Consecutive losses may have derailed Iowa State's Big 12 title hopes but the Cyclones are certain they face a must-win situation on Saturday when Cincinnati comes calling at Ames, Iowa. Undefeated prior to a bye in late October, Iowa State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) since lost 23-22 to visiting Texas Tech and 45-36 to Kansas on a neutral field. The College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night as the guide for the 12-team playoff left the Cyclones out entirely, opting for a second American Athletic Conference team -- No.
25 Tulane (8-2) -- over the likes of Iowa State and ACC rep Pittsburgh. Pitt also started undefeated only to drop back-to-back games and fall out of the rankings. The CFP committee sent a clear indication to Iowa State that a third straight setback would all but end any chance of being part of the playoff field.
No. 6 BYU (9-0, 6-0) leads the Big 12 and No 17 Colorado (7-2, 5-1) stands second. Iowa State is part of a four-way tie for third but still has a shot at making a statement with No.
16 Kansas State on the schedule to end the regular season. Cyclones coach Matt Campbell isn't ready to accept that the Big 12 title quest is over. "I guess we're gonna find out," Campbell said.
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The reality is what show's up next Saturday? ...
We've got great leadership. We've got great coaching, but the reality of it is, who are you when things aren't going great? And we're gonna find out." Quarterback Rocco Becht passed for a season-high 383 yards in the loss to Ka.