Kansas State @ Iowa State preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 3, 2011 ) Iowa State 23, Kansas State 30

Kansas State looks to continue its surge toward national championship consideration when the Wildcats travel to Iowa State on Saturday. Both teams already own signature victories against ranked opposition this season. The No. 5 Wildcats upended then-No. 6 Oklahoma on Sept. 22, while the Cyclones won at then-No. 15 TCU last week. A huge key will be whether Kansas State can run the ball on an Iowa State defense ranked fourth in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed at 115.8 per game. The Wildcats are second in the conference and ninth in the nation in rushing offense at 264.8 yards, sparked by running back John Hubert and quarterback Collin Klein. Iowa State is off to its best start since 2002 and cracked the national rankings this week for the first time in 10 years.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, FX. LINE: Kansas State -6.5

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (5-0, 2-0 Big 12): The Wildcats have played soundly through five games, leading the nation in fewest penalty yards per contest (14.2) and ranking third in the country in turnover margin (plus-10). Klein ranks last in the conference in average passing yards (178.4), but comes in with 410 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Hubert leads the conference with eight touchdowns on the ground and has topped 100 yards four times in 2012. Senior linebacker Arthur Brown leads an opportunistic defense (13 turnovers) with 8.2 tackles per game.

ABOUT IOWA STATE (4-1, 1-1 Big 12): Defense has sparked the Cyclones’ early season rise. Senior linebacker Jake Knott leads the conference with 32 solo tackles and senior strong safety Durrell Givens has recovered three fumbles in five games. Knott and senior linebacker A.J. Klein (four career interception returns for touchdowns) form a formidable duo in the middle. The Cyclones have stopped opponents 68.6 percent of the time on third down (best in the conference). Sophomore quarterback Jared Barnett made his first start of the season against TCU, finishing 12-for-21 for 183 yards and three touchdowns, all going to senior receiver Josh Lenz.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Iowa State junior punter Kirby Van Der Kamp ranks third in the conference in punting average (43.2). Sixteen of his 31 punts this season have landed inside the opposition’s 20-yard-line with only one touchback.

2. The Wildcats lead the Big 12 in sacks (14), all coming in the past four games.

3. Iowa State leads the series 49-42, but has lost the past four games, all by eight points or less. Kansas State has won 18 of the past 22 meetings.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 27, Iowa State 17