The Case for Iowa State, BYU to Remain Perfect

© Rob Gray/USA TODAY SPORTS

The Big 12 Conference has had a wild and wacky football season to this point. Those thought to be contenders find themselves at the bottom of the barrel, while some thought to be conference bottom feeders have risen to the top and find themselves in conference contention halfway through the season.

Two teams in particular, though, have found the most success through all the chaos. The No. 9 Iowa State Cyclones and No. 13 BYU Cougars find themselves at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in conference, perfect on the season and riding a big wave of momentum. The Cyclones were expected to be dark horse contenders at best, while the Cougars were expected to finish in the bottom five of the conference. Both have flipped the Big 12 on its head, with their defenses reigning supreme instead of the usual offensive powerhouses we see at the top of the conference.

As the old line from The Talking Heads goes "You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?" , 21-1and while that does matter, for the Cyclones and Cougars, it's where they're going that matters the most. Can these teams ride their wave to running the table? Maybe even a College Football Playoff spot? Here's how both can see their seasons reach perfection.

A Summary of the Iowa State Cyclones

The Cyclones, as seems to be the case every year as of recently, have one of the strongest defenses in the FBS. The Cyclone defense allows just 285 total yards a game and ranks No. 15 nationally.

Players like Jeremiah Cooper, Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon have given this secondary national acclaim, ranking No. 5 and allowing just 145.7 yards a game. Up front, Kooper Ebel, Jacob Ellis and J.R. Singleton do enough to slow down deadly run games like the West Virginia Mountaineers (3-3, 2-1), where they allowed just 150 total yards rushing from one of the nation's most lethal rushing attacks.

Not only has their defense clicked, though, but their offense is a well-oiled, balanced machine that has weapons both in the air and on the ground. Led by quarterback Rocco Becht and the stellar skill players around him, this offense is one to be reckoned with, putting up 422.2 yards per game.

Offensively, Becht is already a budding superstar, but with receivers like Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who are both Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list members, the air attack is one of the most dangerous in the country. The Cyclones average 247.8 yards passing per game.

While those numbers don't stand out, ranking No. 49 overall in the nation, there's a reason for that. The Cyclones don't have to rely solely on their passing game with a backfield like they have. Doak Walker Award watch list member Abu Sama, along with Jaylon Jackson and Carson Hansen, make up a deadly trio of running backs that can break a game open at any time. Once again, the numbers aren't eye-catching at 174.8 yards per game, but with all three backs averaging more than 5 yards per carry, the Cyclone run game is another dimension of this offense to watch for.

A team that has both sides of the ball clicking at the same time is already dangerous, but when you have talent on both sides of the ball that is award-worthy like the Cyclones do, that team is a contender through and through.

Analyzing the Cyclones' Remaining Schedule

The Cyclones have a couple of challenges left in their schedule. In the Big 12, anyone can beat anyone, so they have to take every game seriously to stay perfect.

Taking it game-by-game, the UCF Knights (3-3, 1-2) will be similar to the Mountaineers in that their run game will prove to be dangerous. Slow it down, though, and with that struggling passing game and weaker defense you should come out on top.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-1, 3-0) have a fantastic offense but some major questions on defense still fester. It will be a shootout, but having them at home will be the Cyclones' friend. Shut down a great group of receivers and Tahj Brooks and they'll be just fine.

The Kansas Jayhawks (1-5, 0-3) are a trap game, being a road game and against a Kansas team that, while 1-5, could have one each of those five games easily if one or two more things went their way. Don't get surprised, slow down the run game, and fluster Jalon Daniels and the Cyclones should come out on top.

The Cincinnati Bearcats (4-2, 2-1) are another interesting team this season. Offensively, they're similar to the Cyclones in that they have a stellar balanced attack with Corey Kiner and Brendan Sorsby. Defensively though, it's almost the opposite. A great defensive front with a below-average secondary. Test their secondary, pressure the young quarterback in Sorsby and keep Kiner quiet.

The Cyclones have their biggest challenges saved for last, though, as they have a road game against the Utah Utes (4-2, 1-2) and a rivalry home game against the No. 17 Kansas State Wildcats (5-1, 2-1). Both games will prove to be their two toughest challenges of the season.

Starting with Utah, the Utes boast a very strong defense that allows just 290.7 total yards per game, comparable to the Cyclones. However, the Utes have a bit of a quarterback controversy going on, as they have benched seventh-year player Cam Rising for Isaac Wilson due to Rising's nagging injuries. If the Cyclones can capitalize on the Utes' ongoing quarterback problems, should they still be struggling, this gives them a great chance at victory. Pressure and forcing mistakes will be key.

As for the Wildcats, this is another team that has a very strong run game but is also developing a great passing game as well. Quarterback Avery Johnson has thrown for 1,103 yards and 11 touchdowns and has a quarterback rating of 71.7, while Jayce Brown recorded 121 yards and 2 touchdowns versus the Colorado Buffaloes (4-2, 2-1) last week and is steadily making his way up the ranks of Big 12 receivers.

The Wildcats will test this Cyclone defense, but where the Cyclones can succeed is creating mistakes and making this Wildcat squad play from behind. The formula to beat this Wildcat squad came from the team being talked about next in BYU, force mistakes, maintain a quick tempo on offense and suffocate the backfield.

Overall, the Cyclones have a solid, but not huge chance of remaining perfect. It will be a long shot, but doable. It will all depend on whether they can continue to ride that momentum as well as come out swinging every game, as slow starts have been a problem for this Cyclone squad. If they can do both those things, look out for them in Arlington, Texas competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

A Summary of the BYU Cougars

The BYU Cougars are one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 college football season. No one expected them to be up here at the top of the conference, let alone 6-0. A few things have led them to this point, though.

