It’s been 20 years since Iowa State finished ranked in the top 25 in the AP. That 25th position in 2000 was one of two times in program history that the Cyclones finished as a ranked team, and the other the 19th position in 1976..
With this as a backdrop, the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon on Jan. 2 (at 4 p.m. ET on the ESPN / ESPN App) will be the last game of what will surely fall as Iowa State’s best team. (8-3) of history.
Still, it’s fair to wonder if either team should have received an invitation in the first place.
Iowa State, which finished No. 10 in the college football playoff rankings, received the final offer of the New Year’s Six ahead of a Carolina Coast team with a more deserving resume . The Chanticleers finished the year undefeated (11-0) as co-champions of the Sun Belt and recorded a road victory against Louisiana. This game is notable because it was Louisiana’s only loss of the season and the Ragin ’Cajuns won at Iowa State with 17 at the start of the season.
Even with this unjustifiable lack of committee, the Cyclones deserve more of a place than Oregon’s No. 25 (4-2), which received the Pac-12 automatic bid winning the conference title in which it played only because Washington was unavailable due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
Here’s what to see on January 2 in Glendale, Arizona:
Key player for Iowa State: RB Breece Room. Just a second year, Hall was named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the country’s best runner, after leading the country with 1,436 yards of speed. He is one of 12 players nationally to have surpassed 1,000 yards and his 19 quick touchdowns have been just behind Alabama’s Najee Harris (24). Oregon’s rushing defense allowed 4.21 yards per carry, ranking 30th among 55 Power 5 teams.
Key player for Oregon: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux. One of the two All-Pac-12 first-team picks for the Ducks, Thibodeaux is among the most dangerous step runners in the nation. He led the team in both sacks (3) and loss attacks (7.5) and is the type of talent that will deserve special attention from the state of Iowa as he sets up a plan to game. Since arriving as one of the nation’s most sought-after defensive players, Thibodeaux has lived up to his billing.
Combination to see: With Hall deserving so much attention, ducks may have to rely more on individual high school clashes than they would otherwise. That possibility makes the clash between Oregon cornerback Mykael Wright, the other conference player for all of the Ducks’ first teams, with Iowa State receiver Xavier Hutchinson (60 catches, 726 yards) ) be interesting to watch. Cyclones have a dangerous closed end in Charlie Kolar (39 catches, 538 yards), which can also cause a lot of problems.
X Factor: The unknown component of this game, which (hopefully) is unique this season, is that Iowa State enters the game after playing 11 games and accumulating the blows and bruises involved in playing an entire season. Oregon played only seven and, in theory, should be the coolest team. Is it an advantage for Oregon? May be. Does Iowa State have the advantage because it takes more time to practice and play? Plus, maybe.
Motivation factor: It’s fair to wonder if the usual motivating factors even apply this year given the difference it’s had all season, but one thing is clear: it’s a rarefied air for the state of Iowa. The loss to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game could have been deflated, but the chance to bounce back with the New Year’s Six victory and finish the season ranked among the top ten figures to have the Cyclones ready. For the Ducks, this terrain has been worked on in the past and, as a Rose Bowl defender, that kind of game is the expectation.