DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson Fend Off Iowa State to Win 2021 Cheez-It Bowl
Dec 30, 2021
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei #5 of the Clemson Tigers looks to pass against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
The Clemson Tigers ended an otherwise disappointing season, at least by the program's own lofty standards, on a positive note.
Clemson beat Iowa State 20-13 on Wednesday night at the Cheez-It Bowl, ending its season by reaching the 10-win mark (10-3).
Iowa State, meanwhile, closed out the year at 7-6, a disappointment in its own right given that the program was ranked No. 7 to open the season.
This wasn't the prettiest game. The first half featured three field goals and one missed field goal, as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm or close out drives. It wasn't until Will Shipley's rushing touchdown with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter that either team reached paydirt.
Iowa State had a chance to make things interesting after battling back in the fourth quarter, getting the ball back with just under two minutes remaining and down seven. But Clemson's defense held.
Some of the sloppiness in this game could be attributed to both teams missing players due either to injuries or COVID-19. Iowa State's best offensive player, running back Breece Hall (1,774 yards from scrimmage, 23 touchdowns), opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft.
I promise ima be the biggest Cheerleader today😂🌪
Still, to put this game in perspective, it had an Iowa flea-flicker early in the fourth quarter that was intercepted, only for Clemson to fumble the ball back to Iowa State on the return. And none of it mattered because Clemson was flagged for roughing the passer.
Or how about Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy rushing for a first down on a fourth-down attempt with under a minute remaining, only to fumble the ball behind the line-to-gain and turning the ball over because of it?
The Cheez-It Bowl, ladies and gentlemen. Regardless, Clemson will take its win as it looks to return to national prominence in the 2022 season.
Key Stats
DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson: 21-of-32 for 187 yards and an interception
Will Shipley, Clemson: 18 carries for 61 yards and a score; five catches for 53 yards
Kobe Pace, Clemson: 12 rushes for 51 yards; four catches for 38 yards
Brock Purdy, ISU: 23-of-39 for 204 yards, a touchdown, interception and lost fumble
Jirehl Brock, ISU: 14 carries for 42 yards
Charlie Kolar, ISU: Four catches for 33 yards and a touchdown
Clemson's Defense Bailed Out Its Offense. Again.
Clemson's issues this season weren't on the defensive side of the ball. After all, coming into Wednesday the Tigers were giving up just 15 points per game, the second-best mark in this country, and just 308.4 yards per game (ninth).
This is still the team that opened the season by losing just 10-3 to Georgia, one of four teams left battling for a championship, after all. Even if new Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is no longer the defensive coordinator, replaced by Wes Goodwin.
See we told y’all Wes would keep the defense right! #Clemson
Clemson's defense has now allowed just 6 points off turnovers this year, both field goals. Clemson's offense has given up 21 points directly off turnovers | #Clemson
So it wasn't a surprise that the Tigers defense was stingy Wednesday and scored a defensive touchdown, or only gave up a field goal after a Clemson turnover. As Clemson's offense struggled repeatedly to put Iowa State away despite multiple opportunities in the fourth quarter, the defense held firm.
It's just so depressing watching the Clemson offense. I know how it got here, and there's no guarantee it stays here, but ... woof. "We don't trust anyone to do anything, so let's just try another draw play."
It was the story of Clemson's season, neatly packaged in one game. Had the offense showed up more consistently in big games, perhaps the Tigers wouldn't have been in the Cheez-It Bowl in the first place.
The Cyclones Really Missed Hall
Iowa State came into this game knowing it was going to be difficult to replace Hall's impact on the offense.
"Yeah, I think we have to find out," offensive coordinator Tom Manning told reporters about what the offense would look like in Hall's absence. "Certainly, we feel like we have options, but Jirehl [Brock] is a guy that's played a lot of football for us. Certainly, Breece has carried the football a lot more, as we all know. I think we have to get into the football game and see where we are at in terms of handing the football off and how much we can handle and make some decisions based on that."
The result wasn't pretty. Iowa State rushed for just 66 yards, and in turn the passing game suffered without the ground game as much of a threat.
Iowa State's defense kept things close in the first half before Clemson started to pull away in the third quarter. And the Tigers defense obviously deserves credit. But life after Hall got off to a rocky start for the Cyclones.
Iowa State's Breece Hall Declares for 2022 NFL Draft
Dec 18, 2021
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 13: Running back Breece Hall #28 of the Iowa State Cyclones scores a touchdown during the second half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Iowa State star Breece Hall announced he plans to enter the 2022 NFL draft.
The 6'1" running back is the second-leading rusher (3,941 yards) in program history. He ran for 1,472 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Cyclones during the 2021 regular season.
