Oct 28, 2026 · 59 min
Iowa State needs turnovers to survive Oklahoma State test
Williams & Blum: What will it take for Iowa State to hang with Oklahoma State?
The matchup exposes whether Iowa State can overcome quarterback uncertainty, defensive injuries, and limited roster depth against a dangerous Oklahoma State offense.
- 1Jalen Raynor keeps the starting job, but Iowa State’s broader offensive struggles leave little margin for error.
- 2Iowa State must create turnovers and improve tackling while its secondary faces Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
- 3Roster building now means balancing NIL spending, portal additions, player development, and continuity through an accelerated Big 12 cycle.
Don't miss
The hosts connect Iowa State’s turnover production directly to its ability to win and stay competitive against Oklahoma State.
The brief
Jake Brend and Brent Blum open with Iowa State’s basketball line and the economics of the Sioux Falls marathon before turning to a football matchup defined by uncertainty.
Jimmy Rogers is keeping Jalen Raynor as Iowa State’s quarterback, but the hosts argue that the offense must find more ways to involve Aidan Flora and River Peppers.
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker presents a serious test for Iowa State’s struggling secondary, making tackling, weather, and turnovers central to the game’s outlook.
The hosts widen the lens to NIL budgets, portal choices, young depth, injuries, and the pressure created by constant coaching and roster change across the Big 12.
The episode closes with conference picks and Arizona travel stories, including Tombstone, Bisbee, Wyatt Earp’s great-nephew, and a teased ghost story involving Chris Williams.
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