Iowa State and Clemson are in similar positions headed in to Dec. 29’s Cheez-It Bowl matchup. Both entered the year with high expectations and even College Football Playoff aspirations before faltering in the regular season.
The Cyclones, which entered the year as a consensus top 10 team, finished the regular season 7-5 despite having one of the most veteran lineups in college football. This coming off a season in which they finished the year 8-3 and picked up a win in the Fiesta Bowl.
Clemson — an early favorite to compete for the national championship — started the year 4-3 with losses to NC State and Pittsburgh before rattling off five impressive wins in a row to close the year.
In essence, the Cheez-It Bowl stands as a final opportunity for both Clemson and Iowa State to go out on a high note and reclaim what feel like lost seasons. Cyclones offensive coordinator Tom Manning and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock recently spoke with the media to preview the matchup. Both understand its importance.
“We are excited to be here, and we know that we play a very good opponent and very good team from the defensive side of things,” Manning said. “For us, having the opportunity to represent Iowa State Football, we are extremely grateful and humbled by the opportunity to be here at the Cheez-It Bowl. With that, we look forward to going out there and doing our best in terms of competing and, hopefully, finding ourselves in an opportunity to try to win a football game.”
