Snyder could win at Iowa State with the level of talent we have now, but maybe not the same players. I'm saying that because I don't think K-State is any more talented than we are, but they are better at developing that talent and more importantly they know exactly what they are looking for in the recruiting process.
I, for one, think it's the system Snyder runs at KSU; from what I've seen he strongly believes in the K.I.S.S. method. Keeping it simple allows players to pick things up faster and contribute earlier. KSU's players don't have to stop and think before executing their assignments, and practices will be more focused. Snyder's offensive system seems to run off of maybe three or four base plays with a number of variations for each one. Defensive sets seem to follow a similar method. KSU's players play off muscle memory most of the time due to repetition, so their in game execution is usually excellent. It's a similar philosophy to that of Woody Hayes except it includes passing the ball as well. ISU on the other hand seems to have fallen in love with the more complex systems that OU, OSU, Baylor, et al employ, but our players aren't the caliber of those other teams. Snyder's system relies on execution, the spread and zone read rely on highly talented players. I'm thinking ISU should rely on a system that relies on execution rather than talent.