Iowa State walked into the week trying to shake off a rough loss to Arizona, and for most of Saturday’s wild ride against Oklahoma State, the Cyclones looked determined to do exactly that.
What they got instead was a full-on shootout - one that swung back and forth all game before Iowa State finally escaped with a 51-49 win on a late field goal.
The Cyclones set the tone early when Aiden Flora broke loose for a 29-yard touchdown run. Oklahoma State answered quickly, though, using a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Drew Mestermaker finding the end zone to tie it at 7-7.
That was just the beginning. After an Iowa State interception and an Oklahoma State three-and-out, the Cowboys hit a 59-yard touchdown pass to jump ahead. Iowa State responded with another 12-play, 75-yard march to pull even at 14-14.
Then came one of the bolder calls of the day. Iowa State tried an onside kick, Kyle Konrarady’s attempt was recovered, and the Cyclones made the extra possession count. Jaylen Raynor connected with Jamal Polite Jr. for a touchdown to put Iowa State back on top.
Oklahoma State kept matching every punch. Mestemaker threw his third touchdown pass of the game to tie it again, and after Iowa State later recovered a botched Cowboys punt, the Cyclones cashed in for three points before halftime.
The scoring pace didn’t slow down after the break. Iowa State put together a 91-yard touchdown drive to open up a 10-point lead in the third quarter, but the cushion didn’t last long. Caleb Hawkins ripped off a long run to cut the margin right back down to three.
The Cyclones answered again, this time with Cameron Pettaway lined up at wide receiver and hauling in a long touchdown pass to make it 38-28. But Oklahoma State refused to go away. Mestemaker found another deep strike for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Flora immediately answered with a 75-yard run to restore Iowa State’s two-score edge.
Still, the Cowboys kept coming. Hawkins finished off a 75-yard drive with a touchdown, trimming the score to 45-42. Then, after Oklahoma State forced a stop late in the fourth quarter, Mestemaker made a rare mistake and threw an interception.
Iowa State couldn’t finish the job with a touchdown after that turnover, but it did add a field goal to go up 48-42. That still wasn’t enough to close the door. Oklahoma State drove back down the field and took a 49-48 lead with less than a minute remaining.
That set up the final answer from Iowa State. Raynor hit Polite for 33 yards to move the Cyclones into field goal range, Flora added a couple of runs, and Konrardy drilled the winner.
Iowa State now heads on the road to face Baylor in another tough matchup.
In Other News...
Former Cyclones Are Making Noise In The NFL For Better And Worse
Week 7 brought another busy NFL weekend for Iowa State alumni, with eight former Cyclones getting on the field and combining for 368 snaps across offense, defense and special teams. It was a reminder of just how wide the programs professional footprint has become, with familiar names showing up in all three phases while a few others watched from the sideline because of injuries.
Brock Purdy and Darien Porter were among the Cyclones who started and logged significant playing time, keeping Iowa State tied to some of the leagues bigger stages. Elsewhere, the injury list was part of the story too, with Breece Hall and Kene Nwangwu among those unavailable, and several other former Cyclones carrying practice status questions that will be worth tracking as the NFL calendar moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Showed Something Fans Needed To See In Big 12 Chaos
In a Big 12 game that felt like it was spinning in every direction, Iowa State found a way to steady itself at the end. Kyle Konrardy drilled a 34-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Cyclones past Oklahoma State, 51-49, in a matchup defined by offense, tempo and very little margin for error. Both teams piled up more than 500 yards, but Iowa State did enough in the key moments to come away with a win that mattered in the league race.
For a team trying to navigate the chaos of conference play, this was the kind of finish fans needed to see. The Cyclones did not win by controlling the game, but by taking advantage of Oklahoma State penalties and miscues when it counted most, a sign of resilience that can travel in the Big 12. It was messy, tense and far from comfortable, but it also pushed Iowa State forward in the standings and gave the program a result it can point to as the season keeps tightening. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Heads Into A More Complicated Baylor Trip Than Expected
Iowa States trip to Baylor just got a little more complicated than it looked on the schedule a few weeks ago. The Big 12 has locked in the matchup at McLane Stadium, and the Cyclones are heading into a series that has stayed tight over the years, with Baylor holding a slim 12-11 edge.
The wrinkle is the timing around the Bears coaching situation, which can change the feel of a game even when the opponent on the field stays the same. For Iowa State, it means preparing for a road test in a familiar rivalry setting, with an 11:00 a.m. CT kickoff on FS1 adding another layer to a matchup that already carries some history. [Read more 🡒]