Iowa State's Richardson a key ingredient to the Cyclones success - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Iowa State used three different quarterbacks this year and Paul Rhoads ability to adjust to that position is the reason whey they made it down to Memphis.  He started the season with Steele Jantz. Now, Steele needed 20 throws every time he needed to put the ball in the end zone, that wasn't good enough.

So he moved onto Jared Barnett and things got a little better, it only took 18 throws for every touchdown pass.

Finally, insert the redshirt freshman Sam Richardson.  It only takes him eight times every time he throws the ball to find the endzone. That is what the Cyclones have been looking for all season long.

"I mean we knew all year that he had the ability to do that and he just took advantage of it when he got the chance at Kansas," senior Josh Lenz said.  He's just been going with it ever since."

"Everybody kind of looks at him and says boy he had a lot of success, and I'm very happy that he did," Offensive Coordinator Courtney Messingham said.  "But, there is still a lot of things he can learned and has learned and the extra practice days have helped him as much as anyone."

The Liberty Bowl is on New Year's Eve. It kicks off at 2:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN.