

Jake Brend:The cupcake between Cy-Hawk and Big 12 always has sleepwalk potential, but coming off of a physical game in Ann Arbor, I don’t see how Arkansas State puts up much of a fight. Iowa State 34, Arkansas State 13.

IOWA AT MINNESOTA

6:30 p.m., Huntington Bank Stadium, NBC

Peterson: Must win for the Hawkeyes? Only if making the College Football Playoffs is a goal. Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, the real deal, will face a rush defense that thinks it’s pretty salty. Hawkeyes haven’t shown a consistent passing game, so assume the Gophs will be facing a one-trick offense. Iowa 30, Minnesota 24.

Hassel:The Hawkeyes have their faults but I still believe they’re a top half of the Big Ten team. I do not see Minnesota the same way. Iowa will be better defensively and on special teams, and they’ll get enough from the run game.Iowa 20, Minnesota 13.

Murphy:This feels like Iowa's season of high expectations hangs in the balance. Give me Ferentz > Fleck.Iowa 24, Minnesota 17.

Van Winkle:Iowa is a road favorite in this rivalry game, which seems like an insult to Minnesota. The Gophers haven’t given up a point in two weeks. I don’t think Kaleb Johnson alone can carry the Hawks. This will be a classic, low-scoring battle for Floyd, with Minnesota winning on a late field goal. Minnesota 17, Iowa 14.

Williams:I really have a terrible feel on this game. I don’t know what to think about Iowa’s defense and special teams. I think Phil Parker’s unit will snap back, but Cooper Dejean and Tory Taylor’s absence on special teams will be a thing the deeper we get into the season. Iowa’s offense is better, but it will be interesting to see what it does against another real defense that knows it is one-dimensional - like the second half vs. Iowa State. Iowa better win this game, or this fan base will implode. Iowa 17, Minnesota 14.

Downs:Kirk Ferentz is at his best, with his back against the wall, and he loves beating PJ Fleck.Iowa 17, Minnesota 10.

Brend:These teams are more evenly matched than Iowa fans would probably want to believe, but the difference will once again be Kirk Ferentz vs PJ Fleck. Ferentz should probably be undefeated against Fleck, and he will avenge last year’s loss in a higher scoring game than expected.Iowa 24, Minnesota 20.

ILLINOIS AT NEBRASKA

Peterson: Nebraska 30, Illinois 17.

Hassel: Nebraska 24, Illinois 14.

Murphy:Nebraska 28, Illinois 21.

Van Winkle: Nebraska 31, Illinois 28.

Williams: Nebraska 27, Illinois 14

Downs: Nebraska 24, Illinois 17.

Brend: Nebraska 28, Illinois 20.

KANSAS AT WEST VIRGINIA

Peterson: West Virginia 27, Kansas 20b.

Hassel: West Virginia 27. Kansas 23.

Murphy:West Virginia 31, Kansas 28.

Van Winkle: West Virginia 35, Kansas 24.

Williams: West Virginia 31, Kansas 28.

Downs: West Virginia 31, Kansas 24.

Brend: Kansas 21, West Virginia 17.

USC at MICHIGAN

Peterson: USC 27, Michigan 24.

Hassel: USC 20, Michigan 10.

Murphy:USC 35, Michigan 24.

Van Winkle: USC 45, Michigan 28.

Williams: USC 24, Michigan 13.

Downs: USC 28, Michigan 24.

Brend: Michigan 24, USC 23.

UTAH AT OKLAHOMA STATE

Peterson: Oklahoma State 30, Utah 24.

Hassel: Utah 27, Oklahoma State 24.

Murphy:Oklahoma State 24, Utah 21.

Van Winkle: Oklahoma State 34, Utah 28.

Williams: Utah 31, Oklahoma State 21

Downs: Oklahoma State 30, Utah 24.

Brend: Utah 30, Oklahoma State 23.

KANSAS STATE at BYU

Peterson: Kansas State 34, BYU 20

Hassel: Kansas State 31, BYU 30.

Murphy:Kansas State 42, BYU 28.

Van Winkle: Kansas State 35, BYU 17.

Williams: Kansas State 38, BYU 17.

Downs: Kansas State 27, BYU 13.

Brend: Kansas State 41, BYU 24.