3.5 Early Thoughts Ahead Of Iowa State's Home Clash Against Cincinnati

Iowa State football returns this weekend with a home game against Cincinnati. 

The Cyclones are coming off a loss against Baylor on Saturday. With their standing in the Big 12 becoming increasingly important as the season progresses, Iowa State needs to find a way to get back in the win column. The question now is how the Cyclones are going to recover enough to earn a bowl bid.

We'll have you covered with plenty of pregame coverage throughout the week on IowaStateRoundtable.com, but for now, here are our three-and-a-half early thoughts on this matchup.

Cincinnati is not a team Iowa State can overlook, especially with a win becoming increasingly important to the Cyclones' postseason hopes. A loss could put even more pressure on Iowa State to defeat UCF and Kansas State in its remaining conference matchups.

While the Bearcats have had their share of struggles this season, they proved they can compete with some of the Big 12's best after taking down No. 15 Texas Tech, 37-24, in Week 8. The Cyclones will need both their offense and defense to step up this weekend if they want to ensure a clearer path to bowl eligibility.

Iowa State jumped out to a 10-0 lead against Baylor early in the game, showing that the offense may have started to find its identity again. The Cyclones responded quickly when Baylor began scoring, but it wasn't enough to maintain their momentum. Baylor scored two touchdowns to take a 21-17 lead into halftime, and Iowa State struggled to regain control as the game continued.

While the offense showed some early promise, the defense continues to be a concern. Iowa State has allowed opposing teams to put up high numbers each week, putting additional pressure on the offense to keep pace. Defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit has continued to make adjustments to the defensive rotation, relying on more experienced players to help stabilize the team out. However, it has not been enough for Iowa State's offense to stay on the field consistently. 

Cincinnati is also looking to bounce back after a tough 31-24 loss to No. 17 Houston last weekend. The Bearcats fell behind 14-0 early but fought back, eventually tying the score at 24-24 in the fourth quarter. However, a late 51-yard touchdown run from Houston proved to be what pushed Cincinnati into the loss column. 

The Bearcats have shown that they can compete against ranked Big 12 opponents, most notably their 37-24 upset win over No. 15 Texas Tech three weeks ago. However, Cincinnati's inability to close out the game could give Iowa State an opportunity. The Cyclones will need to capitalize early if they want to set the tone of the game. Offense and defense will have to work together to secure this win for the Cyclones.  

Cincinnati has the potential to wear down Iowa State's defense throughout the game. The Bearcats have shown they can respond with touchdowns when opposing teams put points on the board, making it important for the Cyclones to limit their offensive opportunities.  The longer Cincinnati controls the ball, the more pressure Iowa State's defense will be under and the fewer opportunities the Cyclones' offense has to make plays. Iowa State has historically played well at home, and a strong crowd at Jack Trice Stadium could give the Cyclones the confidence they need to get back on track.