Tag: Cyclones

Kansas, Iowa State pursue win after coming off bye week

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kansas and Iowa State both are coming off bye weeks ahead of their Big 12 Conference matchup Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.

With two weeks left in the regular season, the Cyclones (6-4, 3-4) are bowl eligible but the Jayhawks (5-5, 3-4) need one more win to achieve the feat.

In their most recent game, the Jayhawks lost 24-20 at Arizona on Nov. 8. The Cyclones picked up a 20-17 win at TCU on the same day, overcoming an 11-point deficit in the final 10 minutes.

When Kansas returned to practice this week, it tightened its red-zone and third-down offense.

“It’ll be critical for us to be better in those situations down the stretch,” said Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold. “We schedule them at the end of our practice to try and simulate game situations.”

In the loss to the Wildcats, senior quarterback Jalon Daniels completed 15 of 29 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. He also was Kansas’ leading rusher with 74 yards and a TD on 14 carries.

Because he’s been such an efficient passer and runner — Daniels has completed 65.1% of his throws for 2,190 yards and 21 touchdowns and has rushed for 345 yards and three TDs — Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said the Cyclones will have to account for all of his play-making skills.

“What he’s done an incredible job of in his career is to just get better and better and better,” Campbell said. “He can make you pay horizontally, so you have to be gap-sound. He’s a player that can make you pay in a heartbeat.”

Campbell announced this week that tight end Gable Burkle (leg injury), the team’s No. 4 pass-catcher with 26 receptions, is scheduled for surgery and will miss the rest of the season. But the coach added a dose of optimism when he said redshirt senior linebacker Caleb Bacon will return to the lineup. Bacon’s 55 tackles rank third on the Cyclones and his 6.5 tackles for loss are second.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones' tight end Benjamin Brahmer (18) runs with the ball after making a catch ball around Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (44) during the first quarter in the Big-12 showdown at jack Trice Stadium on Nov. 1, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa St. TE Benjamin Brahmer carted off field after collapsing

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Iowa State tight end Benjamin Brahmer was carted off the field with an apparent serious injury during the fourth quarter of the Cyclones’ contest against Arizona State on Saturday at Ames, Iowa.

Brahmer is alert and was taken to Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames to be evaluated as a precaution, per Iowa State.

Brahmer took a hard hit from Sun Devils cornerback Keith Abney II on an incomplete pass with 8:50 left in the contest and appeared disoriented as he stood up. A trainer rushed out to help him and he was wobbly while taking a few steps before collapsing to the ground.

Paramedics stabilized Brahmer and placed him on the cart. During the ride off the field, Brahmer was alert and seen moving his fingers.

Brahmer caught a 17-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, his fourth scoring reception of the season. He caught three passes for 48 yards before exiting the game.

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) in action during the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Sam Leavitt sidelined for Arizona State’s title rematch with Iowa State

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The rematch of last season’s Big 12 championship game features two teams sliding downward in the conference race.

Defending champion Arizona State has lost two of its last three games and Iowa State has dropped three straight heading into Saturday’s clash in Ames, Iowa.

The Sun Devils clobbered the Cyclones 45-19 in last season’s conference title game to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. On Saturday, there’s not nearly as much at stake.

Arizona State (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) stands in a four-way tie for fifth place after losing 24-16 to visiting Houston last week.

The Sun Devils also will be without quarterback Sam Leavitt due to a right foot injury. The other time he sat out with this issue — Oct. 11 at Utah — Arizona State lost 42-10.

During the loss to Houston, Leavitt exited the game to be examined before returning and aggravating the foot again.

“Sam got re-tweaked there at the end,” Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said. “He got tweaked at the beginning and we sent him in to get some imaging.”

Sixth-year player Jeff Sims will start in place of Leavitt, who has passed for 1,628 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions this season and fired three touchdown passes in last year’s Big 12 title game.

