Tag: Iowa State Cyclones

Iowa State ground game leads the way in win over Oklahoma State

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Abu Sama rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown to lead Iowa State to a 20-13 Big 12 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday in Stillwater, Okla.

Carson Hansen added 109-rushing yards, and Chase Sowell caught a touchdown pass for Iowa State (7-4, 5-4 Big 12). Kyle Konrardy made field goals of 45 and 34 yards.

Rocco Becht passed for 94 yards and a touchdown. Caleb Bacon had three sacks, Marcus Neal recovered a fumble and Drew Surges had an interception for the Cyclones, who ended their regular season on a three game winning streak.

Iowa State outrushed Oklahoma State 231-27.

Zane Flores completed 19 of 30 pass attempts for 166 yards and an interception for Oklahoma State (1-11, 0-9). Trent Howland rushed for 37 yards and a touchdown. Terrill Davis caught five passes for 57 yards. Logan Ward drilled field goals of 28 and 41 yards.

Jacobi Olyphant Jr. and Trip White each had a sack, while Aidan Davenport recovered a fumble for the Cowboys, who closed their season on an 11-game losing streak and without a win over an FBS opponent.

With Iowa State leading 3-0 early in the second quarter, Cael Brezina forced a Gavin Freeman fumble in the second quarter that was recovered by Neal on the Oklahoma State 46-yard line. The Cyclones needed four plays to take a 10-0 lead when Becht hit Sowell for a 16-yard touchdown with 8:11 left in the first half.

Just before halftime, the Cowboys’ 14 play, 80-yard scoring drive was capped by Howland’s 8-yard rushing touchdown to cut the Cyclones lead to 10-7 at the half.

An explosive, 40-yard rushing touchdown from Sama, who broke through the middle of the Cowboys defensive line, gave the Cyclones a 17-7 lead with 10:39 to play in the third quarter.

Later in the third quarter, Davenport recovered an Oklahoma State punt that struck an Iowa State player at the Cyclones 14-yard line. But the Cowboys settled for Ward’s 28-yard field goal and trailed 17-10.

Surges’ interception thwarted a Cowboys drive on the final play of the third quarter. Konrardy’s second field goal extended the Iowa State lead to 20-10 in the fourth quarter. Ward hit a 41-yard field goal with 3:50 left to end the scoring.

-Field Level Media

First-half domination carries Iowa State past Kansas

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Rocco Becht completed 18 of 23 pass attempts for 241 yards and three touchdowns as Iowa State earned a 38-14 Big 12 win over Kansas on Saturday in Ames, Iowa.

Carson Hansen rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown, Brett Eskildsen caught six passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns, Benjamin Brahmer caught a touchdown pass and Aiden Flora ran for a score.

Marcus Neal had an interception and Kyle Konrardy made a 55-yard field goal for the Cyclones (7-4, 4-4 Big 12).

Jalon Daniels completed 13 of 23 pass attempts for 154 yards and an interception for the Jayhawks (5-6, 3-5). Boden Groen had five reception for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Leshon Williams had a rushing touchdown.

The Cyclones’ opening series was a 12 play, 75-yard scoring drive. Becht connected on all four passing attempts including a 9-yard touchdown pass to Eskildsen as Iowa State took a 7-0 lead.

On the first play of the second quarter, Hansen’s 4-yard rushing touchdown put the Cyclones up 14-0. After Kansas missed a field goal, Konrardy’s 55-yard field goal gave Iowa State a 17-0 lead it would carry into halftime.

Four Iowa State first-half drives featured 38 plays and 19 minutes in time of possession. The Cyclones held a 202-94 advantage in total yards and shut out a team in the first half for the first time this season.

It took Kansas four plays to get on the board in the second half. Williams’ 4-yard rushing touchdown, to cap a four-play drive, cut the Jayhawks’ deficit to 17-7.

Becht answered with a 20-yard TD strike to Eskildsen and the Cyclones took a 24-7 lead with 8:52 left in the third quarter. With 7:58 left in the third quarter, Daniles was hurt on a rushing attempt and missed one play.

Kansas’ backup Cole Ballard fired a 21-yard TD on his first pass to Groen and the Jayhawks trailed 24-14 in the third quarter. A 12-yard touchdown reception by Brahmer extended the Cyclones advantage to 31-14 with 2:18 left in the third.

