Kansas-Iowa State college football preview
When/where: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence
TV/radio: FSKC; KCSP (610 AM)
The series: Kansas leads 49-38-6
The line: Iowa State by 3 1/2
KANSAS (2-6, 0-5 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 6 | Southeast Missouri | W, 34-28 |
Sept. 13 | at Duke | L, 41-3 |
Sept. 20 | Central Michigan | W, 24-10 |
Sept. 27 | Texas | L, 23-0 |
Oct. 4 | at West Virginia | L, 33-14 |
Oct. 11 | Oklahoma State | L, 27-20 |
Oct. 18 | at Texas Tech | L, 34-21 |
Nov. 1 | at Baylor | L, 60-14 |
Saturday | Iowa State | 2:30 p.m. |
Nov. 15 | TCU | 2 p.m. |
Nov. 22 | at Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 29 | at Kansas State | TBA |
IOWA STATE (2-6, 0-5 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 30 | North Dakota State | L, 34-14 |
Sept. 6 | Kansas State | L, 32-28 |
Sept. 13 | at Iowa | W, 20-17 |
Sept. 27 | Baylor | L, 49-28 |
Oct. 4 | at Oklahoma State | L, 37-20 |
Oct. 11 | Toledo | W, 37-30 |
Oct. 18 | at Texas | L, 48-45 |
Nov. 1 | Oklahoma | L, 59-14 |
Saturday | at Kansas | 2:30 p.m. |
Nov. 22 | Texas Tech | TBA |
Nov. 29 | West Virginia | TBA |
Dec. 6 | at TCU | TBA |
What’s at stake
Barring a late-season miracle, this likely will be Kansas’ last winnable game. The Jayhawks close out the season with a home game against No. 6 TCU and trips to No. 16 Oklahoma and No. 9 Kansas State. The Cyclones have owned the Jayhawks the last two seasons, piling up two blowouts. This will be former Kansas coach Mark Mangino’s first trip back to Memorial Stadium since he was forced to resign following the 2009 season. Mangino returned to the Big 12 this season as Iowa State’s offensive coordinator. KU interim coach Clint Bowen and co-offensive coordinator John Reagan were both assistants under Mangino during his time at Kansas. All three were on staff while Kansas went to back-to-back bowl games after the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Cheers if …
KU breaks out offensively against Iowa State. Former receivers coach Eric Kiesau is now calling plays and adding some wrinkles to the offense. The Cyclones’ defense allows 38.2 points per game. With Mangino back in town, the Jayhawks would surely love to upstage the old coach’s offensive unit.
Jeers if …
This thing isn’t close. The last two seasons, Kansas entered a matchup with Iowa State with certified hope. Then came the sledgehammer of a blowout. This Iowa State team lost 59-14 to Oklahoma last week. This game should be in KU’s weight class.
Three things about Iowa State
1 The Cyclones have won four straight against Kansas, including the last two games in Lawrence. Iowa State has not beaten KU five straight times since 1985-89.
2 Cyclones tight end E.J. Bibbs has 34 receptions and six touchdowns, tied for the most scores among tight ends in the big five conferences. He also has hauled in catches in 20 straight games.
3 After leading Iowa State to three bowl games in four seasons, some of the shine is off sixth-year coach Paul Rhoads. Dating back to last season, he is just 5-15.
Key matchup
The KU offensive line vs. the Iowa State defense. The Jayhawks have been handcuffed by a porous offensive line for most of Big 12 play. Last week, Baylor’s defensive line manhandled the Jayhawks’ front five. This week, the task should be a little more manageable.