Sims has 32 touchdowns against 29 interceptions in a career that began with three seasons at Georgia Tech and one at Nebraska. This is his second season with the Sun Devils.

“I wasn’t really too shocked after what happened Saturday,” Sims said Tuesday upon learning he’d be starting. “I just kind of told myself, ‘Just be ready if you got to go.’ I prepare the same way, you know?”

Sims hit 18 of 38 passes for 124 yards and was sacked five times when he started against Utah. Still, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell views Sims as a dangerous threat.

“When you see a guy like Jeff that’s played a lot of really good football, it’s a unique challenge,” Campbell said.

Meanwhile, the Cyclones (5-3, 2-3) are in a tie for ninth after blowing a 14-point lead and losing 41-27 at home to then-No. 11 BYU.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht was picked off a career-high three times. Overall, he has passed for 1,933 yards and 10 touchdowns against six interceptions.

In the middle of the program’s first three-game losing streak since 2022, Campbell is urging his squad to finish the season strong.

“I feel like we’re inches away from being the team we want to be,” Campbell said. “… You don’t see a team that’s quitting, you don’t see a team that’s not playing really hard. You see a team where there’s a couple moments where we’re trying to press the envelope, we’re making critical errors and we’ve got to be better.”

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones' running back Carson Hansen (26) attempts for the catch around BYU Cougars cornerback Evan Johnson (0) during the first quarter at Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.

No. 11 BYU stays unbeaten with comeback win at Iowa State

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No. 11 BYU capitalized on multiple Iowa State mistakes and held the Cyclones without a touchdown in the second half en route to a 41-27 Big 12 victory on Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.

The mistakes started with a muffed punt by the Cyclones (5-3, 2-3 Big 12), and three plays later with pressure in his face, Bear Bachmeier found Parker Kingston — who had a defender draped all over him — for a 27-yard touchdown and a 34-27 lead with 14:21 left.

Bachmeier and Kingston linked up often for BYU (8-0, 5-0), connecting seven times for 133 yards and two scores. Overall, the true freshman Bachmeier completed 22 of 35 passes for 307 yards and two TDs and ran for a team-high 49 yards and a score. Chase Roberts added eight grabs for 128 yards.

Two plays after Bachmeier and Kingston’s hookup, ISU’s Rocco Becht threw an interception that Faletau Satuala returned 40 yards to the end zone with 13:40 left.

Becht finished 24-of-36 passing for 311 yards with a TD and three interceptions. Carson Hansen, who returned from a concussion after missing last week’s game, rushed for 152 yards on 16 carries and two TDs.

BYU opened the second half with the ball, settling for a Will Ferrin 27-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 24-20.

Bachmeier then put the Cougars back in front 27-24 with a 9-yard designed run with 4:33 left in the third.

Kyle Konrardy tied the game at 27 on a 43-yarder with 1:47 left in the third before the fourth-quarter outburst.

The Cyclones came out hot, scoring on four of their first five drives and outgaining the Cougars 318-214 in the first half.

On the first play from scrimmage, Becht found Brett Eskildsen streaking down the sideline for a 75-yard bomb just nine seconds in.

BYU responded with a 68-yard drive capped off by a 4-yard rush from L.J. Martin to tie it at 7 about 2 1/2 minutes later.

Martin, who entered the day as the Big 12’s leading rusher, was injured in the first quarter and was ruled out after gaining 15 yards on five carries.

Hansen found the end zone on a pair of short runs, and the teams traded field goals to make it 24-10 Iowa State with 1:52 left in the half.

Bachmeier led a drive in 80 seconds that ended with a Kingston 12-yard reception TD to cut BYU’s deficit to 24-17.

This was the Cougars’ first win over the Cyclones in a series dating back to 1968.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman (20) tackles Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) in the first quarter of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Iowa State Cyclones at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Oct. 4, 2025.

