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ACC & Big 12 Week 14 Preview: Cyclones, Wildcats look to end regular season with eight wins

No. 22 Iowa State (7-4) at Kansas State (7-4) – 7 p.m. on FS1

The Cyclones and the Wildcats are meeting for the 103rd time in series history as Kansas State hosts Iowa State in Manhattan on Saturday night. The two teams have competed every season since 1917 and the Cyclones lead the all-time series 50-48-4, but the Wildcats hold the edge in games played in Manhattan 27-21-1.

Iowa State finally ended a 10-game losing streak to the Wildcats last season, 42-38. The Cyclones rallied for the win after being down 38-21 starting the fourth quarter, which is tied for the largest fourth-quarter comeback (17 points) in Iowa State history.

Except for the game in 2013, which saw Kansas State beat Iowa State 41-7, each of the last 11 games in the series have been decided by eight points or fewer.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the teams:

Iowa State Quick Hits:

  • The Cyclones are bowl eligible for the third straight season and have 23 wins over the last three seasons, which is one win shy of the school record over a three-year span (24 wins from 1976-78).
  • Iowa State’s four losses this season came by a combined 11 points, all to teams ranked in the CFP poll (Iowa, 18-17; Baylor, 23-21; Oklahoma State, 34-27; Oklahoma, 42-21).
  • The Cyclones’ offense ranks in the Top 20 nationally in passing offense (No. 6, 330.5), yards per play (No. 12, 6.7), total offense (No. 12, 478.9) and scoring (No. 19, 35.6).
  • Iowa State is one of only two teams nationally (Hawaii) with four players with 600 yards receiving (Deshaunte Jones, 822; Charlie Kolar, 649; Tarique Milton, 611; La’Michael Pettway, 600).
  • The defense is fourth in the Big 12 in total defense (368.9), second in defensive yards per play (5.3) and leads in rushing defense (125.0).
  • Iowa State’s defense has allowed just nine rushing touchdowns all season, which leads the Big 12 and ranks 14th nationally.
  • Click here for the Cyclones’ full game notes.
  • Click here for Iowa State’s depth chart.

Kansas State Quick Hits:

  • The Wildcats are returning home after a 30-27 win at Texas Tech last weekend.
  • Quarterback Skylar Thompson has thrown for 2,134 yards and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions this season, marking him the fourth quarterback in school history to surpass 4,000 career passing yards and 1,000 career rushing yards. He is the first Kansas State signal caller to achieve this before his senior year.
  • The Kansas State defense has given up just 10 passing touchdowns this year, tied for the sixth fewest nationally.
  • The Wildcats are ranked nationally in several different statistical categories, including third down defense (No. 4, 27.9 percent) and first downs allowed (No. 25, 195).
  • Head coach Chris Klieman became just the second coach in school history to take the Wildcats to a bowl in their first year as coach after the Wildcats became bowl eligible in Week 10.
  • Click here for the Wildcats’ full game notes.
  • Click here for Kansas State’s depth chart.

Here’s a quick look at a few more games we’ll have our eyes on this weekend in the ACC and Big 12:

Virginia Tech (8-3) at Virginia (8-3) – 12 p.m. (Friday) on ABC
The ACC Coastal title is on the line as this pair of in-state rivals separated by approximately 150 miles square off for the 101st time. Virginia Tech has won 15 straight in the Commonwealth Cup Clash against Virginia after posting a 34-31 overtime win at home last year.

No. 3 Clemson (11-0) at South Carolina (4-7) – 12 p.m. on ESPN
The Tigers are facing the Gamecocks for the 117th time in series that Clemson leads 70-42-4. The football programs have been meeting annually since the 1909 season, which is the second-longest active streak of consecutive years played in a rivalry in the nation. The only longer consecutive rivalry is Minnesota vs. Wisconsin, which began in 1907.

Louisville (7-4) at Kentucky (6-5) – 12 p.m. on SECN
The Cardinals are looking to tie up the all-time series with Kentucky, which the Wildcats currently lead 16-15. The programs started meeting annually in 1994 with the Governor’s Cup on the line. Last time the teams met, Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson accounted for 340 yards and four touchdowns as the Wildcats defeated the Cardinals 56-10.

