Iowa State football has a chance to put its loss to No. 15 Utah and get back on the winning track when the Cyclones return home Saturday to get ready to compete against West Virginia (11 a.m. CT, TNT). 

The loss against Utah may've left a sour taste in Iowa State's mouth, but it’s time to move on. There is no time for the Cyclones to keep thinking about it. Iowa State began the season on a promising note with some big wins over Southeast Missouri (38-10), Bowling Green (55-7), and a narrow loss to archrival Iowa in Iowa City on Sept. 12. 

A loss to Utah wasn't a surprising outcome for Iowa State fans, but how the game transpired was probably the most frustrating thing. The Cyclones fell into a 24-3 hole in the first half, only to make a game out of it in the second half before ultimately falling short, 31-17. 

Now 2-2 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 action, the Cyclones will have a great chance to get back in the win column against the rebuilding Mountaineers (3-1, 0-1), but it will be important to see how they respond to the challenge. 

West Virginia will be a tough game and the win will not come easy. The Mountaineers have opened the season with three straight wins against Coastal Carolina, UT Martin and Virginia, and have a strong rushing offense led by running back Cam Cook. The TCU transfer has been a fantastic addition for Rich Rodriguez's team, totaling 510 yards and three touchdowns. 

The 38-27 win over then-No. 25 Virginia on Sept. 19 gave West Virginia fans the most optimism they've had in some time, but the Mountaineers still showed they still have a long road ahead of them after dropping their conference opener, 41-24, to Oklahoma State last weekend. 

But Oklahoma State appears to be a really good team in the conference this year, so there's no harm in losing a game to that explosive offense. Speaking of offense, West Virginia has a quarterback of its own in Michael Hawkins Jr., who has thrown for 609 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. The Oklahoma transfer was the top-graded quarterback for Week 3 at 94.1, and his explosiveness could be something ISU fans should keep an eye on. 

But at the end of the day, the match to watch is ultimately going to be West Virginia's rushing attack. You know how good Cook can be, but the entire Mountaineer team is dominant on the ground. WVU leads the Big 12 with 294.8 rushing yards per game. 

Iowa State is going to have to find a way to slow down that production while also getting more production on the field from their offense. Quarterback Jaylen Raynor has thrown for 639 yards this season, while running back Aiden Flora has rushed for 383 yards, If the 'Clones stick to the running game and give Raynor time in the pocket to make throws, they will have the chance to keep the Mountaineers defense on their heels and take the win.

Long story short, this is a very big game for Iowa State. An 0-2 start in league play would be detrimental to the momentum Jimmy Rogers and Co. built early in the year. 

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