Cincinnati hands No. 14 Iowa State first loss

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Brendan Sorsby’s 82-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Goodie with 5:57 to play extended host Cincinnati’s lead to 16 points over No. 14 Iowa State, and the Bearcats held on to win the Big 12 Conference game 38-30 on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their first defeat of the season.

Cincinnati raised its record to 4-1 and 2-0, while Iowa State fell to 5-1, 2-1.

The 82-yard TD was the Bearcats’ longest play since 2015, and it sealed the team’s first win over a ranked team in Scott Satterfield’s 29 games as head coach. The play gave Cincinnati a 38-22 lead. Iowa State completed the scoring on a 3-yard pass from Rocco Becht to Chase Sowell with 1:56 left.

Becht finished 30 of 48 for 314 yards and two touchdowns, and Sorsby went 13 of 25 for 214 yards and two TDs for Cincinnati, while teammate Evan Pryor rushed for a team-high 111 yards on 10 tries.

After scoring 31 points in the first half, in which the team’s lead was as large as 31-7, the Bearcats’ defense took over in the second half when the offense stalled.

Before Sorsby’s 82-yard touchdown pass, the Bearcats’ defense stopped the Cyclones on fourth-and-1 from their 16-yard line with 7:40 remaining in the game. It was one of three fourth-down stops for the Bearcats in the game.

Offensively, the Bearcats rushed for 260 yards and had 474 total yards. Sorsby added nine rushes for 64 yards and touchdown.

The Cyclones also had over 400 yards of offense (470), with quarterback Becht adding two touchdowns on the ground.

In the second half, both sidelines and head coaches were visibly upset and charged the field as penalties piled up. Cincinnati wound up with 128 yards in penalties and Iowa State 60.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the third quarter, while Cincinnati’s bench received a sideline warning in the first half.

On a Bearcats drive in the fourth quarter, three Bearcats plays that went for first downs and at least 19 yards, in a span of five plays, were called back due to offensive penalties. To cap it off, the Bearcats were called for illegal formation on a punt attempt.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell celebrates with team after scoring a touchdown against Arizona during the third quarter in the Big-12 conference showdown on Sept. 27, 2025, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.

Cincinnati out to prove its Big 12 candidacy vs. unbeaten No. 14 Iowa State

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Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield didn’t mince words following the team’s 37-34 victory Saturday at Kansas, telling sideline reporter Lauren Jbara that the Bearcats are here for the Big 12.

Saturday’s win was the type that largely eluded the Bearcats in their first two seasons as a member of the Big 12, during which they posted a 2-7 road record in league games. Finding a way to win that kind of game — the Bearcats drove 75 yards in 1:16 to score the winning touchdown with 29 seconds left — could be what springboards them to reach their lofty goals.

Satterfield and the players haven’t been shy about their aspirations of playing in the Big 12 championship game this season. In a conference that is wide open heading into October, Cincinnati can make an even bigger statement during Saturday’s showdown with visiting No. 14 Iowa State.

If the Bearcats (3-1, 1-0 in Big 12) are going to contend this season, it will be because of ascending quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The Bearcats’ junior is coming off his second Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week of the season — earned because he threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 52 yards on the ground, in Cincinnati’s win at Kansas.

Sorsby led the Bearcats on the game-winning touchdown drive that included an 18-yard pass to convert a fourth-and-10.

“That drive was awesome, and there was a little bit of adversity there like the rest of the game, but we found a way to persevere and come out on top,” Sorsby said. “We’ve been in so many close games since I’ve been here and it felt good to win one of them.”

Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) has been where Cincinnati aims to go. Head coach Matt Campbell has led the Cyclones to two title games (2020, 2024) while building them into one of the Big 12’s most consistent programs now that Texas and Oklahoma are in the SEC — and Iowa State has the makings of a team that could make a return trip to Dallas in December.

Leading the Cyclones is quarterback Rocco Becht, who has 1,103 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He threw for 240 yards in the Cyclones’ 39-14 win over Arizona last week.

