KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The first message that made its way through the Iowa State locker room after Texas Tech ended its perfect start to the season, scoring in the final seconds last weekend to spring the upset and spoil homecoming for the Cyclones, was that nothing had changed. “Hey,” Cyclones linebacker Kooper Ebel recalled his team saying, “all of our dreams, all our aspirations are still right in line.
” They will be if the No. 17 Cyclones (7-1, 4-1 Big 12, No. 17 CFP) can get back on track Saturday against Kansas.
Iowa State is only a game behind unbeaten BYU in the conference and tied with Colorado, neither of which Matt Campbell's team would play until a potential Big 12 title showdown. But the top of the standings are a jumbled mess, and another slip-up against the desperate Jayhawks (2-6, 1-4) in their matchup at Arrowhead Stadium could be a crippling blow to not only the Cyclones' title aspirations but also their hopes of landing in the College Football Playoff. “I would say there's definitely a sense of urgency, like there has been all season, but even more prominent here at practice," Ebel said.
“There was a sense of urgency to row and get better. At times, we're just inches off, and those inches really matter, and they showed up last Saturday. We're honing in on those details — those little details.
” The Jayhawks, who had last week off, are just as in need of a win as the Cyclones. They have lost their six games by a combined 30 points, the lat.