Game 10 Preview: Cincinnati at Iowa State
The Bearcats will look to get back in the win column after back-to-back losses at Colorado on Oct. 26 and vs. West Virginia last Saturday when they travel to Iowa State for an 8:00 pm kickoff inside Jack Trice Stadium.
(Photo: Iowa State Athletics)
The Cyclones were ranked as high as No. 9 in the AP poll after a week eight win over UCF, but back-to-back losses against Texas Tech and Kansas have left them unranked.
Iowa State will come in with plenty of motivation after going on the road and giving up 45 points to a 2-6 Kansas team.
"(Kansas) played with a lot of confidence, and they blocked them. They just did a lot of good things," Satterfield told media earlier this week. "It's something good to look at for us to say it can be done. You can move the ball on them. You got to block them. You got to be fundamentally sound, and you got to execute. You got to take care of the football but, they did. They put a good blueprint out of some things that are going to be pretty good against them.”
Taking care of the football will have to be at the top of the priority list for quarterback Brendan Sorsby and the Cincinnati offense, after three turnovers led to 17 points in a 31-24 loss to West Virginia.
"I think every week in this Big 12 conference, it's tough battles. No matter who you are playing, these teams are all good enough to beat you, and you can't beat yourself. That is for sure," said Satterfield.
"Iowa State's one of the best teams in the country in turnover margin, and we have to do a great job with that to have a chance to win this game. I know our guys know that, and our coaches know that, so we have to do a better job throughout the week preparing for that."
ISU is second in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+8) and No. 17 overall in the nation. The Cyclones are first in the Big 12 and ninth overall in pass defense (163.1) and second in scoring defense (18.8). Teams are completing just 51% passing per game against ISU.
The strength of the Cyclone defense is their secondary.
6-foot-4 redshirt-freshman defensive back Malik Verdon currently leads the Cyclone defense with 58 tackles, while 6-foot-2 senior defensive back Beau Freyler is second on the team with 56 tackles.
Jontez Williams is tied for the Big 12 lead with four interceptions, with teammate Darien Porter right behind him with three interceptions. Jeremiah Porter hauled in five interceptions last season, and has two this season.
Seven different Cyclones have combined for 14 interceptions. That mark ranks sixth nationally.
"A defense that we hired coach Tyson [Veidt] from, so it gives us more familiarity with their defense. I think having gone against it in the spring and in the summer, so we’ll have a better idea about it, but there's still a great defense at Iowa State, one of the best in the Big 12. I think one of the top pass defenses in the country and run defense," Satterfield explained.
6-foot-2 305 pound defensive lineman J.R Singleton leads the Cyclones up front with 4 sacks.
Offensively, the Iowa State offense will go as far as quarterback Rocco Becht takes them.
"So much poise and confidence in their offense and an understanding what he needs to do," said Satterfield.
"They’ll run the football, they like to run the football, and they're good at it, and they'll utilize their tight ends in a lot of different ways. They'll go under center, they'll go shotgun. He’s just got a great knack for that. I'll tell you what he does, throws a great, catchable football, and he's very accurate."
Becht ranks third in the Big 12 in passing (266 ypg), one spot above UC QB Sorsby (265.2 ypg). The reigning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year finished 24-of-37 for 383 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in last week's 45-36 loss at Kansas.
Becht also has one of the best wide receiving duos in college football at his disposal in Jayden Higgins (62 rec, 791 yds, 7 tds) and Jaylen Noel (51 rec, 892 yds, 5 tds).
"They (Iowa State) have two great wide receivers, number 13 [Jaylin Noel], their return guy, but he also is their big play pass guy. He's got great speed. Their other receiver is a longer guy that killed us last year. He's an outstanding player, too, and they predominantly throw to those two guys and I would too. They're two outstanding players. Their offense knows our defense, and probably going to obviously know which ways to try to attack it.”
ISU has had a 100-yard receiver in a school-record tying five-straight games thanks to the pair. Against Kansas, Higgins and Noel combined for 15 receptions, 255 yards and two Noel TDs. It was the seventh time in nine games they combined for at least 10 catches, 175 yards and a score, the most nationally by a set of teammates.
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The Iowa State offense is currently averaging 31.1 points (fifth-most in school history), 439.6 yards (T-2nd most) and 6.3 yards per play (T-3rd most). Becht is averaging 271.4 passing yards (third most).
Slowing the Cyclone offense will be a challenge, but the Bearcats have some familiarity with the Cyclones' personnel thanks to first-year defensive coordinator Tyson Viedt. Veidt came to Cincinnati this year after spending eight successful years at Iowa State.
" He gives some great insight on having to go to Iowa State, he spent a long time there and understands the environment. It's a great environment. It's a tough place to go in. They've won a ton of games there in Ames, and then, they have great crowd support," said Satterfield.
Final Thoughts:
Iowa State has a ton of experience and length in their secondary so it will be tough to hit big plays over the top against their three-high safety look. The Cyclones have allowed just 19 plays of 20-plus yards, which ranks in the FBS top 10.
Statistically, these two teams are very similar and almost mirror one another. At the end of the day, Cincinnati will have to be able to establish the run early and take care of the ball to leave Ames with a victory.
Iowa State enters as a 7.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 53.5.
(Photo: Iowa State Athletics)