Peterson: Breaking down the bowl options for Iowa State football
Randy PetersonAMES, Ia. — In case you hadn’t heard ...
Iowa State will play in either San Antonio, Orlando or Houston in three or so weeks after (very likely) beating Drake. We won’t know until mid-afternoon Sunday, but here’s a clue about the location:
“If the Big 12 champion is selected to the College Football Playoff, the Big 12 championship game runner-up becomes the conference’s Sugar Bowl designee.”
That’s a direct copy-and-paste from the Big 12, so here we go:
- If Oklahoma beats Texas in Saturday’s 11 a.m. championship game — the Sooners are an 8-point fave, by the way — and is selected for the College Football Playoffs, then the HornsUp goes to the Sugar.
- If the Sooners win and don’t get selected to college football’s Final Four, then they go to the Sugar, and then the Alamo most likely picks Texas.
- If Texas beats Oklahoma, then both will be in New Year’s Six bowls.
Got it?
So let’s localize this what-if stuff for the purpose of Cyclones fans wondering what to do with all their discretionary cash.
Cyclones to the ...
Alamo Bowl?
When: Dec. 28
Where: San Antonio, Texas
Time, TV: 8 p.m., ESPN
How it could happen: It starts with Oklahoma and Texas both being selected for New Year’s Six bowls, and if that happens, then the Alamo picks between the Cyclones and West Virginia. Iowa State didn’t just win the head-to-head, the Cyclones won it by 16 points. Iowa State's fan base is known for the way it takes over destination spots — like the Power and Light District during Big 12 basketball tournaments in Kansas City, the way they owned the route at last year’s Liberty Bowl parade and the way they dominated the touristy River Walk when the basketball team played in the San Antonio NCAA regional in 2014.
I’ve read were some people think a Dana Holgorsen vs. Mike Leech and Washington State would be an intriguing matchup. There’s also the Will Grier factor. He’s West Virginia's marquee quarterback who likely will be in New York as Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa collects the Heisman. He’s also the quarterback that Iowa State defense confused to the tune of 11-for-15 for 100 yards. And there’s always the question of whether he’ll even play in the bowl, choosing instead not risking injury before the NFL draft.
Factor in also West Virginia losing its last two games. . .Iowa State winning six of its last seven heading into Drake — and the fact that one of those victories during the streak was against, ahem, West Virginia.
Camping World Bowl?
When: Dec. 28
Where: Orlando, Florida
Time, TV: 4:15 p.m., ESPN
How it could happen: For this to be an option, either Texas has dropped to the Alamo, or the Alamo has picked West Virginia.
Cyclones fans showed well when the men’s basketball team played in a Thanksgiving tournament in Disney World in 2016. Iowa State against North Carolina State would be intriguing, considering both have storyline quarterbacks from Arizona.
Iowa State freshman Brock Purdy, of Gilbert, Arizona, has completed 113 of 171 passes for 1,782 yards and 15 touchdowns against just five interceptions since taking over seven games ago. His 176.72 passing efficiency is fourth nationally, which also is impressive.
North Carolina State’s Ryan Finley, of Phoenix, has completed 275 of 408 passes for 3,380 yards and 21 touchdowns. His efficiency ranking is 150.06.
West Virginia has played in this bowl twice, the most recent being a 31-14 loss against Miami in 2016. The Mountaineers lost against North Carolina State, 23-7, in the 2010 bowl.
Texas Bowl?
When: Dec. 27
Where: Houston, Texas
Time, TV: 8 p.m., ESPN
How it happens? The Cyclones lost against TCU in what was then the 2005 Houston Bowl, 27-24. If Iowa State is still on the board when it’s this bowl’s turn to pick, then it’ll be Cyclones to Houston.
ISU-Drake rivalry in hoops?
I wasn’t as out of shape about Iowa State vs. Drake as some of you were when the schools announced what will unfold on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. I’m not surprised they’re playing on Saturday; I tweeted out the idea a long, long time ago — after the South Dakota State game was canceled.
Money is staying in the state. It’s a game Iowa State will win. It’s a game in which Re-al Mitchell could be the Cyclones’ MVP. It’ll be mostly a well-deserved rest for Iowa State starters.
And the fact that it’s Drake ...
Here’s hoping Saturday’s game opens the door for talks about resuming Cyclones against Bulldogs on the basketball court. In a few weeks, the Hy-Vee Classic (I still want to call it the Big Four Classic) will be history, with Iowa saying it’s moving on after the Big Ten went to a 20-game league schedule, and Iowa State following — leaving Drake and Northern Iowa out in our cold winter.
But in the best interest of we central Iowans, why don’t Iowa State and Drake start up an annual basketball game? It won’t be home-and-home as the Bulldogs’ creative athletics director Brian Hardin would want, but what about three-for-one?
What about three games at Hilton for every one game Iowa State plays at the Knapp Center? Wherever it is, it's an easy drive for both fan bases.
Cyclones basketball fans would rather see Darian DeVries’ guys play the Cyclones than Alabama State or Omaha, I presume.
Three ISU-DU games in Ames. One in Des Moines.
Common sense. Make it happen.
Montgomery's last home game?
As for Saturday, it’s the start of Iowa State’s bowl preparation. It’s a game in which Johnnie Lang will get more snaps than David Montgomery, Mitchell more total yards than Purdy, and Trevor Downing more blocking opportunities than Josh Knipfel.
It’s a game in which Montgomery needs 53 yards to become the first Cyclone to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons since 2000 and 2001 — and once he hits that, he’ll be out of the lineup in what might be his farewell game in Jack Trice Stadium.
Farewell game?
Maybe.
He’s a 21-year-old sophomore. The average NFL running back career lasts 2.57 seasons. He’s got nothing left to prove at the college level.
Drafttek.com ranks him No. 2 running back and 31st overall best player available for the 2019 draft. He’s a second-rounder, according to the website. Draft experts have also told us he's a premium round pick (first three rounds). If the postseason NFL evaluation process agrees with that outside thought on his draft standing ...
Then assume Saturday is his final home game.
And a day later ...
Assume Iowa State is selected to play in either San Antonio or Orlando — with an outside shot at Houston.
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.