The Iowa State Cyclones got exactly what they needed on Saturday: a win that keeps their bowl hopes alive, and they did it in convincing fashion, rolling past Cincinnati 41-13 behind a huge day from Aiden Flora.
Cincinnati opened with a burst, using a 66-yard run from Cole Tabb to quickly push into the red zone and set the tone for what looked like it could be a track meet. Iowa State answered right back, though, and Flora got the Cyclones moving with 22 rushing yards before finishing the drive with a touchdown to tie the game early.
From there, Flora started taking over. On Iowa State’s second drive, he ripped off a 77-yard run for his second touchdown of the day and put the Cyclones in front 14-7.
The offense kept humming as the defense chipped in with a couple of stops, and Flora showed off more than just his legs. On the third drive, he connected on a 37-yard pass to Vince Benetti, setting up his third rushing touchdown of the game.
Iowa State also got a big play from Cameron Pettaway, who turned a 70-yard reception into another touchdown as the Cyclones kept stretching the margin.
What began like a shootout shifted into something much more controlled. Iowa State’s defense held up well in the first half, and while Cincinnati eventually found ways to slow the Cyclones down, the damage had already been done. Iowa State led 31-13 at halftime, and neither team scored in the third quarter.
The pace stayed heavy on the ground, but the Cyclones had already built enough of a cushion to finish the job. Late turnovers helped seal it, and Iowa State walked away with its fifth win of the season.
Now the path is simple: the Cyclones need one win in their final two games to become bowl-eligible.
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Xzavion Mitchell May Be Forcing His Way Into Iowa States Rotation
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Aiden Floras Rise Just Reached A New Level For Iowa State
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Even with his name surfacing in Heisman Trophy conversations, Flora has kept the focus on the bigger picture rather than the spotlight. His rise has been one of the seasons more compelling stories for the Cyclones, not just because of the production, but because of the way he has carried himself while turning into one of the leagues most productive backs. [Read more 🡒]