Baylor’s trip into Week 10 comes with a different feel after Joe Klanderman’s first game as interim head coach, and the Bears will try to prove that spark wasn’t a one-week jolt. The offense finally got rolling, the defense shut UCF out of the end zone, and now Iowa State arrives after an impressive win over Oklahoma State.
That makes Saturday a useful measuring stick for Baylor. The Bears still have plenty left on the schedule, and the closing stretch is no joke: on the road against BYU, at home against Texas Tech, and then back on the road against Houston. Before any of that, though, they get a Cyclones team that has already shown it can handle tough competition.
One of the biggest questions is whether Baylor can keep the energy from last week alive. A coaching change can create a temporary lift, but Klanderman and the staff will have to make sure it carries beyond that first game. Baylor looked sharper against UCF, and the challenge now is turning that into something sustainable.
The offense has a chance to build on real momentum. Baylor put up 41 points against UCF, and Iowa State’s defense has been vulnerable at times this season, giving up 31 points to Utah, 42 to West Virginia, 39 to Arizona, and 49 to Oklahoma State. That opens the door for the Bears to keep moving the ball and put pressure on the Cyclones early.
Klanderman also said Jake Spavital will have more freedom with the offensive play calling, which could matter again this weekend. If that added flexibility helps Baylor stay aggressive, this matchup gives the Bears a chance to stack another productive outing.
The other side of the ball brings an equally interesting test. Iowa State running back Aiden Flora has been the focal point of the Cyclones’ ground game, averaging 117 rushing yards per game. He just gashed Oklahoma State for 221 yards, so Baylor’s run defense will be under the microscope.
That part of the game favors the Bears on paper. Baylor has been strong against the run this season, allowing just under 100 rushing yards per game, and Klanderman remains in charge of that side of the ball. If Baylor can slow Flora down, it goes a long way toward controlling the matchup.
In Other News...
Iowa State Just Landed An Early 2027 Recruiting Win Fans Will Notice
Iowa State picked up an early boost for its 2027 recruiting class with the commitment of Ty Tautolo, a three-star EDGE from Lake Stevens High School in Washington. Tautolo brings a Power Five offer sheet with him, but the Cyclones were able to make a strong enough impression to get in front of a crowded field this early in the process.
A big part of that connection traces back to coach Jimmy Rogers, whose relationship with Tautolo goes back to his time at Washington State. For Iowa State, landing a prospect with that kind of background and upside this far out is the sort of win that can matter well beyond one commitment, especially as the staff keeps building out its future board. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Fans Finally Get To Honor A Cyclones Standard Setter
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Ejim, a former Big 12 Player of the Year and Iowa State Hall of Fame inductee, remains part of the programs modern identity even while playing professionally overseas. The ceremony will be only the seventh jersey retirement in mens basketball history for the Cyclones, a small and exclusive list that underscores just how much Ejim meant to the program. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Suddenly Needs More From Jamarion Batemon
Iowa States season opener against Memphis brought an early reminder that the Cyclones may need more than they got from Jamarion Batemon. The sophomore guard, coming off a strong freshman year, played 26 minutes and never got on the board, finishing 0-for-6 from the field and 0-for-4 from three-point range as the Cyclones came away with a loss to start the 2026-27 season.
For a team trying to settle in quickly, Batemons quiet night stands out because of what he is expected to provide beyond scoring. Iowa State is looking for steadier production and a stronger presence from one of its key guards as it turns the page to the next game, and how Batemon responds will be worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]