Seven former Cyclones saw action in Week 8 of the NFL, combining for 249 snaps across offense, defense and special teams. A few were sidelined by injuries or by their team’s schedule, while others logged meaningful work in starting roles.
Breece Hall did not suit up for the New York Jets against the Las Vegas Raiders because of the quad injury he picked up in the game against the Lions in Week 3. The expectation is that Hall could be back in Week 9 against the Chiefs.
Jake Hummel’s season hit a stop earlier, as he was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 26.
Jaylin Noel is also done for the year after suffering a turf toe injury that will require surgery. David Montgomery remains in the “week-to-week” category after injuring his groin in Week 5.
A pair of former Cyclones were on bye. The Texans did not play, which left Xavier Hutchinson’s season totals unchanged at 21 receptions for 258 yards, four carries for 16 yards and five kickoff returns for 126 yards. San Francisco also had its bye, leaving Brock Purdy’s season line at 146-of-211 passing for 1,748 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions, plus 32 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Among the players who did take the field, Charlie Kolar started in the Chargers’ 24-9 loss to the Rams and caught one pass for 20 yards. He was on the field for 38 offensive snaps and four on special teams.
Will McDonald IV also started, lining up at defensive end in the Jets’ 38-33 loss to the Raiders. He logged 36 defensive snaps and 11 on special teams, while Kene Nwangwu contributed seven special teams snaps in the same game.
Domonique Orange got the start on the Vikings defensive line in Minnesota’s 19-15 loss to the Lions. He played 13 defensive snaps and four on special teams.
Darien Porter’s day for the Raiders was brief. He started in the 38-33 win over the Jets, played one snap, and exited after the Jets’ first offensive play with a groin injury.
TJ Tampa returned to the field for Baltimore in a 38-10 loss to the Bills, making his first appearance since Week 1. He finished with three tackles and a recovery of a DJ Moore fumble, while playing 22 defensive snaps and 24 on special teams.
Jalen Travis was busy for Indianapolis in a 42-7 loss to the Jaguars, starting at right tackle and playing every offensive snap - all 61 of them - plus one special teams snap.
In Other News...
Iowa State's Bowl Push Comes Down To A Defining Final Stretch
Iowa State has put itself in position to make the late-season conversation matter, sitting at 4-4 after collecting wins over Southeast Missouri State, Bowling Green, West Virginia and Oklahoma State while taking its losses against ranked opponents. The Cyclones are still two victories shy of bowl eligibility, which means the next month will decide whether this season becomes a step forward or just a near miss.
Baylor, Cincinnati, UCF and Kansas State now make up the final stretch, and ESPN analytics give each matchup its own level of difficulty. For Iowa State, the path is clear enough in theory but still demanding in practice, with every remaining game carrying real weight as the Cyclones try to turn a solid start into a postseason berth. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Already Has An Opening Night Debate Fans Wont Ignore
The Big 12 wasted no time reminding everyone why it is going to be a nightly grind, opening the season with 15 of 16 teams in action and finishing the first wave at 13-2. There were plenty of eye-catching performances mixed in with the usual early-season turbulence, from Baylors Rob Wright going for 33 points in a win over Ohio State to UCFs Dior Johnson pouring in 41 in a narrow escape against Florida Gulf Coast.
Arizonas opener may have generated the loudest conversation, though, after Ivan Kharchenkov scored 38 points in a near comeback against UCLA. For Iowa State fans, the bigger takeaway is how quickly the leagues margin for error disappeared after the Cyclones unexpected loss to Memphis, and how little room there is for anyone to settle in before the Big 12 race starts stacking up results that will matter later. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Fennellys Final Ride Opened With A Moment Cyclones Fans Will Feel
Before Iowa State tipped off its season-opening win over Grambling State, Bill Fennelly got a gesture that fit the moment. Courtney Simmons, the Grambling head coach, sent over a handwritten note for Fennelly, who is in his 32nd and final season leading the Cyclones. It was the kind of small, personal acknowledgment that carries extra weight in a sport where coaching trees and relationships run deep.
The Cyclones then handled business on the floor with a 90-61 victory, getting solid contributions from Mya Babbitt, Tjasa Turnsek, Xiao Zhang and Gift Ezekiel. But the note lingered after the game because it spoke to something bigger than one opener. Fennelly said it meant a lot to be recognized for the impact he has had on womens basketball, a fitting start to a farewell season that figures to be watched closely in Ames and beyond. [Read more 🡒]