With Saturday's announcement, it appears Hall doesn't plan on suiting up for the Cheez-It Bowl on Dec. 29 against No. 19 Clemson.
His decision doesn't come as a big surprise since he's likely to be one of the first running backs off the board this spring.
Hall ranked second at the position behind Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III and 31st overall on the Nov. 30 big board of Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department. He was also projected to land with the Baltimore Ravens at No. 29 in the Scouting Department's most recent mock draft.
"[Hall's] size, vision and explosiveness would let him shine in any run scheme," Nate Tice wrote. "Putting him with quarterback Lamar Jackson and a healthy [J.K.] Dobbins would give the Ravens' rushing attack a true downhill option that synergizes the unit and would give it the pieces to go supernova."
In terms of his NFL stock, the Cyclones standout stood to gain little from another year in Ames, Iowa, and his value—if anything—might have trended downward had he stayed.
Hall had 800 touches over three seasons. Since 2016, 24 running backs have been selected in the first or second round, and only two (Jonathan Taylor, 968; AJ Dillon, 866) registered more offensive touches in college.
Hall's workload might lead some NFL scouts and team executives to be concerned about his durability. But Taylor's big role at Wisconsin hasn't stopped him from leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,684) this season.
Hall is likely to be well rewarded for his prolific career at Iowa State.
Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III Wins 2021 Doak Walker Award
Dec 10, 2021
Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III, right, rushes against Penn State's Kalen King (4) and Ji'Ayir Brown (16) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III is the winner of the 2021 Doak Walker Award, which recognizes the best RB in college football.
Walker beat out finalists in junior Breece Hall of Iowa State and senior Tyler Badie of Missouri.
Walker had the best season of his collegiate career in 2021, entering Saturday's regular-season finale against Penn State with 1,614 yards (second in FBS) and 18 touchdowns (T-3rd in FBS) on the ground in addition to 13 catches for 89 yards and a score.
The 21-year-old transferred to Michigan State after two years at Wake Forest. He's racked up more rushing yards in his one season with the Spartans than he did in two seasons with the Demon Deacons.
Walker was also named a finalist for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the nation’s best overall player. Brandon Van Pelt is the only Spartan to ever win the Maxwell Award, doing so in 1972.
No Michigan State player had ever won the Doak Walker Award until this year.
Walker overcame some stiff competition for this award.
Hall had one of the best seasons of his collegiate career in 2021, rushing for 1,464 yards (fifth in FBS) and 20 touchdowns (T-1st FBS) on 253 carries in 12 games. He also caught 36 passes for 302 yards and three scores.
Badie had the best season of his collegiate career in 2021, rushing for a career-high 1,604 yards (third in FBS) and 14 touchdowns (T-6th FBS) on 268 carries in addition to 54 catches for 330 yards and four scores.
Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard Announces He's Been Diagnosed with Testicular Cancer
Dec 1, 2021
FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2018, file photo, Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard speaks during an NCAA college football news conference, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State's athletic budget outlook is better than expected, and the school will push forward with several initiatives that should create new revenue streams, athletic director Jamie Pollard said in a video sent to fans Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard announced Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
In an open letter on the Iowa State athletics website, Pollard wrote: "I was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer. I debated sharing this information widely to avoid my diagnosis being a distraction to our athletics program. However, the reality of hiding the news has also been stressful."
Pollard also described how he learned of his diagnosis and expressed optimism after recently being told his cancer has not spread from the original site:
"About four weeks ago, I started to feel pain in my groin after a running workout. After several days of irritation, I identified a lump on my right testicle. After seeing a doctor for an ultrasound, it was determined that surgery was necessary. I had that testicle removed last Tuesday afternoon and, unfortunately, learned a day later it was cancerous. That was sobering news to hear the day before Thanksgiving.
"This past Monday I had a CT scan and additional blood work. My wife, Ellen, and I met with the urologist (who performed my surgery) in the afternoon and learned the cancer had not spread from the original site. Furthermore, my bloodwork (i.e., tumor markers) was still testing normal. Both of those results were welcome news!
"We also discussed next options, which include doing nothing other than monitoring my blood work and performing CT scans every 3-6 months, undergoing chemotherapy, or beginning radiation treatments. We visit an oncologist this Friday to learn more about my treatment options."
Pollard has served as Iowa State's AD since 2005, making him the longest-tenured athletic director in the history of the program.
Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Pollard went on to compete in cross country track and field at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
His administrative career began shortly after graduating in the form of an associate athletic director role at Saint Louis University from 1989 to 1994. Pollard then became the associate AD at Maryland from 1994 to 1998 and at Wisconsin from 1998 to 2003.
Pollard became deputy AD at Wisconsin from 2003 to 2005 before taking the athletic director role at Iowa State.
The Cyclones have experienced success across multiple sports during Pollard's tenure at the school.