Neal’s interception in the red zone came with 7:01 remaining and Flora tacked on a 38-yard TD run with just over a minute to play.

In order to become bowl eligible, Kansas faces a must-win game on Friday against Utah.

-Field Level Media

TCU begins decisive stretch against Iowa State

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TCU still is eyeing a return to the Big 12 Championship Game.

And the Horned Frogs have plenty of games remaining against teams ahead of them in the standings.

If that hope is to stay alive, though, TCU figures to need to sweep its November slate, starting with Saturday’s matchup against Iowa State in Fort Worth, Texas.

“You have to turn it up in November because everybody else is,” Horned Frogs tight end Chase Curtis said. “… You’ve got to win now.”

TCU (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) comes into the game on a two-game winning streak, and is looking to maintain that momentum after a week off.

The Horned Frogs have won seven consecutive home games dating back to last October.

After starting the season 5-0, the Cyclones (5-4, 2-4) have dropped four consecutive games.

Three of those losses have come by eight or fewer points, including last week’s 24-19 setback to Arizona State.

“I said inches last week, we were probably at like centimeters,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “You’re talking just a fabric away from where you want to be. … The challenges have been fast and furious and every game is different.”

The matchup will be a return to where Cyclones’ quarterback Rocco Becht made his first significant impact.

In 2022 in Fort Worth, Becht entered early in the second half after starter Hunter Dekkers was hurt, completing seven of 13 passes for 65 yards and an interception in a 62-14 loss.

Becht has blossomed from there, becoming a three-year starter.

Even though Iowa State has struggled recently, Campbell said he was happy with Becht’s progression.

“Playing really good football,” Campbell said. “Our consistency, globally, on the offensive side of the football has to be better. … What Rocco is doing is he’s certainly giving us a chance to win every Saturday.”

Becht is one score away from breaking Brock Purdy’s school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

TCU comes into the game 11th nationally and second in the Big 12 in passing offense, averaging 301.5 yards through the air, but is 108th in rushing offense.

The Cyclones’ attack has been much more balanced.

Iowa State is one of three teams nationally with two players with 550 yards or more rushing. Carson Hansen (613) and Abu Sama (558) have split the load for the Cyclones.

TCU coach Sonny Dykes said he expected wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV to be available after dealing with injuries in recent weeks.

Though Manjack has yet to miss a game, he has just one catch for eight yards in the last three games after having 20 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns over the first five games.

The Cyclones figure to be without tight end Ben Brahmer, who was carted off the field in last week’s loss to Arizona State after taking a big hit late in the game.

Iowa State also remains without safety Ta’shawn James, who has a team-high five pass breakups, and linebacker Will McLaughlin.

Iowa State has won four of the last five meetings between the programs, including a 27-14 win in Ames in 2023.

-Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter (3) passes the ball in the first quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Kaidon Salter shines as Colorado upsets No. 22 Iowa State

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Kaidon Salter completed 16 of 25 passes for 255 yards, two touchdowns and rushed for 57 yards to spring Colorado to a 24-17 upset over No. 22 Iowa State on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.

Joseph Williams had eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown and Omarion Miller had three grabs for 83 yards and a touchdown. Tawfiq Byard added an interception, while Micah Welch had a rushing touchdown for the Buffaloes (3-4, 1-3 Big 12).

Abu Sama III had 177 rushing yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns for Iowa State (5-2, 2-2), which has lost two straight games. Rocco Becht completed 18 of 33 passes for 205 yards and an interception.

Salter hit Williams in the corner of the end zone with 4:26 left in the third quarter on what would be the go-ahead score that gave the Buffaloes a 21-17 lead. After the Colorado defense held Iowa State on a 4th down attempt from its 18-yard line, Alejandro Mata hit a 29-yard field goal to push the Buffaloes lead to 24-17 with 5:13 left in the game.

On the last play of the first quarter, Welch rumbled around right tackle for an 8-yard touchdown as the Buffaloes took a 7-0 lead. Chase Smith’s 38-yard field goal got the Cyclones on the board midway through the second quarter.

Both teams struggled to get their offenses on track in the first half. The Cyclones were 1 of 7 on third down and the Buffaloes were 2 for 6. But Becht engineered a 10 play, 96 yard scoring drive that Sama capped with a one-yard touchdown run and the Cyclones took a 10-7 halftime lead.

On the first drive of the second half, Salter completed a 70-yard bomb to Miller as the Buffaloes took a 14-10 lead. Iowa State answered right back when Sama punched in a touchdown from the 1-yard line and the Cyclones went up 17-14.

It was the first meeting between the two teams since 2010.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell watches from the sideline against South Dakota during the third quarter in the home game opening at Jack Trice Stadium on August 30, 2025, in Ames, Iowa

No. 14 Iowa State struggles but slides past Arkansas State

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Rocco Becht was 14-of-25 passing for 265 yards, a touchdown and an interception to lead No. 14. Iowa State to a 24-16 win over Arkansas State on Saturday at Jonesboro, Ark.

Carson Hansen rushed for 116 yards on 18 carries and Xavier Townsend caught three passes for 92 yards to lead Iowa State (4-0), which rushed for 187 yards and had 452 total yards.

Jaylen Raynor went 19-of-33 passing for 222 yards and one interception and also rushed for 83 yards and a score on 16 carries to lead Arkansas State (1-2), which ran for 160 yards and had 382 total yards.

Trailing 17-10 at halftime, Arkansas State cut its deficit to 17-16 on a pair of field goals by Clune Van Andel, one from 36 yards out with 9:08 left in the third quarter and another from 40 yards out with 11:53 remaining in the game.

Iowa State got some separation, driving 75 yards in nine plays and taking a 24-16 lead with 8:34 left on a 4-yard touchdown run by Abu Sama.

Arkansas State later in the fourth drove deep into Iowa State territory, but a drive ended on downs at the Iowa State 23-yard line with 3:47 remaining.

Iowa State got the ball back, collected three first downs and eventually ran out the clock.

Iowa State took a 9-0 lead with 2;33 left in the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Becht, but Arkansas State responded with 10 straight points.

Following a 45-yard field goal by Van Andel with 13:11 remaining in the second quarter, Arkansas State grabbed a 10-9 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by Raynor, which capped off a 17-play, 70-yard drive that took 8:13 off of the clock.

Iowa State took some momentum into the locker room at halftime, taking a 17-10 lead with 14 seconds to go in the second quarter on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Becht to Dominic Overby and a subsequent 2-point conversion run by Hansen.

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) scores a rushing touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

No. 15 Arizona State owns Big 12 title game with rout of No. 16 Iowa State

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Bo Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as No. 15 Arizona State clinched a College Football Playoff spot with a 45-19 rout of No. 16 Iowa State on Saturday in the Big 12 title game at Arlington, Texas.

Skattebo rushed for two scores and also had a receiving touchdown for the Sun Devils (11-2), who won their sixth consecutive game. Sam Leavitt completed 12 of 17 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a score for Arizona State.

Sun Devils star receiver Jordyn Tyson (left arm) missed the game but Xavier Guillory stepped up to make two touchdown catches.

The Sun Devils, who were picked to finish last as a newcomer in the 16-team Big 12, are hoping to land a first-round bye in the 12-team playoff. The conference was on the outside of the four byes as of Tuesday’s unveiling but the Atlantic Coast Conference title game result could provide an opening if Clemson defeats SMU.

Rocco Becht completed 21 of 35 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Cyclones (10-3), who saw their chances from a playoff spot come to an end. Jaylin Noel and Carson Hansen caught touchdown passes and Jayden Higgins had seven catches for 115 yards.

Skattebo ripped off a 28-yard gain on the first offensive play to set the tone. He later had runs of 42 and 53 yards and also scored on a 33-yard reception.

Skattebo scored on a 3-yard run to give the Sun Devils a 17-10 lead with 10:49 left in the first half. He had the 42-yard run on that drive.

Late in the half, the Sun Devils were back in their own end when Skattebo broke loose on the 53-yard scamper. He also ended the drive by scoring from the 2 to give Arizona State a 14-point lead with 27 seconds to go.

Iowa State’s chances of rallying disintegrated in the third quarter as Abu Sama twice lost fumbles and Becht was intercepted by Keith Abney II.

The Sun Devils scored on short drives of 43, 26 and 38 yards to put the game away.

