No. 22 Iowa State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12, ranked No. 22 in CFP) will face Utah (4-6, 1-6) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EST, broadcasted on Fox.
According to BetMGM, Iowa State is favored by 7 points.
The historical series record shows Iowa State leading 4-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Iowa State still has a chance to reach the Big 12 Championship game but must secure victories in their remaining games and rely on favorable outcomes for other teams facing BYU and Colorado. After starting the season with a 7-0 record, the Cyclones have endured two consecutive losses before bouncing back with a victory against Cincinnati last week. Meanwhile, Utah is looking for a much-needed home win to break a six-game losing streak and avoid finishing below .500 for the first time since 2013.
KEY MATCHUP
The matchup to watch will be the Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht against the Utah defense. Over the past two seasons, Becht has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the nation, presenting a significant challenge for a Utah defense that has been under pressure this season, particularly with their offense struggling. Becht poses a dual-threat option with his running capabilities and benefits from a talented receiving corps that features Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. For their part, Utah’s defense is eager to bounce back after surrendering a season-high 49 points to Colorado. Currently, the Utes are ranked second in the Big 12 in total defense, allowing an average of 317.2 yards per game, and third in scoring defense, giving up an average of 20.3 points per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
For Iowa State, tight end Gabe Burkle has stepped up in the absence of the injured Ben Brahmer, logging at least 70 snaps in each of the last two games. Last week against Cincinnati, Burkle set career highs with six catches for 73 yards, highlighted by a 32-yard reception.
On the Utah side, quarterback Isaac Wilson faced difficulties in a recent game against Colorado while battling the flu. He was benched due to uneven performance during a loss to Houston but reclaimed the starting position after colleague Brandon Rose suffered a season-ending injury. As a true freshman, Wilson has thrown for 200 yards in four games this season, although he has also recorded 11 interceptions and completed only 55% of his passes.
FACTS & FIGURES
Iowa State has achieved a winning record in the Big 12 for only the eighth time in the league’s history since its inception in 1996, with seven of those instances occurring under the leadership of ninth-year head coach Matt Campbell.
Utah running back Micah Bernard is just 120 yards shy of becoming the 21st all-time rusher in Utah history to reach 1,000 yards.
The Utes have the best rankings in the Big 12 for third-down defense (24.1%) and first downs allowed (151), and they stand second in red zone defense (78.3%).
Although Iowa State has dominated the series historically, winning four out of their last five matchups, Utah secured victory in their most recent meeting with a stunning score of 68-27 in Ames back in 2010.