Sizing up the slate: What to know about Iowa States 2020 football schedule

July 06, 2024

As 2020 goes, Sept. 12 might as well be Dec. 12. The last six months have felt like six years and visions of September are as clear as a foggy evening. Honestly, can any of you remember last basketball season? Or the Citrus Bowl?

As it stands today, Iowa State is scheduled to play its third different opponent on Sept. 12. First, the second Saturday in September always was reserved for the Cy-Hawk Game. When the Big Ten chose to play a league-only schedule, that sent the Cyclones scrambling for another opponent. They found one in Ball State. That game also disappeared when the Mid-American Conference shut down fall football because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, Iowa State is slated to host Louisiana, and there are a ton of Group of 5 teams more palatable for a Power 5 season opener than the Ragin’ Cajuns. They finished 11-3 last year with only a pair of losses to Appalachian State and in the season opener at Mississippi State. With double-digit starters returning from a program that has competed in two straight Sun Belt Conference title games, Louisiana presents Iowa State with a formidable challenge.

That said, the Cyclones’ season success is based more on what happens in their nine Big 12 games than their lone nonconference matchup. With three built-in off weeks, the Big 12 hopes it can survive the football season — even with likely postponements. After a revision last week, the Cyclones’ conference campaign is slated to open Sept. 26 at TCU and conclude Dec. 5 at Jack Trice Stadium against West Virginia. Here’s a look at Iowa State’s 2020 schedule:

Sept. 12 — vs. Louisiana. As mentioned above, this is a tricky opener. The Ragin’ Cajuns finished in the nation’s top 20 in both scoring offense (37.9, 10th) and scoring defense (19.7, 19th) last season and posted the sixth-most yards per play (7.0). They return starting quarterback Levi Lewis (3,050 yards, 26 TDs, 4 INTs) and a pair of running backs in Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas who ran for 1,147 and 820 yards, respectively, and combined for 27 rushing touchdowns. The defensive line brings back five of its top six rotational players. Sometimes you wonder what you’ll get from the Cyclones against nonconference opponents. For every 72-20 annihilation of Louisiana-Monroe (which lost only 31-30 to Louisiana), there is a 27-24 win against Drake or a 26-23 triple-overtime win against Northern Iowa.

Sept. 26 — at TCU. In what was expected as an early-season tossup last year, the Cyclones rolled through the Horned Frogs 49-24. Quarterback Brock Purdy had his most efficient passing performance last year in completing 19 of 24 passes for 247 yards and two scores. Most Gary Patterson quarterbacks improve over time, and Iowa native Max Duggan figures to be the next in line for TCU. Duggan’s completion percentage was modest at 53.4 percent, but he passed for 2,077 yards and 15 touchdowns plus rushing for 555 yards and six scores as a true freshman. As in the past, the outcome of this matchup will prove pivotal for both clubs.

Oct. 3 — vs. Oklahoma. Before Matt Campbell became head coach, the Cyclones had beaten the Sooners just once from 1961 until 2017. That year with a backup quarterback, Iowa State shocked Oklahoma in Norman with a 38-31 upset. Their meetings since were just as hard-fought with the Sooners winning 37-27 in 2018 at Ames. Last year, the Cyclones’ fourth-quarter rally fell just short, 42-41. Oklahoma may lead the all-time series 76-6-2, but that history won’t matter at Jack Trice Stadium — especially if fans are allowed to show up.

Oct. 10 — vs. Texas Tech. Last year’s matchup had plenty of drama with the Cyclones building a 20-0 lead and then holding on 34-24. The Red Raiders were 4-8 under new coach Matt Wells, but after a few spring practices and a healthy Alan Bowman, they should be more competitive. That said, Iowa State has won four straight games in this series and every outcome was by at least nine points.

Oct. 24 — at Oklahoma State. Like with TCU, the Cyclones’ games with the Cowboys usually determine whether if one of the teams is a league contender. Oklahoma State’s 34-27 upset last year stymied Iowa State’s Big 12 title hopes and ended a three-game Cyclones’ win streak. Oklahoma State features All-American running back Chuba Hubbard, who ran for 2,094 yards and All-American-caliber receiver Tylan Wallace (53 catches, 903 yards) and returns all but four starters from last year.

Oct. 31 — at Kansas. The Cyclones have beaten their longtime Big Eight rivals five straight times, but the Jayhawks are more unpredictable under Les Miles than in recent years. The Jayhawks have lost a ton of contributors so Miles will have to push youth — and running back Pooka Williams — forward in their rebuild, but as they showed against Texas, they’ll get up a few times this year. This season’s matchup is a tad more special; it’s their 100th all-time meeting.

Nov. 7 — vs. Baylor. In many ways, last year’s game served as a catalyst for both teams. It was the first real test for the Bears, which pulled out a 23-21 win. For Iowa State, which looked lethargic through three quarters in trailing 20-0, scoring three straight fourth-quarter touchdowns to take the lead spurred it to three consecutive victories after the loss. Baylor finished 11-3 but since has lost head coach Matt Rhule to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and welcomed Dave Aranda as head coach. Additionally, as one of the nation’s top defenses, the Bears have lost 10 defenders to the NFL.

Nov. 21 — vs. Kansas State. These land grant institutions will meet for the 104th consecutive year, the most of any current opponent for Iowa State. The Cyclones lead 50-49-4 and there’s a chance they could meet with something serious at stake. Considering this is Iowa State’s longest-standing and most important Big 12 rivalry, the schools really need to play for something. Considering their agricultural backgrounds and “Farmageddon” moniker, might I suggest ‘The Reaper’? That might rival Paul Bunyan’s Axe between Wisconsin-Minnesota as college football’s coolest traveling trophy. As for the field, the Wildcats return dual-threat quarterback Skyler Thompson but not a single starting offensive lineman. It’s similar on the defensive line with only All-Big 12 defensive end Wyatt Hubert coming back.

(Illustration by Braedyn Dochterman)

Nov. 28 — at Texas. When the Big 12 was in unsettled territory back in 2010, it was more likely than not that a decade later, the Longhorns and Cyclones would compete in different leagues than against one another on Thanksgiving weekend. But here we are. The league’s top returning quarterbacks in Purdy and Texas’ Sam Ehringer could put on a show. The Longhorns always boast a talented roster, and this year it’s deep. It might end up as one of the most unlikely games to watch this fall.

Dec. 5 — vs. West Virginia. The Cyclones-Mountaineers series is one of the coolest, strangest pseudo-rivalries of realignment. Neither state is attached to the contiguous collection of Kansas-Oklahoma-Texas, and they share nothing in common with each other, either. But they’ve had great games and major upsets in their series. After the No. 14 Cyclones reeled off four straight wins in 2017 — including a pair of top-five upsets — West Virginia popped a 20-16 upset of its own. In 2018, the Mountaineers were unbeaten and ranked No. 6 but were obliterated 30-14 at Jack Trice Stadium. Last year, ISU pulled out a 38-14 win that was known as running back Breece Hall’s breakout game. Hall ran for 132 yards and three scores after just one rushing attempt the previous week.

(Top photo: Jay Biggerstaff / USA TODAY Sports)

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