Williams & Blum: Cy-Hawk win jolts ISU into legitimate Big 12 contender

[ChrisMWilliams]

Enjoy.

Williams & Blum: Cy-Hawk win jolts ISU into legitimate Big 12 contender

Williams & Blum give an in-depth breakdown of Iowa State's dramatic 20-19 victory over Iowa in the 2024 Cy-Hawk game. Highlighting key players who made massive impacts, the guys then turn the corner to the Big 12 season and where Iowa State currently stands in the hierarchy of the league. The Cy

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[acoustimac]

Contender? At this point every team in the conference can make that claim. I think the biggest takeaway from the Iowa game is Iowa isn’t that good. Their passing game is a dumpster fire.

 

[CycloneErik]

Sky's the limit.

 

[madguy30]

Contender? At this point every team in the conference can make that claim. I think the biggest takeaway from the Iowa game is Iowa isn’t that good. Their passing game is a dumpster fire.

Yeah I'll have to listen to this later and Iowa's generally a tough opponent, so it shouldn't be diminished, but contending for a CCG appearance was a potential no matter Saturday's outcome.

If the win is being propped up as 'they beat an almighty #21 Iowa team' type of narrative like it's impossible, it only adds fuel to the 'they only want one win' deal.

ISU managed their possessions well, and there were some good things happening for growth at but in the long run Iowa just may not be that good on either side of the ball.

 

[Clonefan32]

Yeah I'll have to listen to this later and Iowa's generally a tough opponent, so it shouldn't be diminished, but contending for a CCG appearance was a potential no matter Saturday's outcome.

If the win is being propped up as 'they beat an almighty #21 Iowa team' type of narrative like it's impossible, it only adds fuel to the 'they only want one win' deal.

ISU managed their possessions well, and there were some good things happening for growth at but in the long run Iowa just may not be that good on either side of the ball.

Iowa has an elite defense. I don't know how you can argue otherwise. They returned a ton of production from a Top 5 defense in college football last year.

Now their offense-- still horrible. I do think they'll wind up better than last year's offense, but that's an extremely low bar to clear.

That win will look great by the end of the year. Iowa will wind up where they always do, largely by virtue of their schedule. They'll be in the 8-9 win, upper teens ranking area.

 

[madguy30]

Iowa has an elite defense. I don't know how you can argue otherwise. They returned a ton of production from a Top 5 defense in college football last year.

Now their offense-- still horrible. I do think they'll wind up better than last year's offense, but that's an extremely low bar to clear.

That win will look great by the end of the year. Iowa will wind up where they always do, largely by virtue of their schedule. They'll be in the 8-9 win, upper teens ranking area.

I can argue it because it was only the 2nd game and they were leaky at times.

Everyone back may mean there's a book on where to attack them.

 

[DSMCy]

Contender? At this point every team in the conference can make that claim. I think the biggest takeaway from the Iowa game is Iowa isn’t that good. Their passing game is a dumpster fire.

Every other team in the conference has a road win against a Big 10 team, who’s also their top rival?
How’s Kansas feeling today do you think?

It’s ok to both look ahead with this big win and at the same time realize it’s only week 2.

 

[cycloneworld]

Iowa has an elite defense. I don't know how you can argue otherwise. They returned a ton of production from a Top 5 defense in college football last year.

Now their offense-- still horrible. I do think they'll wind up better than last year's offense, but that's an extremely low bar to clear.

That win will look great by the end of the year. Iowa will wind up where they always do, largely by virtue of their schedule. They'll be in the 8-9 win, upper teens ranking area.

Add in that Kinnick is tough to win in - there is no denying that this was a big win. We all know Iowa isn't elite since they get their ass kicked by Top 10 teams but they still win 8-10 games per year and any time Iowa State wins on the road vs. a ranked team, especially a Big 10 team, its a very good win.

Kansas couldn't beat Illinois on the road. K-State needed a controversial call to beat Tulane on the road. These wins don't grow on trees.

 

[BoomerClone]

Iowa State is definitely a contender in the Big12. Iowa will probably win 8 games this year. This was a great win on the road.

 

[CapnCy]

Contender? At this point every team in the conference can make that claim. I think the biggest takeaway from the Iowa game is Iowa isn’t that good. Their passing game is a dumpster fire.

Agree. I think it'll be a year where 2-7 beat up on each other.

Win or lose vs Iowa our chances were the same. Sure, the kick helps with a little confidence that a close game we can kick and a reminder our defense is very good.

 

[State2015]

Definitely the most hostile environment we'll play in all year. Some of you might say Utah, but that holds 10k less than JTS. Kinnick is right on top of the players, bitter rivalry game, plus the hot start from Iowa just had that place going. The environment in Utah won't even be close to that.

The altitude and travel plus Utah actually having a good team may change things, but it won't be rowdier than Saturday

 

[JM4CY]

Iowa has an elite defense. I don't know how you can argue otherwise. They returned a ton of production from a Top 5 defense in college football last year.

Now their offense-- still horrible. I do think they'll wind up better than last year's offense, but that's an extremely low bar to clear.

