Kansas football vs. Iowa State: Scouting report, prediction for Jayhawks’ Big 12 road game

LAWRENCE — Kansas football has an opportunity to pick up back-to-back wins Saturday when it goes up against Iowa State in a Big 12 Conference road matchup.

The No. 23 Jayhawks (6-2, 3-2 in Big 12) are coming off of an upset victory at home against now-No. 11 Oklahoma. The Cyclones (5-3, 4-1 in Big 12) are coming off a win on the road against Baylor. It’s a game that’ll matter a lot in the race to win the Big 12 title.

What does Kansas need to do in order to earn this win? What about Iowa State could be challenging to face? Prior to kickoff, take a look at this scouting report and prediction:

Kansas is in a much different place this year, compared to 2021

As Kansas offensive coordinator/associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki highlighted this week, two years ago the Jayhawks were crushed the last time they played on the road against the Cyclones. That was during Kansas head coach Lance Leipold’s first season at the helm. Iowa State was up 28-0 by the end of the first quarter and won 59-7.

But the Jayhawks’ rebuild is thriving now, and in year three of the Leipold era they are already bowl eligible for a second-straight season. They’re also coming off of a game last year in which they won 14-11 against the Cyclones in Lawrence. This has an opportunity to be the battle in Ames the game in 2021 never had the chance to be.

The Jayhawks need to get off to a better start in this road game

During Leipold’s tenure leading the program, Kansas has struggled to consistently get off to quality starts when it goes on the road. The last time the Jayhawks played on the road against Iowa State is one example. Kansas’ most recent road game, a loss against Oklahoma State, is another.

What Leipold highlighted this week was a need not just to start fast because that’s more ideal than starting slow, but because it would have the potential to take the Cyclones’ crowd out of the game. Iowa State’s stadium is sold out. So, the quicker the Jayhawks can do that the better for them.

Kansas’ offense has to overcome a defense that’s given it issues

The Jayhawks haven’t had success offensively against the Cyclones since Leipold, Kotelnicki and Kansas’ new staff arrived in 2021. Through the past two games, the Jayhawks have scored a combined 21 points. Scoring 21 points Saturday alone might not even be enough to win this year.

Kotelnicki noted that Iowa State has success defensively because it plays hard, stays within the limitations of its players, uses a sound scheme and tries to create turnovers. There’s discipline, too. It’ll be a challenge for Kansas regardless of who is at quarterback.

The Jayhawks’ defense will go up against an offense that’s building confidence

Iowa State’s offense doesn’t have a ton of experience at quarterback, given it is led by redshirt freshman Rocco Becht. But Leipold, defensive coordinator Brian Borland and even junior linebacker JB Brown all mentioned that Becht is improving for an offense that’s been finding itself as the season has progressed. Borland compared the strides the Cyclones have been making to the strides Oklahoma State was making before Kansas played the Cowboys earlier this season.

Borland said Becht is competitive and has a decent arm. Borland added that Becht can make plays while he’s creating with his feet. In the win against Baylor, Becht threw 19-for-31 for 238 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Prediction: Kansas 35, Iowa State 24

Kansas isn't the same team that got crushed the last time it played Iowa State on the road. Things should be different this time around. The Jayhawks should remain in the Big 12 title race.

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Jordan Guskey covers the University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football vs. Iowa State: Scouting report, prediction for game