While Becht lost two standout receivers off last year’s team to the NFL, Iowa State has replaced that production admirably with myriad weapons in the passing game. Most recently, East Carolina transfer Chase Sowell went off for a career-high 146 receiving yards in the Arizona game.

“I thought we played really good, complementary football,” Campbell said. “We played the game in the rhythm that we would want to play in for the majority of the night.”

Iowa State’s secondary, on the other hand, has been dealt blows in back-to-back games. The Cyclones lost cornerback Jeremiah Cooper to a season-ending knee injury last week and Campbell announced Tuesday that cornerback Jontez Williams also will miss the rest of the year due to a knee injury suffered against Arizona. Both were preseason All-Big 12 selections.

This could be an opportunity for Cincinnati’s receivers to continue the strides they’ve made since their season opener.

Cincinnati’s leading receiver is Cyrus Allen, who has 23 receptions for 273 yards and five touchdowns. The Bearcats have three more receivers with at least 10 catches and 150 receiving yards through four games.

This is the third straight season the Bearcats and Cyclones have played. Iowa State has won the previous two meetings by an average of 18.5 points per game — the only games between the two schools.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones' quarterback Rocco Becht (3) dives for a touchdown as Arizona Wildcats defensive line Leroy Palu (95) defends during the first quarter in the Big-12 conference showdown on Sept. 27, 2025, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.

Rocco Becht, No. 14 Iowa State run past Arizona

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Quarterback Rocco Becht scored three rushing touchdowns and Carson Hansen added two rushing scores as No. 14 Iowa State rolled to a 39-14 win over Arizona in a Big 12 Conference game on Saturday night in Ames, Iowa.

The Cyclones (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) had five rushing TDs for first time in more than a year despite only gaining 111 yards on the ground. Hansen finished with 63 yards and his two scores on 19 carries.

Becht scored on a trio of 1-yard runs, the first Iowa State quarterback with three rushing TDs in a game since Brock Purdy in 2021. Becht added 243 yards on 14-of-20 passing with an interception but failed to throw for a touchdown for the first time in 23 games, ending the longest active streak in FBS.

Chase Sowell had four catches for 146 yards for Iowa State, which is 5-0 for the second consecutive season.

Arizona (3-1, 0-1) got 253 passing yards and two touchdowns from Noah Fifita, who was also intercepted twice. Ismail Mahdi ran for 85 yards for the Wildcats, who were playing in Ames for the first time since 1968.

Up 22-7 at halftime, Iowa State got back up three scores when Becht scored on fourth-and-goal on the opening drive of the second half. Becht’s third 1-yard run made it 36-7 midway through the third quarter.

A 43-yard pass to Sowell set up Becht’s first TD run, with a two-point play putting Iowa State up 8-0 midway through the first quarter.

Hansen scored on a 1-yard run early in the second and added a 3-yard run late in the first half set up by a 42-yard interception return by Jontez Williams for a 22-0 lead.

Arizona got on the scoreboard just before halftime on a 9-yard pass from Fifita to Kris Hutson.

Arizona returns home to host Oklahoma State on Oct. 4, while Iowa State visits Cincinnati on that date.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan watches the game from the sidelines during the first quarter against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Undefeated Arizona eager to challenge No. 14 Iowa State

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A matchup of unbeaten teams is on tap for Saturday night when No. 14 Iowa State hosts Arizona in a Big 12 game in Ames, Iowa.

The Cyclones (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) have been on top of the league standings for a month, thanks to their Week Zero win over rival Kansas State in Ireland — one of three one-score victories. Since the start of the 2024 season, Iowa State owns an 8-1 record in games decided by 8 points or less.

“The reality, fortunate or unfortunate, the life we live here is there’s always a lot of one-score games,” said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell. “The better we’ve been, the better we’ve been fundamentally and detailed to win those games.”

