How can Iowa State get to the final Big XII Title Game?

**Sloup** · 10-08-2010, 04:06 PM

So here we are in Week 6 of the regular season. After this weekend, the North race will look like this:

Nebraska 1-0
Mizzou/Colorado 1-0
Kansas State 1-1
Iowa State 1-1
Mizzou/Colorado 0-1
Kansas 0-1

We obviously have a loss to K-State, which is a rough way to start conference play. However, if we have one more conference win than K-State, we still take the North title over them.

The point being, it is still possible for Iowa State to get there. What are the key games of the season to pull it off? Does Iowa State have a shot to win those games?

I realize we play one game at a time, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to talk about. Here are my thoughts:

1. Sweep the rest of the North- Easier said than done. I don't want to say Kansas is a gimme, but it's Homecoming and certainly very winnable. It should get us in the right state of mind if we get the W. We get Nebraska and Mizzou at home, which will both be difficult games, seeing the playmakers both teams have in their quarterbacks. Colorado is a tough place to play, but that should be the second-most winnable game of the North tour.

2. Nab one between Oklahoma and Texas- Oklahoma is 5-0 and top ten coming into our matchup against them, but they've given plenty of points to Utah State and Cincinnati in narrow victories, even at home. If we come in with the right state of mind, victory isn't totally out of the question. Texas is down as well, with their loss to UCLA at home. Can't quite count Paul Rhoads out of these matches, and it would be a huge boost to at least take one of these difficult games.

3. Hook 'em Horns- Texas gets us, Nebraska, and Kansas State this year. If we can take the Texas game, we get a huge boost over Nebraska and K-State. That would make Mizzou the next biggest threat against us for the North, but if we win that matchup, we should be fine.

4. Raid 'em Raiders- With our invigorating win over Texas Tech, you better be cheering for the Raiders in their other North match-ups against Mizzou and Colorado. That would give us a nice little boost over those teams as well.

Honestly, I don't think all of these things are too much to consider a possibility this year. With Texas and Texas Tech wanting to rebound after a couple of bad games, the favorable home schedule, and some glimpses of a somewhat mistake-prone Oklahoma team coming off a bye week, we might stand a chance to take the North this year.

That said, I don't think it's highly likely. Colorado feels like a huge trap game, Oklahoma and Texas hard stadiums to play in, and Nebraska and Mizzou have some potent offenses. At this point, the most likely scenario is an undefeated Nebraska team "representing" the North this year.

**jaretac** · 10-08-2010, 04:09 PM

Anwser: Buy ticket

**CloneFan4** · 10-08-2010, 04:10 PM

I would love to see us get there but I dont think it is going to happen. Nebraska is just too good. The lost to Kansas State really hurt us.

**Rogue52** · 10-08-2010, 04:11 PM

The only way I see us winning the North is if we only lose one more game in conference (for a total of two losses) and beat Nebraska.

Have to hope that some other teams knock off K-State and Mizzou along the way.

**edr247** · 10-08-2010, 04:12 PM

You guys would need to win out, and have everybody in the North lose another game in addition to their loss to ISU.

**cyguytillidie** · 10-08-2010, 04:21 PM

Yeah I can't see us beating Nebraska. They may actually be the least winnable game this year. We can't do anything against a team that has a big line and runs every down (I think they passed 6 times against K-State). If not them then I think it would be OU. They have a really quick running back (can't remember the name) and always have a good line.

Is Texas more of a running team this year? I thought I heard something about them wanting to run more this year. If they haven't been running very well this year. I see that as a pretty winnable game.

I have a feeling we don't win any of those games and sadly I'm thinking we only have a chance in the Texas game out of those three, which would destroy our chances of winning the north.

Maybe Martinez will turn an ankle or something before the game in Ames.

**RedBlooded** · 10-08-2010, 04:28 PM

If Neb and KSU lose to CU but all beat Mizzou, then KU loses to every one but beats CU and ISU beats every one else i think we win the north.

**Melvin** · 10-08-2010, 04:30 PM

If Martinez goes down, it's a new BALL GAME.

Cody Glenn and Zac Lee are (2) Turds.

**gocubs2118** · 10-08-2010, 04:31 PM

Hope that every team gets hit coming off the bus.

**DolphLundgren** · 10-08-2010, 04:42 PM

Driving or flying would be the first things that come to mind.

**sodakjoe** · 10-08-2010, 04:52 PM

The only way we're winning the North is if Taylor Martinez's legs get cut off.

**Sloup** · 10-24-2010, 09:35 AM

I would just like to point out that I started this thread 2.5 weeks ago.

**rhillary** · 10-24-2010, 09:42 AM

Our path to the Big 12 Title Game is simple: Win Out.

With Mizzou winning today, they literally are in the drivers seat, even if they only lost to us they'd still go, but I don't seem them losing to us and only us. If we did beat them, I am betting they will either lose to Nebraska (on the road) or Kansas (huge rivalry game for them). We literally can't lose another game because if we do, Mizzou could 2-lose it's way into the championship game.

That said, I really don't care about going to the championship game. I want to ensure a bowl game (any bowl game) and then keep piling on wins to get a better and better bowl game. ANY bowl game would be HUGE for this team, considering the schedule they have this year!

**rebecacy** · 10-24-2010, 10:03 AM

Oct. 30: ISU over Kansas, NU over MU
Nov. 6: ISU over Nebraska
Nov. 13: ISU over Colorado
Nov. 20: ISU over Mizzou

Cyclones, Huskers, Tigers finish 5-2, ISU wins tiebreaker, gets revenge against OU in the title game. Or we could play Baylor -- how about ISU vs Baylor in the last Big XII title game

**AirWalke** · 10-24-2010, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by rebecacy

Oct. 30: ISU over Kansas, NU over MU
Nov. 6: ISU over Nebraska
Nov. 13: ISU over Colorado
Nov. 20: ISU over Mizzou

Cyclones, Huskers, Tigers finish 5-2, ISU wins tiebreaker, gets revenge against OU in the title game. Or we could play Baylor -- how about ISU vs Baylor in the last Big XII title game

Poetic justice.