No. 4 Georgia (10-1) at Georgia Tech (3-8) – 12 p.m. on ABC
The Bulldogs and the Yellow Jackets are facing off for possession of the Governor’s Cup Trophy, a tradition that has been celebrated since 1995. Georgia leads the series with Georgia Tech 67-39-5, which doesn’t include the two Yellow Jackets wins during WWII (1943-44). The games were vacated because Georgia Tech utilized players from a naval officer’s training program hosted on campus.

Wake Forest (8-3) at Syracuse (4-7) – 12:30 p.m. on ACCNX
The Demon Deacons are looking to finish their regular season with a win over Syracuse and a second-place finish in the ACC Atlantic Division on Saturday. Last time Wake Forest played in Carrier Dome, in 2017, the Demon Deacons posted a record-shattering 734 yards of total offense.

Boston College (5-6) at Pittsburgh (7-4) – 3:30 p.m. on ACCN
These rivals are meeting for the 31st time overall, and the first time since 2014. The programs met regularly from 1970 through 2004 as independents and then later in the Big East Conference. Pitt leads the series 17-13 and has won the last four games, including two overtime victories.

Miami (6-5) at Duke (4-7) – 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2
The Hurricanes carry a dominant 13-3 series lead against the Blue Devils, and a 7-1 lead in games played in Durham. Miami has won the last two contests played at Wallace Wade Stadium, including the 2015 victory that ended with an eight-lateral play as time expired that gave Miami a 30-27 win.

North Carolina (5-6) at NC State (4-7) – 7 p.m. on ACCN
The Tar Heels are visiting long-time Triangle rival NC State in a series that North Carolina leads 66-36-6. This has been back-and-forth series with the road team capturing five of the last six meetings. North Carolina is coming off a 56-7 win over Mercer, and NC State is entering after a 28-26 loss at Georgia Tech.

Texas Tech (4-7) at Texas (6-5) – 12 p.m. (Friday) on FOX
The Red Raiders and the Longhorns will face off for the 69th time overall with Texas holding a 51-17 series advantage. Over the last decade, Texas has been the more dominant program after winning eight of the last 10 matchups, but Texas Tech has been victorious in the last two meetings in Austin, including a thrilling 48-45 victory in 2105 and then a 27-23 win in 2017.

West Virginia (4-7) at TCU (5-6) – 4:15 p.m. (Friday) on ESPN
The Horned Frogs are looking to become bowl eligible for the 17th time in Gary Patterson’s 19 seasons as head coach as they take on the Mountaineers on Saturday afternoon. Five of TCU’s six losses this season have been decided by seven points or fewer. The series between West Virginia and TCU is currently tied at 4-4, with the Mountaineers claiming the most recent meeting 47-10.

No. 14 Baylor (10-1) at Kansas (3-8) – 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
The Bears are looking for their 10th consecutive win over the Jayhawks, and their fifth consecutive in Lawrence. This will be the Jayhawks’ fourth game in a row against a ranked opponent, marking the first time since 1977 that Kansas squared off against a ranked team in four consecutive weeks. Overall, Baylor leads the series 14-4.

Florida State (6-5) at No. 11 Florida (9-2) – 7:30 p.m. on SECN
The Seminoles and the Gators will meet for the 64th time in program history as Florida State travels to Gainesville this weekend. Florida leads the overall series 35-26-2, but Florida State has won the last four meetings at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Before the Gators’ 41-14 win over the Seminoles last season, Florida had not beaten Florida State in five seasons.

No. 9 Oklahoma (10-1) at No. 21 Oklahoma State (8-3) – 8 p.m. on FOX
Saturday’s matchup between the Sooners and the Cowboys will be the 114th meeting between the schools, and the 110th consecutive meeting in a series that dates back to 1904. Oklahoma owns an 87-19-7 all-time advantage and a 39-7-5 advantage in games in Stillwater.