Arizona (3-0) is off to its best start since 2015 and sits one victory away from matching last season’s win total. The Wildcats are making their first trip to Ames since 1968 as they play their second Big 12 opener after 45 years as members of the Pac-12.

“Every stadium on the road in this conference is a monster,” said Arizona coach Brent Brennan. “Every road game that we play is sold out, everywhere the crowd is all over your (expletive) the moment you get off the bus. It’s just part of playing in this conference.”

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht and Arizona’s Noah Fifita are both redshirt juniors who won conference Freshman of the Year awards in 2023. This season, Becht has thrown for 860 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception, in addition to two rushing scores. Fifita has thrown for 712 yards with six TDs and no picks while scoring three times on the ground.

“You can see him playing with just extreme confidence, because he’s effective in everything they ask him to do,” Brennan said of Becht, who is 22-9 as Iowa State’s starter.

Arizona’s Ismail Mahdi and Iowa State’s Carson Hansen are both coming off 100-yard rushing performances, with Mahdi going for 189 in a nonconference win over Kansas State and Hansen gaining 116 at Arkansas State. Mahdi, a transfer from Texas State, led FBS in all-purpose yards in 2023. With his 189 rushing yards and two catches for 32 yards, he personally outgained Kansas State (193 total yards) two weeks ago.

Defense could define this game, as both teams have been stingy in allowing points and yards. Arizona has given up only two TDs this season and held its last two opponents below 100 passing yards. Iowa State allows just 14.3 points per game, but only 10 per game at home.

Iowa State will be without kicker Kyle Konrardy, who earlier this season made a school-record 63-yard field goal, due to injury. In his place will be freshman walk-on Chase Smith, who has yet to attempt a field goal in his college career.

“It’s not going to be a long-term situation,” Campbell said of Konrardy, who is 7 for 9 this season on field goals and 28 of 37 for his career.

Arizona seeks its first 4-0 start since 2014. Iowa State, which began 7-0 last season en route to a spot in the Big 12 title game, has won eight of its last nine at home.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jacob Ellis (44) tries to take down Arkansas State Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) during the first quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.

No. 14 Iowa State wary of heat, Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor

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After prevailing in another nail-biter against in-state rival Iowa last week, No. 14 Iowa State figures to sweat during Saturday’s visit to Arkansas State no matter what.

Defending Red Wolves dual-threat quarterback Jaylen Raynor presents a uniquely formidable challenge, as Cyclones coach Matt Campbell sees it. There’s also the matter of the Jonesboro, Ark., forecast calling for highs in the upper 90s.

While Raynor struggled during last week’s neutral-site loss to Arkansas, he doesn’t seem to have Iowa State (3-0) fooled.

“This will be the best quarterback, in my opinion, from mobility, play-making-ability standpoint that we’re going to play,” Campbell said. “He’s got all the tools, and we saw that last year against him here and we’ve seen what he was able to do (after) our game a year ago.”

Iowa State thumped visiting Arkansas State 52-7 last September in the first meeting between the schools.

Arkansas State absorbed a similar blowout last week against Arkansas, losing 56-14 as Raynor was limited to 125 yards through the air with a touchdown and two interceptions. Raynor finished as the Red Wolves’ leading rusher, but gained just 38 yards on 15 carries.

“We had too many guys without discipline to execute,” Arkansas State coach Butch Jones said. “Our eyes weren’t in the right spots. We have to do a better job coaching and teaching.”

The Cyclones return the favor of the home-and-home with the Red Wolves (1-1) as the first Big 12 school and highest-ranked program to visit Centennial Bank Stadium.

It’s an experience that Jones is confident his team is prepared for despite the relative newness within the locker room. Fourteen Red Wolves have made their first starts for Arkansas State this season, including 10 defensive players.

Speaking of that number, Jones feels the Cyclones ought to be ranked within the Top 10.

“It’s a great challenge but a great opportunity,” Jones said. “For us to have any chance, we have to have a great week of preparation.”

