How much would a "normal" schedule have changed things?

[wartknight]

I believe confidence is huge in sports. What if we played all our non con first 3 games like everyone else and are 2-1 playing K-state. Does the game end differently?
Nothing we can do about it now but I think if ISU starts 2-1 the attitude everywhere about this team is a lot different.

 

[mj4cy]

K-State only gets better as the year goes...we'd still be 2-4. IMO, I liked having Toledo when we got them...was a nice pick me up. Now we have some momentum heading into Austin.

 

[khardbored]

On the other hand, the Toledo game just now gives us a mid-season confidence boost. 1 game streak, baby.

Cuts both ways. All you can do is play the hand you're dealt.

 

[Die4Cy]

You need bye weeks and softer games throughout the schedule. The Big 12 slate is always going to be a meat grinder for ISU. Chalk me up as a fan of the homecoming non-conference game. I think it should be looked at to do it this way more frequently.

 

[CysRage]

Even though Toledo is a mid major, they are still a decent team who will make a bowl game. It was a good and much needed win to give our team a confidence boost. There are still things we need to work on but we are still showing improvement which is big for winning more games.

 

[flander1649]

Or just think if ISU didn't fall apart against NDSU after being up 14-0. ISU would be 3-3 with 3 loses to ranked teams. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

 

[Farnsworth]

K-State only gets better as the year goes...we'd still be 2-4. IMO, I liked having Toledo when we got them...was a nice pick me up. Now we have some momentum heading into Austin.

I agree, I like having a tougher Big 12 (middle of the conference team) opponent early in the season when they haven't fired on all cylinders yet. Gives us a better opportunity against them as they are still working through the kinks.

I know many probably don't want to hear this, but I think the Iowa game being so early really works to our advantage. I think Iowa has the advantage if we were to play later in the year.

I also like the pick me up we got from having a easy non-conf game midseason.

 

[Jerms]

Or just think if ISU didn't fall apart against NDSU after being up 14-0. ISU would be 3-3 with 3 loses to ranked teams. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Or if we could have gotten one more first down against K-State? Not much difference between starting 1-4 with everyone upset and 4-2 counting Toledo.

 

[bawbie]

Or if we could have gotten one more first down against K-State? Not much difference between starting 1-4 with everyone upset and 4-2 counting Toledo.

Right, 4-2 and ******** about not being ranked is not far off.

I glanced at the Big XII standing in the paper yesterday. The 3 Big XII teams we've played currently sit 1-2-3 and are a combined 8-0 in conference.

 

[2020cy]

Right, 4-2 and ******** about not being ranked is not far off.

I glanced at the Big XII standing in the paper yesterday. The 3 Big XII teams we've played currently sit 1-2-3 and are a combined 8-0 in conference.

And haven't played Oklahoma yet, ughh.

 

[Beyerball]

Or tcu.

 

[Luth4Cy]

If we played Toledo 2nd week and K-State this past week maybe we'd be 3-3.

 

[CycloneVet]

Seriously where did this offensive explosion come from with TCU, they were terrible offensively last year, and I know improvement can be made from year to year but this is ridiculous. They hired a new coordinator this year if I'm not mistaken but how does that make Trayvon Boykin Cam Newton?

 

[norcalcy]

Seriously where did this offensive explosion come from with TCU, they were terrible offensively last year, and I know improvement can be made from year to year but this is ridiculous. They hired a new coordinator this year if I'm not mistaken but how does that make Trayvon Boykin Cam Newton?

When ISU played down there two years ago, you could see Boykin had some raw ability. He was pressed into the starting role on short notice and did OK against our pretty stout defense.

 

[surly]

When ISU played down there two years ago, you could see Boykin had some raw ability. He was pressed into the starting role on short notice and did OK against our pretty stout defense.

The conference starts to settle out this week with K-State at OU, oSu at TCU, BU at WVU and for the bottom KU at Tech. ISU either drops to that level or becomes an ongoing thorn with a win over UT. Really interesting match-ups across the board.

 

[NickTheGreat]

Or if we could have gotten one more first down against K-State? Not much difference between starting 1-4 with everyone upset and 4-2 counting Toledo.

OR think if we scored 50 more against Baylor and OK Lite.

6-0 baby! :yes:

 

[weR138]

I believe confidence is huge in sports. What if we played all our non con first 3 games like everyone else and are 2-1 playing K-state. Does the game end differently?
Nothing we can do about it now but I think if ISU starts 2-1 the attitude everywhere about this team is a lot different.

Disagree,

I'll echo what others have said that we had KSU right where we wanted them and p*ssed it away. Also, the NDSU game was a disaster. We should have been 3-0 going in to Baylor and it has nothing to do with the placement of the Toledo game.

This schedule set up perfectly for the NDSU & KSU games and we ****ed it up.

 

[Al_4_State]

I agree, I like having a tougher Big 12 (middle of the conference team) opponent early in the season when they haven't fired on all cylinders yet. Gives us a better opportunity against them as they are still working through the kinks.

I know many probably don't want to hear this, but I think the Iowa game being so early really works to our advantage. I think Iowa has the advantage if we were to play later in the year.

I also like the pick me up we got from having a easy non-conf game midseason.

Ehh. The reason Iowa looks better late in the season is because they often player a tougher SOS in the non-conference than in-conference.

And we did play them at the end of the year once. We won.