PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Brock Purdy has taken the Big 12 by storm since becoming the starter. He’s averaging 274 yards passing over the past three games, with nine touchdowns over that span. He’s playing like a veteran, not a true freshman, and already has led the Cyclones to two wins over ranked teams — Oklahoma State and West Virginia.
–LB Marcel Spears is coming off a monster game against Texas Tech, with two interceptions — including a pick-six — and four tackles. He and the rest of the Cyclones will have to pay particularly close attention to Kansas running back Pooka Williams, who has been coming on strong as both a runner and pass-catcher.
–WR Hakeem Butler has had two consecutive 100-yard receiving games for the first time in his Iowa State career. He’s the playmaker in the air attack, and when David Montgomery is running the ball well it only gives him more room to operate. When he gets the ball in space, he’s almost impossible to stop.
–WR Tarique Milton doesn’t get a lot of attention thanks to some of his more heralded teammates — but he’s no less dangerous. The redshirt freshman has 15 catches for 223 yards over his last three games.
SERIES HISTORY: Kansas leads Iowa State 50-41-6. However, the Cyclones enter this week on a three-game winning streak against the Jayhawks.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “A year ago we started November and there are guys that have already played well over a thousand snaps for our football team. We’re not even remotely close to that this year, which is certainly a credit to our football team and a credit to the multitude of guys that have stepped up to help us play.” — Coach Matt Campbell, in the Ames Tribune, on why his team is better positioned to avoid the disappointing finish of the 2017 squad.
