Iowa State coach Matt Campbell believes Baylor looks like a team ready to break out after suffering a couple of tough losses.
The 16th-ranked Cyclones (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) will do everything they can to prevent that from happening when the Bears (2-3, 0-2) come to Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday night.
“I know they haven’t won in the last two weeks,” Campbell said. “But, boy, how they’ve played and especially their ability to come back in some of these games shows their mentality and toughness. We’re going to face a really good football team, maybe the best one we’ve played all season.”
The Cyclones are having their best start since 2000, and a victory over Baylor would make them 5-0 for the first time since 1980.
Iowa State’s defense has been among the top three in the Big 12 for five years and is playing at its highest level in decades.
Their 20-0 win at Houston last week marked their first conference road shutout since 1971. They’ve allowed just 29 points over four games, the fewest since the 1980 team gave up 20, and their average of 102 passing yards allowed per game is the best since at least 2000.
Baylor’s offense presents various challenges. The Bears use three to five running backs, and having an empty backfield doesn’t always mean a pass is coming. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson is making his fourth straight start after replacing the injured Dequan Finn. Robertson has thrown for 787 yards and six touchdowns and has rushed for 116 yards and three TDs.
“It will be everything we can handle,” said Cyclones defensive coordinator Jon Heacock.
Baylor started the season strong, winning two of its first three games. However, they lost to Colorado after blowing a 14-point lead, falling 38-31 due to a 43-yard Hail Mary touchdown that forced overtime.
Last week, the Bears were down 31-14 at halftime against BYU but got within 34-28 before turning the ball over on downs at the BYU 24 and throwing an interception on their final drive.