Most notably, the men's basketball team has won the Big 12 tournament four times, including a 78-66 win over Kansas in the 2019 final.
The men's basketball team has also reached the Sweet 16 twice under Pollard, in both 2014 and 2016.
While the football team hasn't been as successful, it did reach the Big 12 Championship Game last year, losing 27-21 to Oklahoma.
The Cyclones are 7-5 this season and set to play in a bowl game for the fifth consecutive season under head coach Matt Campbell, marking the longest bowl streak in school history.
Iowa State's Breece Hall Sets FBS Record with TD in 24th Consecutive Game
Nov 27, 2021
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 13: Running back Breece Hall #28 of the Iowa State Cyclones runs for a touchdown during the first half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Iowa State running back Breece Hall set the NCAA record with a rushing touchdown in his 24th straight game in Friday's 48-14 win over TCU at Jack Trice Stadium, according to The Athletic.
Hall finished the game with 18 carries for 242 yards and three touchdowns in addition to two catches for 39 yards and a score.
Former Arkansas running back Bill Burnett previously held the record with a rushing touchdown in 23 straight games. Burnett played for the Razorbacks from 1968 to '70.
Hall set the new record with a 39-yard score in the second quarter. The touchdown gave Iowa State a 17-0 lead over TCU.
Hall's streak began in Week 1 of the 2020 season when he scored a rushing touchdown against Louisiana-Lafayette. He finished his sophomore campaign with 279 carries for 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns in addition to 23 catches for 180 yards and two scores.
The last time he failed to score a touchdown was December 2019, when the Cyclones lost to Notre Dame in the Camping World Bowl.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell was asked about Hall's efficiency earlier in the week and lauded him for his consistency, per 247Sports:
To me the word is consistency for Breece. What you've seen from Breece really from that West Virginia game his freshman year to every game he's played, there's a real sense of professionalism and consistency that he brings to how he attacks the sport. And that part has allowed our football team to really be able to use him in the most critical moments. You talk scoring, scoring, those are critical moments. And Breece has always been ready for the moment and has done a great job of continuing to grow his craft and what he's about. But man, there's a lot of consistency about Breece Hall, in terms of winning moments, and he's done a great job of that.
Hall finished last season in the top 10 in the FBS in rushing yards per game and is top-10 this campaign. In June, Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus ranked him as the top prospect at the position for the 2022 NFL draft.
No. 8 Oklahoma State Upset by Brock Purdy, Iowa State 24-21 in Big 12 Action
Oct 23, 2021
Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy (15) celebrates with teammate Sean Foster (75) after throwing a touchdown pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa State football upset No. 8 Oklahoma State 24-21 on Saturday from Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.
Running back Breece Hall's four-yard touchdown run with 5:29 left in regulation proved to be the winning score.
The two teams then traded three-and-outs before Oklahoma State mounted one last drive.
The Cowboys had a 4th-and-2 on the ISU 42-yard line with 1:09 left. Quarterback Spencer Sanders tossed a short pass to Brennan Presley, who reached for the first-down line.
Officials marked him inches short, and ISU ran out the clock.
Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy finished 27-of-33 with 307 yards and two touchdowns. Cyclones wideout Xavier Hutchinson caught both of Purdy's touchdown passes en route to 12 catches for 125 yards. Hall finished with 70 rushing yards.
Sanders tossed three touchdown passes, two of which went to Presley (six catches, 84 yards). Tay Martin caught the other score while amassing four receptions for 80 yards.
Neither team led by more than one score in this seesaw affair. Oklahoma State led 14-7 at halftime thanks to Presley's two TD catches.
The Cowboys became the second Top 10 team to lose to an unranked opponent Saturday, as No. 7 Penn State fell 20-18 in nine overtimes to Illinois.
Iowa State Students Slam Big 12 over BYU Addition Citing 'History of Homophobia'
Oct 1, 2021
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: The Iowa State Cyclones logo on a pair of short during a consolation game of the Maui Invitational college basketball game against the San Diego State Aztecs at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
The Iowa State Student Government issued a resolution criticizing the Big 12's decision to invite BYU into the conference because of the school's "clear history of homophobia that continues to persist to this day."
The group said that "members of the LGBTQIA+ community have been left completely shut out" of the decision-making process, per the Ames Tribune's Danielle Gehr.
Iowa State responded to its student leaders by saying BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF were all "fully vetted and are in good standing" with the NCAA.
BYU was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its namesake (Brigham Young) followed Joseph Smith as the religion's president from 1847-77.
The Mormon Church says it "does not take a position on the cause of same-sex attraction" and that "feelings of same-sex attraction are not a sin."