For one, having a defense that ranks No. 24 in the nation allowing just 308.7 yards per game helps a lot. The BYU defensive front has allowed just 120 yards rushing and the BYU secondary has allowed 188.3 yards passing per game. They also rank No. 16 in scoring defense allowing just 16.33 points per game, their best ranking since 2020. A tough, experienced group led by Tyler Batty and Jakob Robinson as well as some young talents in Harrison Taggart and Isaiah Glasker, a unit once thought to be the weakest link on this team in the preseason has proven otherwise with gusto.

On offense, the Cougars are coming well into their own. Led by quarterback Jake Retzlaff, the BYU offense has the No. 30 scoring offense in the nation at 34.3 points per game. Capitalizing off mistakes forced by this vaunted defense has been the name of the game, as the Cougars have a plus-7 turnover margin and have scored a whopping 54 points off turnovers so far.

Retzlaff averages 247 yards passing a game, and while the rushing attack only averages 140 yards a game, this offense can explode for scoring and yardage at any moment. Receivers like Darius Lassiter, Chase Martin and receiving back LJ Martin who can create explosive plays at will certainly help with that.

The momentum started for the Cougars when Kansas State came to town and took a 38-9 drubbing. The Cougars once again displayed how good they can be at capitalizing off mistakes and maintaining an explosive attack in their next two games, opening up a 28-point halftime lead against the Baylor Bears and making Noah Fifita and company pay for every single mistake made in a 41-19 slaughter against the Arizona Wildcats (3-3, 1-2).

This team lives by making opponents pay for underestimating them and forces their hand at every opportunity they can get. However, can they continue to surprise now that they're 6-0 or will teams clean it up and learn their lesson?

Analyzing the Cougars' Remaining Schedule

The Cougars will have two games in particular against former Pac-12 Conference opponents that will provide particular intrigue in their quest to stay perfect. As stated before, though, no team in the Big 12 can be taken lightly, so how will the Cougars fare in their remaining schedule?

Next week against the Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-3, 0-3) may prove to be their easiest outing of the remaining six games. A mistake-prone offense with an injury-ridden defense is prime pickings for a team that lives off an up-tempo offense and greedy defense. The Cougars will still have to fight for this win, but with it being at home and with the situation being dire for Mike Gundy and his Cowboys, it should be a BYU victory.

An away game against UCF could prove challenging. While yes, the passing game will be easy pickings as long as you can get pressure in there, the run game led by RJ Harvey is still lethal and not very prone to mistakes. Forcing the Knights to pass and demoralizing them with a couple of explosive plays on offense will ensure the best chance at victory.

After that, though, you have the Holy War. Going to Utah to face the Utes will prove to be the biggest test for the Cougars this season, but it was expected to be. As stated earlier, the Utes are struggling with an offensive identity right now. Shutting down their veteran receivers by flustering a young Wilson will provide those opportunities to capitalize on, you just have to get past the Utes' stout defense. A Cougar victory here is still hard to see, but much easier than it was at the beginning of the season. If BYU can play their game, force mistakes and get a few plays by that Utah defense, they may just come home with a Holy War victory.

Kansas could once again prove to be a trap game for the Cougars. An offensive coordinator that knows the BYU system well in Jeff Grimes, a team that's desperate for a victory to maintain some shred of hope this season and a rushing attack that is one of the best in the country could spell trouble, but BYU should handle business if they force this offense into mistakes and get the Kansas defense on the back foot.

The Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1, 2-1) serve as the penultimate game of the regular season for the Cougars and also serve as the second toughest matchup they'll have for the remainder of the season. The Sun Devils are red-hot (pun fully intended) and have shown they can come up big in clutch moments. They're a team that plays mistake-free football as well, with a plus-5 turnover margin. Stopping Cam Skattebo will be the biggest key to victory here, but getting past the No. 31-ranked defense that allows just 317 total yards a game will prove to be tough as well.

Finally, you have a bit of a palette cleanser in facing conference bottom feeders the Houston Cougars (2-4, 1-2), but don't be fooled. The Cougars have put together some strong efforts this season, including hanging tough with the Oklahoma Sooners (4-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) and beating down the TCU Horned Frogs (3-3, 1-2) in a matchup that was a lot closer on the scoreboard than it was seen in-person. Use this as a primer for a hopeful conference championship, but don't allow Houston any room for confidence or optimism.

Overall, BYU can continue their winning ways, but like the Cyclones, face some very tough obstacles along the way. It will be interesting to see if they can continue to play greedy, capitalize off turnovers and play hard-nosed, balanced ball with hints of explosive plays sprinkled in against some of their tougher matchups. If they can, this squad gives themselves the best chance for a date in Arlington.

In Summary

Both teams make strong cases to run the table for the rest of the season, setting themselves up for a date with each other in Arlington. Momentum swings happen often in college football, though, so can they keep their play consistent and keep riding that wave?

That remains to be the biggest question for both squads heading into the second half of the season. Both have major challenges ahead, both have shown they can rise to those challenges and both have shown they can win and win with authority. Who will come out on top and who will earn their College Football Playoff spot? If not these two, then who? Who will play spoiler to these teams' perfect seasons, if anyone? Who will come out on top of all this chaotic, glorious mess?

Many questions are left to be answered, but one thing remains true. The Big 12 is as hectic and fun as it has ever been and it's made for an excellent watch this 2024 season. These two teams have been a big part of it thus far and have been the champions of chaos to this point. Will one of them be champions of the conference when all is said and done, or perhaps, go even higher in postseason glory?