No. 13 Iowa State Cyclones vs. No. 17 Texas Longhorns Inside the Numbers Preview
Posted by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
After feasting on a Thanksgiving dinner and Black Friday sales, the Big 12 has a special holiday plan for college football fans Friday afternoon when No. 13 Iowa State (6-2, 6-1 Big 12) travels to Austin to face No. 17 Texas (5-2, 4-2 Big 12). The showdown has conference title implications seeing the Cyclones lead the pack with No. 11 Oklahoma, Texas, and No. 23 Oklahoma State trailing with two in-conference losses each.
There is never a dull moment in the Big 12, and the Cyclones are supplying their share of the excitement. ISU rolled through the first three games of their conference schedule before suffering a 24-21 road loss to then- No. 6 Oklahoma State. Since, the Cyclones have shredded the competition piling up wins over Kansas, Baylor, and are fresh off a 45-0 dismantling of Kansas State. In the victory over the Wildcats, Iowa State used a 28-point second quarter run to put the game away before halftime. The Cyclones defense was lights out holding KSU to 149 yards of total offense.
Suffering through a two-game slide to start October, the Longhorns appeared to be out of Big 12 contention, especially after losing a critical potential tiebreaker to Oklahoma 53-45 in quadrupole overtime. Head coach Tom Herman has rallied the troops for tight wins against Baylor, then- No. 6 Oklahoma State, and West Virginia sneaking back into Big 12 consideration. When we last saw the Longhorns two weeks ago, they were able to run the ball against WVU (179 yards) but struggled in the passing attack covering 184 yards hitting just 15 of 31 attempts.
No. 13 Iowa State (6-2, 6-1) vs. No. 17 Texas (5-2, 4-2)
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET – Friday, Nov. 27
TV: ABC
Spread: Texas -1.5
Tale of the Statistical Tape
ISU Strength of Schedule: No. 58
TU Strength of Schedule: No. 57
Offensive Breakdown
ISU Points Per Game: 34.38
TU Points Per Game: 40.43
ISU Rushing Yards Per Game: 205.3
TU Rushing Yards Per Game: 167.3
ISU Passing Yards Per Game: 232.38
TU Passing Yards Per Game: 269.86
ISU Total Offense: 437.6
TU Total Offense: 437.1
ISU Third Down Conversion Percentage: 45-103 – 43.69 percent
TU Third Down Conversion Percentage: 41-104 – 39.42 percent
ISU Red Zone Offense: 29-35 – 23 touchdowns
TU Red Zone Offense: 33-38 – 26 touchdowns
Iowa State Key Offensive Players
QB Brock Purdy – 151-237 for 1,713 yards, 13 TDs, 6 INTs; 3 rush scores
RB Breece Hall – 180 carries for 1,169 yards, 15 TDs
WR Xavier Hutchinson – 41 rec. for 518 yards, 4 TDs
Texas Key Offensive Players
QB Sam Ehlingher – 147-250 for 1,834 yards, 22 TDs, 5 INTs; 323 rushing, 7 TDs
RB Bijan Robinson – 51 carries for 294 yards
WR Joshua Moore – 22 rec. for 343 yards, 7 TDs
Defensive Breakdown
ISU Total Defense: 333.8
TU Total Defense: 401.0
ISU Points Allowed Per Game: 23.28
TU Points Allowed Per Game: 29.71
ISU Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 104.0
TU Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 117.9
ISU Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 229.75
TU Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 283.14
ISU Defensive Third Down Conversion: 39-109 – 35.78 percent
TU Defensive Third Down Conversion: 40-109 – 36.70 percent
ISU Red Zone Defense: 16-22 – 11 touchdowns
TU Red Zone Defense: 28-36 19 touchdowns
Iowa State Key Defensive Players
LB Mike Rose – 63 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 4 INTs
LB Jake Hummel – 51 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 PBU, 2 QB hurries
DE JaQuan Bailey – 32 tackles, 12 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 QB hurries, 2 PBU, 2 FR
Texas Key Defensive Players
Jack LB Joseph Ossai – 49 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 FF
LB Demarvion Overshown – 42 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 6 PBU, 2 FF
DL Ta’quaon Graham – 21 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 QB hurries, 1 FR
Photo credit: Ames Tribune; No. 28 Breece Hall