However, the Human Rights Campaign noted that "the Church considers Mormons who act on feelings of same-sex attraction to have disobeyed church teachings on morality and thus are subject to ecclesiastical discipline." The church also prohibits same-sex marriages.
Until February 2020, BYU included a ban on "homosexual behavior" as part of its student honor code.
During the last round of major conference realignment in 2016, BYU was linked with a move to the Big 12.
The Iowa State Student Senate voiced their concern then as well, saying it "believes that BYU’s discriminatory policies and practices are inconsistent with the values of the Big 12 Conference." A number of LGBTQ organizations echoed the sentiment.
BYU is set to become a Big 12 member beginning with the 2023-24 athletic season.
No. 10 Iowa Beats Brock Purdy, No. 9 Iowa State 27-17 in Rivalry Matchup
Sep 12, 2021
Iowa defensive back Matt Hankins (8) makes an interception in front of Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
For the first time in history, Saturday's Iowa-Iowa State game pitted two teams ranked inside the top 10.
After Saturday, it may be a long time before the Cyclones find themselves back there.
The Iowa defense forced four turnovers, including three interceptions of Brock Purdy, as the Hawkeyes cruised to a 27-17 win over their in-state rivals.
Spencer Petras played the role of able game manager and Tyler Goodson helped grind the clock down on the ground, but it was the Iowa defense that took the starring role. Matt Hankins picked off two passes from a struggling Purdy, who was benched in the fourth quarter, and Jack Campbell took a Breece Hall fumble to the house in the third quarter.
Iowa has now won six straight and holds a 46-22 overall record against Iowa State in their head-to-head matchups.
QB Spencer Petras: 11-21, 106 yards, 1 TD RB Tyler Goodson: 21 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD DB Matt Hankins: 2 INT
Iowa State Early Leader for Most Overrated Team of 2021 Preseason
Yikes.
The Cyclones entered 2021 with some of the highest expectations in program history and have turned in two straight stinkers. Last week's 16-10 win over Northern Illinois was an offensive abomination that sent Iowa State back two spots in the rankings, and it wouldn't be a surprise if the Cyclones were outside the top 20 after this performance.
Purdy does not look anything like the efficient quarterback of his previous three seasons who got some Heisman buzz entering 2021. Hall, who looked like a superstar in last season's 1,572-yard, 21-touchdown breakout, has been ordinary for two straight weeks.
Matt Campbell, who won Big 12 Coach of the Year in three of the last four seasons, has had no answers or adjustments the first two weeks.
This has been a surprising fall from grace for a team that returned a ton of talent from last year's Fiesta Bowl winner.
The good news? Last season began with an ugly loss to Louisiana before Campbell and Co. righted the ship for an 8-1 Big 12 record.
Penn State vs. Iowa Has Game of the Year Potential
Sorry to anyone in Happy Valley or Iowa City who feels that headline is a jinx, because it's true.
Iowa does not have a major test before its Oct. 9 trip to Penn State. The Hawkeyes are home for Kent State and Colorado State before a road game against a Maryland team few expect to make an impact this season.
Penn State has a difficult test next week against Auburn, but then two highly winnable games against Villanova and Indiana the following two weeks. If the Nittany Lions are able to get by Auburn, the overwhelming odds are we'll be getting a battle between 5-0—and potentially Top Five—opponents.
With Ohio State falling to Oregon on Saturday, the top of the Big Ten is wide open for the Lions or Hawkeyes to run through.
Report: Iowa State's Matt Campbell Rejected 8-year, $68.5M Contract Offer from Lions
May 20, 2021
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Matt Campbell apparently could have been the head coach of the Detroit Lions.
According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports (h/t Garrett Stepien of 247Sports), the Iowa State head coach turned down an eight-year, $68.5 million contract offer from the NFC North team. Instead, he chose to remain at the collegiate level with the Cyclones, and the Lions hired Dan Campbell.
The Lions weren't the only NFL team reportedly interested in Campbell, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported in January that the New York Jets were "very high" on the 41-year-old.
However, Iowa State announced in February that it signed the coach to a three-year extension. His deal now runs through the 2028 campaign and features "a total of $3 million for staff salary enhancements over the next three years."
That Campbell stayed is welcome news for Iowa State, as the program has improved from its 3-9 mark in his first season in 2016.
The Cyclones went 9-3 during the 2020 campaign and defeated Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. They also figure to challenge in the Big 12 again in 2021 thanks to the return of quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Breece Hall.
Iowa State checked in at No. 6 in Bleacher Report's January "super-early" rankings.
As for Detroit, it missed the playoffs in each of the last four years and finished in last place in the NFC North in each of the last three. While taking the Lions job would have given Campbell an opportunity to move to the NFL level, the team isn't exactly built for immediate success.
That stands in contrast to the Cyclones at this point.
