Fansided

College football 2019: Biggest trap game facing every Top 25 team

By Cody Williams

CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 24: Tee Higgins #5 of the Clemson Tigers gets away from R.J. Roderick #10 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 24: Tee Higgins #5 of the Clemson Tigers gets away from R.J. Roderick #10 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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AMES, IA – DECEMBER 1: Quarterback Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones throws the ball in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 27-24 over the Drake Bulldogs. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA – DECEMBER 1: Quarterback Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones throws the ball in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 27-24 over the Drake Bulldogs. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /

22. Iowa State Cyclones

Biggest Trap Game: at Texas Tech (Oct. 19)

While it was Texas and Oklahoma duking it out for Big 12 supremacy at the top of the conference one year ago, Matt Campbell’s Iowa State Cyclones actually finished in third place behind the two powerhouses. Throughout his time in Ames, Campbell has risen to a cult-like coaching hero and rightfully so considering how he’s built up the Cyclones. The 2019 season, however, could be his best work yet.

There’s every reason to believe that Iowa State could be a major spoiler in the Big 12 this year with the aforementioned duo of conference foes favored to compete for the crown. Quarterback Brock Purdy will lead the way for Campbell’s team. After saving the 2018 season by going 7-2 as the starter following a 1-3 beginning to the year, Purdy will look for a full season of success.

Iowa State’s schedule is actually quite largely balanced when it comes to potential trap games. Because of that, when trying to define the biggest of the year, it really came down to whether their Oct. 12 visit to West Virginia after playing TCU or their Oct. 19 contest at Texas Tech ahead of playing Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Texas in consecutive weeks would be the biggest trap.

Considering that West Virginia isn’t a team that’s likely to be overlooked, the game against the Red Raiders gets the nod as the bigger trap game. Yes, this is a Texas Tech team that will be undergoing drastic changes from last year, but their offense should still be high-powered and they can’t be overlooked ahead of running the gauntlet of the Big 12.