That win will look great by the end of the year. Iowa will wind up where they always do, largely by virtue of their schedule. They'll be in the 8-9 win, upper teens ranking area.

I don't think people really understand how low that bar is.

 

[State2015]

Iowa has an elite defense. I don't know how you can argue otherwise. They returned a ton of production from a Top 5 defense in college football last year.

Now their offense-- still horrible. I do think they'll wind up better than last year's offense, but that's an extremely low bar to clear.

That win will look great by the end of the year. Iowa will wind up where they always do, largely by virtue of their schedule. They'll be in the 8-9 win, upper teens ranking area.

Definitely agree with you on their offense. I'm still truly skeptical on their defense tho. Top 25 defense I would say for sure. Higgins and Graves are absolute killers, as is the whole front 7. I don't think their secondary would stack up well against ANY elite offense in CFB. We will see after the OSU game, but we all saw Xavier get burnt on that TD. Castro got smoked by Noel on the pass to set up the GW FG.

I think they are an elite defense when they're playing against these B10 West teams that focus on the run and don't have great athletes out wide. But the second they match up with a good passing game I doubt them a lot. They won't get challenged much more this season other than OSU and Nebby though

 

[madguy30]

Definitely agree with you on their offense. I'm still truly skeptical on their defense tho. Top 25 defense I would say for sure. Higgins and Graves are absolute killers, as is the whole front 7. I don't think their secondary would stack up well against ANY elite offense in CFB. We will see after the OSU game, but we all saw Xavier get burnt on that TD. Castro got smoked by Noel on the pass to set up the GW FG.

I think they are an elite defense when they're playing against these B10 West teams that focus on the run and don't have great athletes out wide. But the second they match up with a good passing game I doubt them a lot. They won't get challenged much more this season other than OSU and Nebby though

This is basically what I'm trying to say. They're good...will the be great? I can see them getting 30+ hung on them a couple of times albeit still being a really solid defense on the whole.

 

[Clonefan32]

Definitely agree with you on their offense. I'm still truly skeptical on their defense tho. Top 25 defense I would say for sure. Higgins and Graves are absolute killers, as is the whole front 7. I don't think their secondary would stack up well against ANY elite offense in CFB. We will see after the OSU game, but we all saw Xavier get burnt on that TD. Castro got smoked by Noel on the pass to set up the GW FG.

I think they are an elite defense when they're playing against these B10 West teams that focus on the run and don't have great athletes out wide. But the second they match up with a good passing game I doubt them a lot. They won't get challenged much more this season other than OSU and Nebby though

You are focusing on 2 plays. We couldn't throw the ball more than 3 yards the first 1/2 of the game. The Noel one Castro got burnt but it still requires a really nice throw. I think their secondary is just fine.

 

[MJ271]

Just like last year's Cyhawk game, I don't think Saturday really changed my expectations for this team a ton. Even though I'm super excited we won, it could have gone either way. Other than the outcome, there were both positives and negatives to take away.

But, my expectations for this season were already that if things went right, this team would be right there for a Big 12 title. I'm still there. The schedule sets up pretty nice and if the team improves from here, over the course of the season, and plays its best football in the last two weeks against Utah and KSU, it can be a truly great year.

 

[State2015]

You are focusing on 2 plays. We couldn't throw the ball more than 3 yards the first 1/2 of the game. The Noel one Castro got burnt but it still requires a really nice throw. I think their secondary is just fine.

2 plays that changed the game. These elite offenses have 2-3 NFL guys playing at receiver. We will see with OSU, but I don't see them stacking up well with elite offenses at all. They are elite when they're playing average-subpar offenses 100%. Last year they had Dejean so they could at least shut down 1 guy

 

[AuH2O]

I don't think people really understand how low that bar is.

Seriously, Iowa putting up 19 against this ISU defense is probably a sign that their offense is dramatically better than years past.

Their offense sucks. And it is quite a bit better than it was last year.

 

[theshadow]

Seriously, Iowa putting up 19 against this ISU defense is probably a sign that their offense is dramatically better than years past.

Their offense sucks. And it is quite a bit better than it was last year.

10 points on drives that started in ISU territory (43 and 12).

9 points when they had to go more than 50 yards.

 

[AuH2O]

Definitely agree with you on their offense. I'm still truly skeptical on their defense tho. Top 25 defense I would say for sure. Higgins and Graves are absolute killers, as is the whole front 7. I don't think their secondary would stack up well against ANY elite offense in CFB. We will see after the OSU game, but we all saw Xavier get burnt on that TD. Castro got smoked by Noel on the pass to set up the GW FG.

I think they are an elite defense when they're playing against these B10 West teams that focus on the run and don't have great athletes out wide. But the second they match up with a good passing game I doubt them a lot. They won't get challenged much more this season other than OSU and Nebby though

Castro is a stud. He has a role and style similar to Freyler, so those guys are going to get beat every once in a while in the passing game. And that route combo and execution was a hell of stressor on a safety.

Between Freyler, Verdon, Cooper and Castro, there probably won't be a game in college football with four better safeties on the field.

Nwampka on the other hand doesn't seem to have it, at least consistently.