Three-minute preview: KU football vs. Iowa State

When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence

TV/radio: Fox Sports Net; KCSP (610 AM)

The series: KU leads 50-39-6.

The line: Iowa State by 10

What’s at stake

Kansas will look to snap an 18-game Big 12 losing streak. The Jayhawks have not won a conference game since a 34-14 victory over Iowa State on Nov. 8, 2014, when defensive coordinator Clint Bowen was interim head coach.

Cheers if …

KU’s offense fixes its turnover issue at the perfect time. The Jayhawks, who are last in the nation in both turnover margin (negative-15) and turnovers (29) are facing a Cyclones team that has only created eight giveaways all season. The Jayhawks, meanwhile, have turned it over at least twice in each of their first nine games.

Jeers if …

KU isn’t able to run the ball. The Jayhawks ran for 228 yards in their last home game against Oklahoma State, and Iowa State isn’t overpowering up front while ranking eighth in the Big 12 allowing 5 yards per carry.

Jesse Newell’s pick: Iowa State 31-24

After a promising start to the season, KU’s defense has regressed in its last three games, struggling to stop both the run and pass. While the offense has been better recently, this still appears to be a KU team that would have been better off playing Iowa State a few weeks ago when it was healthier and more confident defensively. If KU can limit turnovers, though, this should be a game into the fourth quarter.

Three things about Iowa State

1 Allen Lazard leads the team in receptions (48) and receiving yards (658). KU coach David Beaty previously recruited the 6-foot-5 receiver while serving as an assistant at Texas A&M.

2 Iowa State long snapper Steve Wirtel is the brother of KU long snapper John Wirtel.

3 Iowa State led Oklahoma 17-14 late in the first half last week before eventually falling 34-24 to the 12th-ranked Sooners.

Key matchup

KU’s offense vs. turnovers: It’s been the theme all year, but once again, this will be the Jayhawks’ biggest key. Iowa State has forced just one combined turnover in its last two games, so if KU has giveaways Saturday, they’ll most likely be self-inflicted.

This story was originally published November 10, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Three-minute preview: KU football vs. Iowa State."