UNLV is up on the docket and the offensive struggles could all be forgotten against a Rebels team giving up an average of four hundred and sixty yards per game. Sounds like the perfect remedy for the ineptitude if you ask me. So let’s take a deeper dive into if the offense could get back on track.

What Went Wrong

Kickoff OB?

Okay, obviously kicking the ball out of bounds isn’t good. Normally, this isn’t something I’d include... but honestly, it was a struggle trying to find things wrong with what happened on Saturday night. Considering Mevis kind of limped off to end one of the previous drives and Assalley had taken the previous PAT, I’d let this one slide... on the condition we don’t give a struggling offense good field position. Thankfully, the defense ate their Wheaties and stuffed the Rebels as they did all night, but kicking the ball out of bounds trying to pull off what we did in the Fiesta Bowl against UNLV ain’t it.

9:30p.m. (local) kicks

This isn’t even really a “what went wrong” but more of a “what didn’t I/we like.” Saw a lot of people that were pretty unhappy with a 9:30 p.m. kick (local time) over social media. Kinda hard to blame them, honestly. I mean, I love college football, but there aren’t many times I’m up until almost 1:00 a.m. watching games. Maybe something to expect with BYU coming to the Big 12. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst, I guess?

What Went Right

Record-Breaking Night

Both Breece Hall and Brock Purdy added themselves to the record books on Saturday night in an offensive explosion by Tom Manning and Co. Brock Purdy set his twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh Cyclone records, surpassing the great Bret Meyer in both passing yards in a career (now with 9,607) AND for total offense in a career (now with 10,638)

Brock wasn’t the only one to add his name to the record books in Vegas, as Breece Hall would join him. While Brock set more school records, Breece went ahead and tied the Big 12 Conference record for most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown with fifteen. This ties the record set by Missouri Quarterback Corby Jones.

DEFENSE

Your new leaders in total defense, Iowa. State. Cyclones. After holding UNLV to just 138 yards of offense, Iowa State now leads the nation in total defense, giving up an average of 192.7 yards per game. You know, they say defense wins championships, and if this defense could just find takeaways every now and then (Isheem Young found his second interception of the season on Saturday) I firmly believe this is a championship-caliber defense.

CyclONEnation traveling

Who would’ve thought that Iowa State fans travel well? I’ll let the tweets speak for themselves. Expect plenty of Cardinal and Gold in Waco next week as the Cyclones start conference play against the Baylor Bears.

Translation: “Thank you #CyclONEnation

Weekly Grades

Offense: A+

Defense: A++++

Special Teams: A+ (anyone that argues this can talk to the business end of this fifty-four-yard field goal)

Non-Con: Complete

X: Gon give it to ya

Will McDonald: You cannot stop him, you can only hope to get away with a hold