Leavitt tossed touchdown passes of 8 and 21 yards to Guillory in a span of 71 seconds to make it 38-10. And Skattebo caught the short pass from Leavitt and turned it into a 33-yard score with 2:57 left in the third quarter.

Becht tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Noel with 7:27 left in the contest.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) celebrates with quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Big 12 championship game capsule: Arizona State vs. Iowa State

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Big 12 championship game
Arizona State (10-2) vs. Iowa State (10-2)
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Noon ET
Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium
TV: ABC
Early line: Arizona State -1.5 (FanDuel)

What’s at stake:
Where Arizona State is in the standings on Tuesday will determine if the Sun Devils are facing a must-win situation as the Big 12 very well could be a one-bid league. Arizona State has been a scorching-hot team down the stretch and probably doesn’t want to leave its fate to the committee in hopes of getting an at-large bid.

Iowa State has recorded the first 10-win season in school history and didn’t secure its spot until BYU defeated Houston late Saturday night in Provo, Utah. The Cyclones badly want to win this game to ensure they are part of the field as they clearly will get passed over if they are a three-loss squad.

How they got here:
Big 12 newcomer Arizona State was picked to finish last in the 16-team league, proving that those involved in the balloting aren’t a group of geniuses. The Sun Devils lost to Texas Tech in Week 4 and their only other setback (to Cincinnati) came when quarterback Sam Leavitt (rib) was sidelined. Arizona State roared to the finish with five straight wins, including a 49-7 road trampling over Arizona on Saturday.

Iowa State beat rival Iowa on Sept. 7 and shut out Houston three weeks later as part of a 7-0 start. But consecutive losses to Texas Tech and Kansas knocked the Cyclones out of the CFP Top 25, making a berth feel like a long shot. Yet Iowa State recovered with three straight victories, including a must-win affair with Kansas State on Saturday before receiving the help it needed from BYU to gain the conference title game berth over Colorado.

Names to know:
–Arizona State
QB Sam Leavitt
Has put together a surprisingly good season with 2,444 yards and 21 touchdowns against five interceptions. He has three passing scores in four of his five games since returning from the injury.

RB Cam Skattebo
Tough guy is the face of Arizona State’s rise with 1,398 yards and 17 TDs on the ground along with 35 catches for 468 yards and two scores.

WR Jordyn Tyson
Collected 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 scores, accumulating 444 of the yards over the past three games.

–Iowa State
QB Rocco Becht
Has 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions while throwing for 3,021 yards, joining Brock Purdy — the former Mr. Irrelevant — as the lone Iowa State quarterbacks to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season twice.

WR Jayden Higgins
Has 80 catches for 1,068 yards and nine touchdowns while he and teammate Jaylin Noel (1,013) are the first duo to top 1,000 receiving yards in the same season in school history.

CB Jontez Williams
Those four interceptions lead a unit that allowed 21 or fewer points on eight occasions.

Xs and Os:
Arizona State has taken to smashing the not-any-good label and has been the best team in the Big 12 in November. Second-year coach Kenny Dillingham had just three wins in his first season and now has the Sun Devils being that team others don’t want to face.

Iowa State had won nine games in a season on just three occasions prior to this season but now has a chance to win 11 or more this season. The Cyclones won’t scare anyone on the overall talent spectrum but the late-season exploits point to a team that is about to play itself into the playoffs.

Prediction:
Iowa State 19, Arizona State 17

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell watches his team play the Cincinnati Bearcats at Jack Trice Stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones won the game 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

No. 18 Iowa State tops No. 24 Kansas State for 1st 10-win season

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No. 18 Iowa State scored 14 points off turnovers and defeated No. 24 Kansas State 29-21 on Saturday on a frigid night in Ames, Iowa.

The Cyclones (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) will face Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 7 if BYU beats Houston later Saturday. The Cyclones last won a conference football championship in 1912 when they were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Iowa State has 10 wins in a season for the first time in school history.

The Wildcats (8-4, 5-4) have lost three of their past four games.

Rocco Becht threw for 137 yards and two touchdowns for the Cyclones. Avery Johnson racked up 220 yards passing and three touchdowns for the Wildcats (8-4, 5-4), who have lost three of their past four games.

