Iowa State’s season is at the point where every week starts to feel like a fork in the road, and Saturday’s home game against Cincinnati might be the biggest one yet.
At 4-5, the Cyclones need to win two of their last three just to reach bowl eligibility. That makes this matchup less about style points and more about survival. A victory over the Bearcats would give Iowa State the kind of boost that can carry into the final stretch.
The matchup itself gives Iowa State a real shot. The Cyclones lean on their run game, especially when they can break off bigger plays, and they also tend to show more pop through the air at home. Defensively, the tackling and coverage have been a problem, though they can still get stops in the middle of the field.
Cincinnati brings a similar ground game, but the Bearcats also come in with a defense that has struggled, particularly against the run. Their biggest edge is a steady offense that can move the ball downfield, which is the part of the game that could give Iowa State trouble.
That’s why this one matters so much. Iowa State is the favorite, and if it handles business, the rest of the season opens up in a much better way. One win can change the mood in the locker room and give the Cyclones momentum heading into next week’s road trip to face the UCF Knights.
Even if things don’t go perfectly there, Iowa State still has another path. The Cyclones would finish at home against Kansas State in Farmageddon, and that final game could still provide the win they need.
Coming back to Jack Trice Stadium matters, especially with Iowa State sitting at 4-1 at home. An average Kansas State team would have a hard time walking in and taking that game.
So while Cincinnati may not look like the flashiest game on the schedule, it has a lot riding on it. A win keeps Iowa State moving toward a bowl game. A loss would put the postseason dream in serious danger.
In Other News...
Iowa State Freshman Just Gave Cyclones Fans A Real Reason For Excitement
Iowa States 77-55 win over Howard offered an early look at what could become a useful formula for the Cyclones this season: balanced scoring, active rebounding and a freshman who looked ready for a bigger role right away. Tjaa Turnek led the way with 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, giving Iowa State a steady presence on both ends while Mya Babbitt and Alex-Anne Bessette added 16 and 15 points to keep the offense moving.
For a team still sorting out its identity, that kind of production from a newcomer matters. Turnek did more than fill the box score, and the way she fit alongside Babbitt and Bessette gave Iowa State a glimpse of a rotation that can stretch defenses and create problems in different ways. The bigger question now is how quickly that early promise turns into something the Cyclones can count on once the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State's New-Look Roster Is Starting To Feel Very Real
A fresh Iowa State roster is beginning to look a lot more settled, and the latest glimpse came in a convincing 77-55 win over Howard. Freshman forward Tjasa Turnsek delivered the kind of inside presence the Cyclones have been looking for, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the season, while the lineup around her kept showing signs of becoming a real rotation rather than a collection of new faces.
Bill Fennellys final season has put a spotlight on how quickly this group can come together, and the early returns are encouraging. Transfers Alex-Anne Bessette, Sienna Harvey and Mya Babbitt all helped shape a strong team effort, and Iowa States discipline showed up at the defensive end, where Howard was held to 28.1 percent shooting. The pieces are there now, and the bigger question is how far this new-look group can go once the schedule stiffens. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Suddenly Has A New Offensive Pressure Point Against Cincinnati
Injuries have pushed Iowa State into a different look at receiver, and the results have given the offense a needed jolt. Cameron Pettaway and Jamal Polite Jr. have stepped into bigger roles in recent games, helping a group that has had to adjust on the fly while quarterback Jaylen Raynor has started to settle in more comfortably.
Raynors improved play over the past two games has come with more dependable help around him, and that has changed the feel of the passing game heading into Cincinnati. The Cyclones will try to carry that momentum forward, but the real test is whether this reshuffled receiver room can keep creating the same pressure point when defenses have more time to prepare for it. [Read more 🡒]