By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
SicEmSports continues its look at Baylor’s 2022 opponents. Game 4 is the Big 12 opener at Iowa State. Recently, the Bears and Cyclones have either played each other in the conference lid lifter or very early in the league season. This is no different.
Opponent: Iowa State
Head Coach: Matt Campbell (7th season, 42-34)
2021 Record: 7-6, 5-4
Conference Affiliation: Big 12
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 11-7; Bears won in Waco in 2021, 31-29
Returning Starters: 6 offense, 8 defense
Offensive Formation: One-back
Defensive Formation: 3-4
Key Returners: DL Will McDonald IV, LB O’Rien Vance, OL Trevor Downing, WR Xavier Hutchinson, S Anthony Johnson
The 2021 season began with high hopes. The Cyclones were predicted to finish second to Oklahoma in the Big 12 race. However, they fizzled to a disappointing 7-6 record and middle-of-the-pack Big 12 showing. They then lost their bowl game to Clemson.
On the flipside, it did mark the fifth consecutive winning season. That hasn’t happened for this program since the 1920s. This season, they have been picked sixth and strangely earned a first-place vote.
While the Cyclones are known for playing a very sound and physical defense, there are some questions about the offense. Quarterback Hunter Dekker is a big sophomore (6-3, 235) who backed up Brock Purdy for the previous two years. From all accounts, Dekker had a good spring. But no one knows how he will react when it counts.
The other question will be at running where Reece Hall is gone. Jirehl Brock appears to be the new go-to back.
Defensively, the Cyclones should be fine with the number of starters they have returning. McDonald is one of the best defenders in the Big 12 and was named to the preseason media team.
What the defense lacked was creating enough turnovers. It only recovered four fumbles.
The irony of Iowa State’s schedule is much like what it was for Baylor’s 2021 schedule. If you’ll recall, most Baylor observers looked at the ISU game as a measuring stick to determine what kind of team actually had. A failed 2-point conversion by the Cyclones at the end might be one of the biggest plays of Baylor’s season.
Now, the Cyclones likely look at this Baylor game the same way, a measuring stick. Iowa State likely won’t compete for the Big 12 title. However, this team could be a spoiler and wreck a contender’s chances.
2022 Schedule
Sept. 3 vs. SE Missouri
Sept. 10 at Iowa
Sept. 17 vs. Ohio
Sept. 24 vs. Baylor
Oct. 1 at Kansas
Oct. 8 vs. Kansas State
Oct. 15 at Texas
Oct. 29 vs. Oklahoma
Nov. 5 vs. West Virginia
Nov. 12 at Oklahoma State
Nov. 19 vs. Texas Tech
Nov. 26 at TCU
Publisher
SicEmSports continues its look at Baylor’s 2022 opponents. Game 4 is the Big 12 opener at Iowa State. Recently, the Bears and Cyclones have either played each other in the conference lid lifter or very early in the league season. This is no different.
Opponent: Iowa State
Head Coach: Matt Campbell (7th season, 42-34)
2021 Record: 7-6, 5-4
Conference Affiliation: Big 12
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 11-7; Bears won in Waco in 2021, 31-29
Returning Starters: 6 offense, 8 defense
Offensive Formation: One-back
Defensive Formation: 3-4
Key Returners: DL Will McDonald IV, LB O’Rien Vance, OL Trevor Downing, WR Xavier Hutchinson, S Anthony Johnson
The 2021 season began with high hopes. The Cyclones were predicted to finish second to Oklahoma in the Big 12 race. However, they fizzled to a disappointing 7-6 record and middle-of-the-pack Big 12 showing. They then lost their bowl game to Clemson.
On the flipside, it did mark the fifth consecutive winning season. That hasn’t happened for this program since the 1920s. This season, they have been picked sixth and strangely earned a first-place vote.
While the Cyclones are known for playing a very sound and physical defense, there are some questions about the offense. Quarterback Hunter Dekker is a big sophomore (6-3, 235) who backed up Brock Purdy for the previous two years. From all accounts, Dekker had a good spring. But no one knows how he will react when it counts.
The other question will be at running where Reece Hall is gone. Jirehl Brock appears to be the new go-to back.
Defensively, the Cyclones should be fine with the number of starters they have returning. McDonald is one of the best defenders in the Big 12 and was named to the preseason media team.
What the defense lacked was creating enough turnovers. It only recovered four fumbles.
The irony of Iowa State’s schedule is much like what it was for Baylor’s 2021 schedule. If you’ll recall, most Baylor observers looked at the ISU game as a measuring stick to determine what kind of team actually had. A failed 2-point conversion by the Cyclones at the end might be one of the biggest plays of Baylor’s season.
Now, the Cyclones likely look at this Baylor game the same way, a measuring stick. Iowa State likely won’t compete for the Big 12 title. However, this team could be a spoiler and wreck a contender’s chances.
2022 Schedule
Sept. 3 vs. SE Missouri
Sept. 10 at Iowa
Sept. 17 vs. Ohio
Sept. 24 vs. Baylor
Oct. 1 at Kansas
Oct. 8 vs. Kansas State
Oct. 15 at Texas
Oct. 29 vs. Oklahoma
Nov. 5 vs. West Virginia
Nov. 12 at Oklahoma State
Nov. 19 vs. Texas Tech
Nov. 26 at TCU
