Iowa State Cyclones 2008 Preview

Coach: Gene Chizik (3-9) Second Year
Last Year: 3-9, 2-6 Big 12 North, sixth of six
Returning Starters : Offense 7, Line 4 | Defense 7, Line 2

Three Things You Should Know
1) Brett Meyer and Todd Blythe are no longer with ISU. I know. It seems like they were there longer than Dan McCarney.
2) Running back Alexander Robinson appears to be a weapon for ISU running for 147 vs MU and 127 vs CU late in the season.
3) G Reggie Stephens (JR 6-3/331), DE Kurtis Taylor (SR 6-2/252, 6.5 sacks '07) and CB Allen Bell (JR 6-0/181, are all players to make note of for the Clones.

Trends
Despite KU's past struggles in conference road games, KU went 4-0 last year. KU's only road win in 2006 was at ISU (41-10) and the Jayhawks have now won three straight against the Clones. ISU has lost five straight in Big 12 openers.

The Game
KU gets two weeks to prepare for this one and that generally results in a KU win. Traditionally though, it has been pretty tough for the Jayhawks to win in Ames. Unfortunately for the Clones, Todd Reesing probably hasn't gotten the word on that one. The biggest issue really could be overconfidence for the Jayhawks as a win at USF will have KU under the spotlight. ISU despite being shorthanded battled good teams hard last year (OU 7-17) even knocking off Iowa, KSU and Colorado. That's not the kind of team you want to overlook as they will improve in year two under Gene Chizik. On paper, KU looks good in this one, but they better strap the helmets on and be ready to play.

2008 Iowa State Schedule
Aug. 28, 2008 SO DAKOTA ST 
Sept. 6, 2008 Kent State 
Sept. 13, 2008 at Iowa 
Sept. 20, 2008 at UNLV 
Oct. 4, 2008 Kansas  
Oct. 11, 2008 at Baylor 
Oct. 18, 2008 Nebraska 
Oct. 25, 2008 Texas A&M  
Nov. 1, 2008 at OK State 
Nov. 8, 2008 at Colorado  
Nov. 15, 2008 Missouri 
Nov. 22, 2008 at Kansas State

2007 Results
L Kent State 23-14
L Northern Iowa 24-13
W Iowa 15-13
L at Toledo 36-35
L at Nebraska 35-17
L at Texas Tech 42-17
L Texas 56-3
L Oklahoma 17-7
L at Missouri 42-28
W Kansas State 31-20
W Colorado 31-28
L at Kansas 45-7