Week 8: at Iowa State (Oct. 23)
The Cowboys are 8-1 against the Cyclones in the two teams’ last nine meetings since 2012, the OSU’s late October 24-21 victory against Iowa State might have been its most impressive of the 2020 season. The Pokes have won four straight times in Ames against ISU.
Head coach Matt Campbell’s squad will look to capitalize on last year’s 9-3 record as the Big 12 runner-up and No. 10-ranked team in the nation, and that starts with returning stars in quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Breece Hall, and tight end Charlie Kolar.
Final Score: Iowa State 26, OSU 20 (5-2, 2-2 Big 12)
Week 9: vs. Kansas, Homecoming (Oct. 30)
OSU has beaten Kansas 11 times in a row dating back to 2010. The last time the Jayhawks defeated the Cowboys was in 2007, when a Mark Mangino-led squad came out of Stillwater with a 43-28 win en route to a No. 2 national ranking late in the season, and a 12-1 overall record, and an Orange Bowl win.
Those days are long gone for KU, as new head coach Lance Leipold takes over after a messy departure from former boss (and former OSU head coach) Les Miles. Leipold had a successful run at D-III Wisconsin-Whitewater before coming to Lawrence. The only intrigue of this weekend will likely come from the Homecoming festivities, not from the on-field action.
Final Score: OSU 56, Kansas 17 (6-2, 3-2 Big 12)