Home crowd can play a factor for Iowa State against Texas

The most important game in the Big 12 on Saturday comes from Ames, IA. A wrench can be thrown into the conference championship race if Iowa State can get a win against Texas. Steve Sarkisian will be wanting to all but seal their fate and take another step toward making an appearance in Arlington at AT&T Stadium.

Jack Trice Stadium has produced some upset magic before, with On3’s Andy Staples mentioning the Oklahoma State game in 2011. On3’s J.D. PicKell does believe the atmosphere can play some kind of factor, no matter how much of an advantage Texas may have on paper.

“I think [Iowa State] can [get a win],” PicKell said during Tuesday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “Just for the sheer fact that it’s Ames. It’s one of those things where you’re trying to break the game down. We’re looking a matchups, looking at scheme — and you’re just like ‘Well, this is in Ames, IA. It may not matter at all.'”

If recent history tells us anything, Texas may keep the game closer than it needs to be. The past two weeks have seen the Longhorns get out to a 20-point lead against Kansas State and then TCU. Both of them were able to come back and make it competitive in the fourth quarter.

Until Texas can prove to step on somebody’s throat when up a few scores, you have to believe Iowa State is always going to have a chance.

“I keep waiting for Texas to blow somebody out,” Staples said. “And they did that against Kansas. But they didn’t without Kansas State. Obviously, they were with a backup quarterback. But they didn’t against TCU… Got to see it.”

Sarkisian tried to keep the clock running against TCU by running the ball, giving Jonathon Brooks a ton of carries. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL and will be out for the rest of the season. CJ Baxter is going to step into the main role but relying on a true freshman on the road is a dangerous scenario.

Texas is likely to turn to Quinn Ewers and all of their lethal weapons in the passing game. Playing a clean football down the stretch and keeping the pro-Iowa State crowd will be key in Staples’ eyes.

Otherwise, you have to wonder if the Hilton Magic is going to walk over to Jack-Trice Stadium.

“I still think there is a possibility that the JT Sanders, Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, AD Mitchell — it’s just too much,” Staples said. “But if they make some mistakes and that crowd stays in it… I don’t know.”