Iowa State Cyclones vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 12th 2022
Gino Russo
Oklahoma State will look to break a two-game slide that derailed a promising season when the Cowboys host Iowa State in Big 12 play on Saturday in Stillwater, Okla.
The Cowboys (6-3, 3-3) are coming off a 37-16 loss at Kansas last week for their third loss in the past four games after opening the season 5-0. Iowa State (4-5, 1-5) ended a five-game losing streak with a 31-14 win over visiting West Virginia.
Oklahoma State's downward spiral can be traced to quarterback Spencer Sanders' injured right throwing shoulder, which has nagged him the past month before causing him to miss the loss to the Jayhawks.
Sanders has thrown for 2,177 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, in addition to running for 343 yards and eight scores.
Garret Rangel was 27-of-40 passing for 304 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in his first career start at Kansas.
With Sanders out, the Cowboys' quarterback situation is unsettled, with Rangel and Gunnar Gundy, who is the son of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, in the mix to start against the Cyclones.
"First thing is, I'm not going to say we're going to start anybody the rest of the year at any place," said Mike Gundy, who also refused to put a timetable on Sanders' return. "We could very well do either (have Rangel or Gunnar Gundy play). We haven't had that discussion."
The Cyclones are coming off their best win of the season as they work toward becoming bowl-eligible for the sixth straight season.
"Obviously, to feel the sense of victory and to understand why we won the football game and to the reasons why over the last couple of weeks we've been pounding away, I think those are huge growth steps when you're talking about a young football team," Iowa coach Matt Campbell said.
The Cyclones, who are seeking back-to-back wins over the Cowboys for the first time since 2000-01 after a 24-21 victory last year, need quarterback Hunter Dekkers and receiver Xavier Hutchinson to shine Saturday.
Dekkers has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 2,370 yards with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Hutchinson's school-record 87 catches this season lead the FBS, while his 953 receiving yards rank fifth.
--Field Level Media
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Quarterback Spencer Sanders returned from injury to account for two touchdowns as No. 6 Oklahoma State held on for a 24-21 win over No. 17 Iowa State on Saturday in Big 12 play at Stillwater, Okla.
Sanders, who missed two games after suffering an ankle injury early in the opener against Tulsa, completed 20 of 29 passes for 235 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also ran for 71 yards and a score. Chuba Hubbard carried 25 times for 139 yards for the Cowboys (4-0, 3-0 Big 12).
The Cyclones (3-2, 3-1) mostly stalled after tying the game at 14 early in the second half, but Brock Purdy connected with Xavier Hutchinson on a 20-yard touchdown with 49 seconds to go. Oklahoma State receiver Tylan Wallace easily recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.
Iowa State running back Breece Hall, a sophomore, posted his fifth consecutive 100-yard game, finishing with a career-high 185 yards on 20 carries. He had runs of 70 and 66 yards, the latter of which tied the game at 14 with 10:12 to go in the third quarter.
But Oklahoma State's stout defense ruled most of the rest of the game, holding the Cyclones to just 41 yards on their next five possessions. Purdy finished 19 of 34 for 162 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
After Hall's touchdown, Oklahoma State quickly wrested back momentum with a four-play, 67-yard drive, capped by Sanders' 14-yard run around right end on a zone-read play.
Oklahoma State went up 24-14 with 11:27 remaining on Alex Hale's 31-yard field goal.
The Cowboys, who entered third nationally in scoring defense at 9.0 points per game, denied Iowa State its first 4-0 conference start in school history.
Iowa State struck for a 7-0 first-quarter lead when Purdy scored on an 11-yard keeper. Oklahoma State roared back with a pair of big scoring plays -- a 34-yard pass to Jelani Woods and a 32-yard rush by Hubbard, who weaved through traffic near the line of the scrimmage, then darted into open space to his left, getting into the end zone with 9:50 to go before halftime.
Iowa State's Connor Assalley missed two field goal attempts in the first half -- from 48 yards and a 33-yarder that caromed off the right upright.
--Field Level Media