close
close

Iowa State Football vs. UCF Prediction: Cyclones have a historic advantage

Posted on by Kennedy
Iowa State Football vs. UCF Prediction: Cyclones have a historic advantage

play

AMES – Over the last few weeks, we've all become amateur historians when it comes to the Iowa State football beat.

Originally it was the Cyclones' first 5-0 start since 1980. Now it is their first 6-0 start since 1938.

This led us to find out what films and music were popular when disco was replaced by Greed Is Good. We examined what the last years of the Great Depression were like for the country and football.

Just to get a sense and perspective of how rare this start is for a football program that for so long was defined by what it didn't do.

It is also a connective tissue. It's a reminder that Iowa State football has been a community for decades. For more than a century.

More: Join Travis Hines' Cyclone Insider SMS group for a behind-the-scenes look

Sure, they may have worn bell-bottoms in that 5-0 start, and in that first 6-0 start, there were probably Iowa State University fans who only experienced football through the radio, but they all felt the same hope and spirit Optimism like you. We feel like we're waiting for our artificial intelligence overlords to take over at any moment.

However, this somewhat old story probably isn't the most instructive for Iowa State football.

No, you don't have to look back too far to get an idea of ​​what the Cyclone team is experiencing right now – and what might come next.

“We’ve been here before,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said Tuesday. “We were in those moments. We've taken advantage of some of those opportunities where Iowa State football has been creeping up and doing really strong things in a positive way.

“We handled it positively and we handled it negatively. What you’re trying to do is use history and your story and just share why you’ve either been successful at some of these things and maybe you haven’t.”

Of course Campbell is right.

Iowa State may not have been here during his tenure – undefeated in six games – but they have been here several times – nationally relevant and on the way to the Big 12 championship game – with Campbell at the helm.

More: Hines: Jayden Higgins joins Iowa State football's elite wideouts

There are times when they fail to maintain momentum.

Like the gutsy 2017 team that had plenty of heart but not enough depth to sustain a 4-1 start to Big 12 play. Or when the talented but young team of 2019 completely collapsed in the final two games. There was the 2021 team that failed to live up to its expectations or potential.

There are lessons in this for 2024. This heart can take you far. That it takes a whole squad to reach these heights. This talent cannot do it alone.

We all remember 2020, of course, and that is probably the guiding star. This is clearly Campbell's best team, but also the team that embodies the approval he seeks every year. They were cooped up amid the pandemic lockdowns.

More: Hines: Iowa State football relies on young linebackers with small school pedigree

But there is also a warning from this team.

Even with this unprecedented buy-in, even with the wealth of talent we can still see playing on Sundays four years later, the Cyclones weren't good enough to win the Big 12.

This is a new league, of course, but the history lesson remains the same. Sometimes being really good and completely confident isn't good enough. If this team couldn't overcome the championship hurdle, it's indicative of how exhausting the pursuit must be.

As entertaining as it can be to revisit decades ago, the recent past offers everything the Cyclones need to know.

UCF (3-3, 1-2) vs. No. 11 Iowa State Football (6-0, 3-0) Game Prediction

Time, TV, line: 6:30 p.m. CT; FS1; Iowa State is ahead by 13.5 points

Where UCF comes out on top: The Knights lead the Big 12 in total offense, but the Cyclones are the league's best in overall defense. UCF's success on Saturday will likely have to take place on-site. It boasts the league's best rushing attack at 268 yards per game, while the Cyclones are middle of the pack when it comes to stopping the run. If the Knights can get the running game going – which includes quarterback – they may have a chance to hand Iowa State its first loss.

Where Iowa State comes out on top: The Cyclones are superior in all three phases of the game, but it is most evident when they have the ball. UCF's defense is mediocre at best, while the Cyclone offense feels like it's just starting to take its true form.

Prediction: Iowa State 35, UCF 6: The Cyclones – at night, at home and with so much on the line – finally got off to the fast start they've been missing this season, and they're making this game a safe bet before halftime.

Iowa State columnist Travis Hines has covered the Cyclones for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune since 2012. Contact him at [email protected] or (515) 284-8000. FFollow him on X at @TravisHines21.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *