I've been noticing an odd trend this year. I'm confident this is just a fluke, but it still got my attention. In our first 3 big 12 losses this year, the following week Oklahoma State has played (and beaten) the team we lost to. Next week will be shot #4 for the same thing to happen. I get that this is just a stupid thought, but it's like we took every teams best shot, they laid it all out there to beat us, then OSU came in and swept them away after we failed to do it. Against WVA and TTU they just demolished them. Good for them, but still sad for us. What would have happened if the situation was reversed through the whole season I wonder? We'll never know.
Odd schedule luck
- Thread starter algonacy
- Start date
I’m still in shock that we lost those games…. It just doesn’t seem possible.
All kinds of reasons this could hold merit, from teams being up to beat ISU, as strange as that seams, to our coaching staff providing a scout on how to defend the team in the second half of our games. I think this is especially true of the Tech game. Our defensive gameplan was definitely not ready for what their new qb brought to the table in the first half.
I hope OSU beats the crap out of OU.
I hope OSU beats the crap out of OU.
The difference with WVU and Tech is that OSU was very aggressive on D — stacked the box and blitzed a ton, while ISU played it’s base defense and mostly rushed with just it’s front 3. ISU chose to let the inconsistent Doege and inexperienced Tech QB gain confidence while the Cowboys grabbed them by the throat early and never let go. Very painful to watch because ISU has the defensive personnel to do the same thing. Those losses were clearly on our coaching staff.
I also think it’s just our overall tendency to try to vanilla our way through games, doesn’t matter the opponent.
OSU had film of their quarterback that we didn't have. Still a poor effort, but big advantage to OSU there.
The defense isn't that good.
OSU's is and they simply went after Tech's QB instead of showing off their special cloud defense.
Not as good as OSU's does not mean not good. There are flaws, and as we have seen, more when missing key players (like Rose), but still very good in the realm of college football.
We need a little more speed, although that is what everyone wants and it’s hard to get your hands on.
The letdowns when they needed to tighten up are a sign imo.
Statistically they hold up...but vs. Tech when ISU got it to 31-28, Tech scored in what, 6 plays?
In previous seasons a strength has been when blitzes came from several directions and that hasn't been utilized as well, or is not the option it once was.
I believe we also played these teams following their Bye week which gives them 2 weeks to implement things. No time this morning to research but does someone know how many teams we have played following their Bye week?
Wasn't there a Rhoads year where we played just about everyone after their bye week?
My OU-fan inlaws tell me that Gundy made a number of key upgrades on his defense roster via the JuCo/transfer portal route. Of course, they were skeptical that it wouldn't work, because they don't like Gundy, but are with impressed how well it has turned out.
Last edited:
ISU only played KSU and Tech after their open date. Although TCU and Baylor got/gets to face ISU after Kansas which is about the same thing.
I agree schedule quirks hurt ISU this year.
1. Most teams are always a little better (motivated) after a loss and a little worse (complacent) after a win.
2. Home/away matters a lot more than most people give it credit for.
3. Random acts of timing matter - an key player in or out, team being tired/dinged after a physical game, etc. Team fresh after a bye week, or tired after a tough game.
Baylor: was at their place. Early in the season with a new QB and not much film - note he has been less great as the season wears on. Checks boxes 2 and 3.
WV: was at their place. Clones beat up after beating OSU in a physical game. Rose didn't play.
Tech: was at their place. Brand new QB no film. New coach named gave them some juice. Coming off bye week so plenty of time to put in a new QB and some new plays. Had come off a couple losses before the bye week, so motivated. Checks all 3 boxes.
OU: was at their place. Motivated after losing to Baylor.
I hated the schedule this year from the start. All the decent but not good teams were on the road - WV, Tech, Baylor, KSU. Turns out Baylor was better than decent, but point holds. When I did my initial season prediction, I came up with 6 "toss up" games. Unfortunately, ISU has lost 4 of those (Texas & OSU were wins).
1. Most teams are always a little better (motivated) after a loss and a little worse (complacent) after a win.
2. Home/away matters a lot more than most people give it credit for.
3. Random acts of timing matter - an key player in or out, team being tired/dinged after a physical game, etc. Team fresh after a bye week, or tired after a tough game.
Baylor: was at their place. Early in the season with a new QB and not much film - note he has been less great as the season wears on. Checks boxes 2 and 3.
WV: was at their place. Clones beat up after beating OSU in a physical game. Rose didn't play.
Tech: was at their place. Brand new QB no film. New coach named gave them some juice. Coming off bye week so plenty of time to put in a new QB and some new plays. Had come off a couple losses before the bye week, so motivated. Checks all 3 boxes.
OU: was at their place. Motivated after losing to Baylor.
I hated the schedule this year from the start. All the decent but not good teams were on the road - WV, Tech, Baylor, KSU. Turns out Baylor was better than decent, but point holds. When I did my initial season prediction, I came up with 6 "toss up" games. Unfortunately, ISU has lost 4 of those (Texas & OSU were wins).
I noticed that too.
-Having tape on Donavon Smith (TTU qb) made a huge difference.
-OSU is simply playing all around better football and more consistently than ISU has been this season.
-I've heard it said, and I would agree, that OSU is the most physically exhausting team to play in the conference. I would guess that ISU is 2nd or 3rd. It would suck to have to squeak out a win (or gifted if you're WV) playing ISU with the physical toll it takes only to have to go up against even worse the next week like Baylor, WV, & TTU have done and OU will do.
It's like when people tell you they loosened the pickle jar lid before you opened it. I'm guessing OSU could have won these games without the schedule quirk BUT I'm guessing the other teams having to play ISU and then OSU made it easier for the Cowboys. Unfortunately, ISU never got to play a team the week after they played OSU.
I also think ISU could've beat KSU with them having a different schedule but I think it helped ISU that KSU played OSU & OU before the Cyclones; even with the bye that both teams had before Farmageddon.
Last edited:
The game after playing OSU, Big 12 teams went 2-5:
-KSU lost OU
-Baylor beat WV
-Texas had a bye and then lost to Baylor
-Iowa State lost to WV or the refs depending your perspective
-Kansas lost to Kansas State
-West Virgina lost to Kansas State
-TCU squeaked out a win at Kansas
Some correlation but not enough evidence to say causation, I would say
Big 12 teams are 2-5 the game after playing ISU also but 3 of those loses are when teams played OSU
-KSU lost OU
-Baylor beat WV
-Texas had a bye and then lost to Baylor
-Iowa State lost to WV or the refs depending your perspective
-Kansas lost to Kansas State
-West Virgina lost to Kansas State
-TCU squeaked out a win at Kansas
Some correlation but not enough evidence to say causation, I would say
Big 12 teams are 2-5 the game after playing ISU also but 3 of those loses are when teams played OSU