Trailing 24-14, Kansas State looked poised to make it a one-score game midway through the third quarter after a first-and-goal at Iowa State’s 5-yard line. But two short gains set up a 21-yard field-goal attempt that was blocked.

The Wildcats converted on their next possession as Johnson hit Garrett Oakley for a 7-yard touchdown to trim their deficit to 24-21 with 4:41 left in the third. Kansas State stopped Iowa State on fourth-and-2 at the Kansas State 7. On the Wildcats’ ensuing possession, Johnson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, extending the Cyclones’ lead to 26-21 with 13:22 left in the game.

Iowa State then got a 20-yard field goal by Kyle Konrardy with 6:16 left to cap the scoring.

Johnson’s throw on the first play of the game was ruled a backward pass, which was recovered by Iowa State at the Kansas State 27-yard line. Six plays later, Becht found Jayden Higgins for a 15-yard touchdown.

After going three-and-out on their second drive, the Wildcats found their footing. Johnson found Jayce Brown for a 28-yard touchdown to cap a 10-play, 83-yard drive and tie the score at 7-7.

Iowa State regained the lead early in the second quarter on a 41-yard field goal by Konrardy. Kansas State then turned the ball over again when Keagan Johnson fumbled at the Wildcats’ own 30 after making a reception. Five plays later, Becht found Jaylin Noel in the back of the end zone for a 17-7 lead.

Kansas State got back into the game when Johnson threw a 65-yard touchdown to Brown to cut the Wildcats’ deficit to 17-14 with 5:49 left in the first half.

Becht’s 5-yard run with 43 seconds left in the second quarter gave Iowa State a 24-14 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes the ball against Cincinnati during the third quarter in the week-12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.

Rocco Becht, No. 22 Iowa State to test Utah’s stingy defense

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Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht put it succinctly after his team’s 34-17 win over Cincinnati last week.

“Whenever the ball is in my hands,” he said, “I can make a play with it.”

Becht will try to keep making those plays on Saturday night when the 22nd-ranked Cyclones bid to keep their Big 12 Conference championship hopes alive in Salt Lake City against struggling Utah.

After losing two straight games to fall behind BYU (9-1, 6-1) and Colorado (8-2, 6-1) in the conference, Iowa State (8-2, 5-2) needed Becht to make plays to get back on track. He threw a third-quarter touchdown to put the Cyclones ahead for good at 17-10 and added a fourth-quarter scoring run after the Bearcats trimmed their deficit to three points.

Becht completed 24 of 33 passes for 234 yards while adding 48 yards on seven rushes. He comes into this week’s game with 2,628 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.

What Becht gets on Saturday night likely will be earned. The Utes (4-6, 1-6) have dropped six straight games but the defense hasn’t been responsible for much of it, save for last week’s 49-24 defeat at Colorado.

Shedeur Sanders carved Utah up for 340 passing yards and three touchdowns in its first bad game of the year defensively. The Utes gave up an average of 20.4 points over their first five losses but simply haven’t been able to score enough to help their defense.

“This is, bar none, the best defense that we’ll play,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “You look at their front seven, all fifth- and sixth-year seniors, some of the best defensive players in the country at their position.”

But Utah’s offense simply hasn’t been competent since veteran quarterback Cam Rising suffered an injury in a September win over Baylor that sidelined him for three games. Rising then was knocked out in his return game at Arizona State on Oct. 11 with what turned out to be a season-ending injury.

Freshman Isaac Wilson has showed flashes of brilliance from time to time but simply hasn’t played with the consistency needed to win at this level.

“Right now, I’m in the ‘Twilight Zone.’ It’s the most difficult year of my coaching career, hands down,” Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Not even close.”

Wilson has thrown for 1,436 yards and 10 touchdowns but also has tossed 11 interceptions and completed only 54.8 percent of his attempts. Aside from running back Micah Bernard and his 880 rushing yards, the offense is starved for consistent production.

Picked to win the Big 12 in July, Utah must win this week and next week at UCF just to qualify for a bowl game.

“We’re just not potent enough on offense,” Whittingham said.

While the Utes scrape out 22.7 points and 353.8 yards per game, Iowa State is averaging 31.4 and 434.2, respectively.

The Cyclones own a 4-1 lead in the all-time series but the teams haven’t played since 2010, when Utah went to Ames and scored a 68-27 victory.

–Field Level Media