No. 21 Iowa State hosts rival Northern Iowa
By The Associated Press - Aug. 29, 2019 04:38 PM EDT
FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2019, file photo, Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy throws a pass during an NCAA college football practice in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones were ranked in the preseason poll for the first time in 41 years behind a punishing defense, a young quarterback who seems destined for stardom and a coach who always seems to push the right buttons. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2019, file photo, Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy throws a pass during an NCAA college football practice in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones were ranked in the preseason poll for the first time in 41 years behind a punishing defense, a young quarterback who seems destined for stardom and a coach who always seems to push the right buttons. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2019, file photo, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell gestures during an NCAA college football practice, in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones were ranked in the preseason poll for the first time in 41 years behind a punishing defense, a young quarterback who seems destined for stardom and a coach who always seems to push the right buttons. And yet, the enthusiasm of Iowa State’s supporters might give way to a tiny bit of pause when they see Northern Iowa _ the Cyclones’ longtime FCS nemesis _ scheduled for Saturday’s opener. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
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Northern Iowa (7-6 last season) at No. 21 Iowa State (8-5), Saturday at noon ET (FS1).

Line: No line.

Series record: Iowa State leads 22-6-3.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Iowa State was ranked in the preseason Top 25 for the first time in 41 years, and the excitement for a campaign has never been higher. A loss to the Panthers would erase all of that. Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley would become just the 10th coach with 150 FCS wins with a victory.

KEY MATCHUP

Iowa State's defense vs. Northern Iowa QB Will McElvain. The Cyclones offered McElvain, a freshman, a preferred walk-on spot as a defensive back. But the former Des Moines Lincoln High star opted to stick at quarterback, and Farley recently named him the starter. Iowa State knows all about McElvain, a dual-threat guy, but that doesn't mean he won't make a few plays.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iowa State: RB Breece Hall. One of Iowa State's biggest recruits in years steps into a position of desperate need for the Cyclones. Hall will get his chance to show the coaching staff that he's ready to be their bell cow right away.

Northern Iowa: CB Xavior Williams. He'll likely be tasked with covering Iowa State veterans Tarique Milton and Deshaunte Jones, quarterback Brock Purdy's top two returning targets.

FACTS & FIGURES

Iowa State's 16 wins over the past two seasons ties the best stretch in school history. The Cyclones last did that in 2000-01. ... Northern Iowa has split the last four meetings with the Cyclones, and it handed coach Matt Campbell a 25-20 loss in his debut at the school in 2016. ... Iowa State's 114 combined starts among its offensive linemen are the fifth-most in the FBS. ... The Panthers have 64 players from Iowa on their roster. Iowa State has 43 homegrown guys.

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