Purdy won't surprise OSU this time

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State cornerback A.J. Green remembers exactly what he felt last October when Iowa State pulled its starting quarterback after just a few plays in favor of true freshman Brock Purdy.

“We didn't know who he was,” Green said. “When he came off the bench, we was like, `we're fixin' to rack up on takeaways with this guy.' He came out and proved us wrong.

“He came out with a chip on his shoulder.”

And talent in his bones. Purdy's surprise attack led the Cyclones to a 48-42 upset over the Cowboys that day, but there's no surprise this time.

OSU visits Iowa State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames knowing exactly who will beat quarterback.

The question, though, is whether the Pokes can stop him.

After a slow offensive start to the season, Purdy has Iowa State clicking in October, with three straight games of at least 34 points, backing a defense that hasn't given up more than 26 in a game all year.

Purdy is one of only three quarterbacks in the nation with at least 14 passing touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns, along with Ohio State's Justin Fields and Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts.

Purdy leads the Big 12 in passing yards at 312.1 per game and has already set Iowa State' s school record for career 300-yard passing games.

“I think he's the best quarterback in the Big 12 right now,” OSU linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga said. “No matter who you look at on tape, he's the most efficient. He has that (Patrick) Mahomes to him. He throws off his back foot accurate. He can scramble.”

In his debut at OSU last year, Purdy was 18-of-23 passing for 318 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries.

Aside from the challenge Purdy presents, OSU's defense must improve its positioning and tackling, which have both led to big plays by opposing offense sin recent weeks.

Running back Breece Hall has produced back-to-back 100-yard games, the first true freshman Iowa State back to do so. He has 315 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 7.0 yards per carry in those games.

Though the receiver position doesn't have a big-name guy like it has the last few years, the Cyclones have four pass-catchers with at least 295 yards on the season.

“I think they're gonna challenge us in their route concepts, different schemes and running the ball,” OSU cornerback Rodarius Williams said. “We're coming off a tough loss, as everybody can see. We're back hungry again, and I feel like this is gonna be the game where we turn this program back around.”