Throw out the win-loss differential, and Kansas’ and Iowa State’s football teams are virtually indistinguishable, at least from a statistical standpoint.
The two teams separated by three games in the all-important win column are no more than three spots away in the Big 12 statistical rankings in just about every category.
| Kansas | ISU | |
| Scoring offense | 24.4 | 26.8 |
| Scoring defense | 32.1 | 27.6 |
| Pass offense | 186.5 | 219.9 |
| Rushing offense | 159.3 | 196.4 |
| Total offense | 345.8 | 416.3 |
| Pass defense | 205.8 | 215.0 |
| Rushing defense | 184.3 | 202.1 |
| Total defense | 390.1 | 417.1 |
| Kickoff returns | 17.5 | 16.8 |
| Punting (net) | 30.0 | 32.4 |
| Turnover margin | -8 | +6 |
In league games only, for instance, Kansas has surrendered 454.7 yards per game, while ISU has allowed 449.6. In all games, the teams are separated by 27 yards per game 390.1 yards allowed by KU to 417.1 for Iowa State.
“Personally, I see a great comparison between Iowa State and Kansas as far as players are concerned,” KU coach Terry Allen said.
They’ve also had similar experiences with the rest of the Big 12 north teams. Kansas beat Missouri by 21 and Colorado by eight, while ISU downed MU by 19 and CU by eight. Kansas lost to Nebraska by 39 and Kansas State by 39. Iowa State fell to NU by 22 and KSU by 46.
“If you flip a few things here and there,” Allen said, “that could be Kansas there.”
The similarities go even deeper than statistics. Allen and I-State counterpart Dan McCarney, close friends who have been linked since their births in the same Iowa City Mercy Hospital, coach much the same way.
“We run basically the same offense,” Allen said, “and we do the same things defensively.”
It’s just that ISU has done it better. The Cyclones, bowl-eligible for the first time since 1978, will carry a 7-3 overall record, 4-3 in the Big 12, into Saturday’s regular-season finale with Kansas (4-6, 2-5). Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Trice Stadium.
“Obviously we’re not going to a bowl,” KU senior quarterback Dylen Smith said. “It’s tough coming to practice knowing you’re not practicing for a reason. You’re practicing to win, but you’re not practicing for a bowl game. But a lot of players on this team want to win. They’re in and we’re out, but we’re not playing spoiler.”
Motivation, Allen admitted, has been a problem. Though Kansas has won eight of nine against Iowa State, KU must come to grips with another season of falling short of expectations, while ISU is having its best season in more than two decades.
“To get the heck beat out of you by Texas, it’s tough,” Allen said of the Jayhawks’ 51-16 bowl-elimination loss last week to UT. “It’s tough to talk to the seniors. It’s tough to see people in the building. Fortunately, it’s not the end of the world and you still have a game to play.”
Though Allen insists Saturday’s outcome is crucial to success next season, he doesn’t plan to play for the future. He won’t, for instance, play Zach Dyer for Smith or Reggie Duncan for David Winbush unless the situation warrants it.
“We’ll play our best player to give us the best chance to win,” Allen said. “We’re not going to sacrifice experience for underclassmen.”
Allen says a victory Saturday would carry over to the offseason and start of next year. Allen is 1-2 in his three previous season finales. One of the losses was a 23-20 defeat at Iowa State in 1998, but Allen says it’s difficult to gauge the pall that cast over the following offseason.
“That was right when we were spending some other time in Iowa,” Allen said, alluding to his flirtation with the open University of Iowa job. “Two years ago, we had frustration leading into the offseason. It would be nice to have something to build on for the young players.”