KANSAS OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 9 | Nigel King | 6-3 | 210 | Jr. |
WR | 8 | Nick Harwell | 6-1 | 193 | Sr. |
LT | 61 | Pat Lewandowski | 6-5 | 290 | Sr. |
LG | 63 | Ngalu Fusimalohi | 6-2 | 310 | Sr. |
C | 77 | Joe Gibson | 6-3 | 295 | Fr. |
RG | 65 | Mike Smithburg | 6-3 | 305 | Sr. |
RT | 78 | Larry Mazyck | 6-8 | 360 | Jr. |
TE | 41 | Jimmay Mundine | 6-2 | 240 | Sr. |
WR | 3 | Tony Pierson | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. |
QB | 14 | Michael Cummings | 5-10 | 210 | Jr. |
RB | 6 | Corey Avery | 5-10 | 195 | Fr. |
K | 17 | Matthew Wyman | 6-1 | 200 | So. |
KANSAS DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
N | 99 | Tedarian Johnson | 6-2 | 290 | Sr. |
DT | 98 | Keon Stowers | 6-3 | 297 | Sr. |
DE | 93 | Ben Goodman | 6-3 | 250 | Jr. |
LB | 55 | Michael Reynolds | 6-1 | 240 | Sr. |
LB | 31 | Ben Heeney | 6-2 | 230 | Sr. |
LB | 28 | Courtney Arnick | 6-2 | 205 | So. |
NB | 30 | Tevin Shaw | 5-11 | 192 | So. |
CB | 24 | JaCorey Shepherd | 5-11 | 195 | Sr. |
SS | 5 | Isaiah Johnson | 6-1 | 210 | Jr. |
FS | 33 | Cassius Sendish | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. |
CB | 12 | Dexter McDonald | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. |
P | 16 | Trevor Pardula | 6-5 | 212 | Sr. |
IOWA STATE OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 13 | Dondre Daley | 6-2 | 190 | So. |
WR | 1 | Jarvis West | 5-7 | 171 | Sr. |
LT | 67 | Jake Campos | 6-8 | 291 | Fr. |
LG | 76 | Jamison Lalk | 6-6 | 297 | Jr. |
C | 74 | Tom Farniok | 6-4 | 301 | Sr. |
RG | 70 | Daniel Burton | 6-6 | 328 | So. |
RT | 69 | Jacob Gannon | 6-7 | 306 | Sr. |
TE | 11 | E.J. Bibbs | 6-3 | 264 | Sr. |
WR | 5 | Allen Lazard | 6-5 | 221 | Fr. |
QB | 12 | Sam B. Richardson | 6-2 | 221 | Jr. |
RB | 2 | Aaron Wimberly | 5-9 | 177 | Sr. |
K | 1 | Cole Netten | 6-1 | 214 | So. |
IOWA STATE DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 98 | Trent Taylor | 6-2 | 244 | Jr. |
DT | 90 | Mitchell Meyers | 6-4 | 262 | So. |
DT | 93 | Brandon Jensen | 6-5 | 303 | Sr. |
DE | 58 | Cory Morrissey | 6-4 | 260 | Sr. |
LB | 14 | Drake Ferch | 5-11 | 209 | Sr. |
LB | 44 | Alton Meeks | 6-3 | 244 | Fr. |
LB | 21 | Luke Knott | 6-0 | 219 | So. |
CB | 8 | Kennett Lynn | 5-10 | 173 | Jr. |
FS | 5 | Kamari Cotton-Moya | 6-1 | 194 | Fr. |
SS | 22 | T.J. Mutcherson | 5-11 | 201 | So. |
CB | 4 | Sam E. Richardson | 5-8 | 187 | Jr. |
P | 13 | Colin Downing | 5-11 | 186 | Fr. |
Rustin Dodd’s pick: Iowa State 24-20
For many reasons, the Cyclones have had Kansas’ number over the last few years, rolling the Jayhawks when the talent disparity was not all that vast. Last year, Kansas picked up its only conference victory in November, beating West Virginia at home. Could it happen again? Yes. But Iowa State is the safe pick.
Rustin Dodd, rdodd@kcstar.com
This story was originally published November 6, 2014 at 9:31 AM with the headline "Kansas-Iowa State college football preview."