Three takeaways from Matt Campbell ahead of Iowa State football's game against Kansas

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AMES — Coming out of its final bye week of the season, Iowa State football is preparing for its last home game of the year on Nov. 22.

The Cyclones (6-4, 3-4 Big 12) will host Kansas (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) at 11 a.m. for senior day, hoping to build off their win over TCU before the break. The victory over the Horned Frogs ended a four-game losing streak.

Here are three takeaways from Campbell’s media availability ahead of Iowa State’s matchup against Kansas.

Cyclones prepare for a tough game against the Jayhawks

Kansas lands in the middle of the Big 12 with a points-per-game average of 30.2, and the Jayhawks defense allows 25.2 points per game. They’re in the bottom half of the conference in rushing yards per game (159.7), but in the top half in passing yards per game (228.9).

The Jayhawks defense has the second-lowest number of interceptions (4), and they’re again in the middle of the pack on fumble recoveries (5).

“They’re probably, by position group, maybe the most talented team in this conference,” Campbell said. “When you look at them, there’s a lot of guys that have played a ton of football, and a lot of guys that have great talent and great ability. So it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

Iowa State faces a familiar face on the Kansas sideline

There will be a reunion of sorts for Campbell and company on Saturday, as the Cyclones face off against Kansas defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald.

That’s a name that might be familiar to some Cyclones fans, with McDonald coming to Iowa State from Toledo and coaching under Campbell for five seasons. He left the Cyclones’ staff prior to the 2021 season for a job with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“D.K.’s had an incredible career,” Campbell said. “(He) was with us at Toledo and was a huge piece of our success there. And then, as we came here, was a huge piece of the growth of who we were in 2016 to who we were by the time he left.

“(He’s) done a really great job in terms of coaching, developing his players, whether it’s been the (defensive backs) or globally. He’s always had an incredible mind for the game of football and, schematically, has always been a guy that has been able to put his guys in a great position to be successful.”

Campbell provides an update on quarterback Rocco Becht’s health

Before the bye week, Becht threw for 111 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against TCU. It marked the sixth game this season with at least one pick, and his second game with multiple interceptions in the previous three weeks.

“There’s a multitude of reasons why the consistency is where it is,” Campbell said. “We’re trying to be the most consistent we can be here in the finality of the football season. … We need to play the offensive football we want to play, and I think getting healthy will continue to help that.”

Campbell also provided an update on Becht, who has gone to the injury tent several times this season but never missed significant playing time.

“I would say he’s getting back,” Campbell shared. “Hopefully, this week and a half helped him a little bit, kind of get himself a little bit closer to where we’d like him to be physically.”

Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 3 takeaways from Matt Campbell ahead of Iowa State football vs Kansas

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