Iowa State goes on the road for the first time since its season-opening victory against conference foe Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland.

Kyle Konrardy connected on a 54-yard field goal with 1:52 remaining to lift the Cyclones to a 16-13 home victory against Iowa. It was the same distance from which he hit a game-winning kick in the 2024 game between the schools.

Campbell spoke optimistically about Iowa State’s health, saying that injured offensive lineman Trevor Buhr has “probably got a real chance to play” while linebackers Cael Brezina and Carson Willich are questionable.

Iowa State’s defense produced three sacks and six tackles for loss against Iowa, an output the unit will aim to match or exceed at Arkansas State. The offense also itches to break out; quarterback Rocco Becht was just 18 of 27 for 134 yards and a touchdown last week.

As for Saturday’s weather and the fatigue it could bring, Campbell hardly flinched on his players’ behalf.

“I think that all those things are real, and all those things obviously would be an excuse if we didn’t get better this week,” he said. “It’s going to be hot everywhere, not just in Jonesboro, right? The reality of it is, the last scrimmage we had was at four o’clock and 107 degrees real-feel temperature.

“So, we’ve been there. We prepared for this, and you know what it takes, physically, to prepare yourself to do that.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2025; Dublin, IRELAND; Iowa State player Keaton Roskop celebrates after the Aer Lingus Classic between Iowa State and Kansas State at Aviva Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO via Imagn Images

After win in Dublin, No. 22 Iowa State seeks growth vs. South Dakota

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Some day in the future, Matt Campbell will reflect on his team’s successful trip to Ireland.

But Campbell and No. 22 Iowa State are not dwelling on Dublin, where they held on for a 24-21 win over No. 17 Kansas State last weekend. The Cyclones (1-0) have turned their attention to their home opener against South Dakota (0-0) on Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.

“There has got to be great growth between Week 1 and Week 2,” Campbell said. “I still think this football team — you’ve got no idea who we are and what we’re about.

“I think we grew (against Kansas State). You saw us grow from quarter to quarter. But, boy, how do you respond? How do you continue to move yourself forward?”

The Cyclones will try to answer that question against South Dakota, a talented group from the FCS-level Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Coyotes finished 11-3 last season, including a 7-1 mark in conference play.

South Dakota quarterback Aidan Bouman will return to familiar territory when he faces Iowa State. Bouman started his college career as a backup with the Cyclones before transferring in 2022 to South Dakota, where he has blossomed as a full-time starter.

Bouman passed for 2,958 yards, 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions last season.

“I am very excited, don’t get me wrong,” Bouman said. “It’s going to be nostalgic. That’s a place I was at, and they have a great game-day atmosphere.

“But I say this all the time about every game I have ever played in: It’s just another game, that’s all it is. You prepare the exact same, you go out there, you do your job and you can’t make it bigger than it is.”

The Cyclones also feature a veteran signal-caller in Rocco Becht, who completed 14 of 28 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns last week. Becht also rushed for 18 yards and a touchdown.

Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III provide a one-two punch on the ground for Iowa State. Hansen had 16 carries for 71 yards in the opener — most of it in the fourth quarter — and Sama finished with 14 carries for 43 yards.

The Cyclones continue to wait for one or more players to step forward at wide receiver. There is a significant void to fill at the position after former wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel were drafted by the Houston Texans last spring in the second round and third round, respectively.

Campbell explained what he is looking for among the wide receiver group.

“Who are your ‘A’ players, ‘A’ moments?” he said. “You saw some guys make ‘A’ moment plays on Saturday, which were huge. I just think, as the confidence grows, we have a lot of confidence in these players. They’ve got to have confidence in themselves to make critical plays in the moment.”

The Cyclones are 9-0 all-time against South Dakota, but the teams have not met since 1959. Their inaugural matchup took place in 1899 in Sioux City, Iowa, when Iowa State won 11-6.

–Field Level Media