Iowa State gets a reset this week.
After a 24-10 loss at BYU on Oct. 9 in Provo, Utah, the Cyclones are on a bye for Week 7. It comes at a good time after a game in which Iowa State stayed close but never really found a rhythm on offense, and penalties kept piling up.
The Cyclones finished with just 200 yards of total offense, with most of that production coming late as they tried to mount a comeback. The effort wasn’t enough, and Iowa State dropped to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 Conference play.
So, no, Iowa State does not play today.
The next stop comes on Oct. 24, when the Cyclones head to Tucson to face Arizona. The Wildcats are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12 and are also off this week.
That game is set for Saturday, Oct. 24 at Casino Del Sol Stadium, with kickoff time still TBD.
After Arizona, Iowa State returns home to close out October against Oklahoma State.
Here’s the rest of the Cyclones’ schedule:
Week 1: Saturday, Sept. 5: win over Southeast Missouri, 38-10
Week 2: Saturday, Sept. 12: loss to Iowa, 16-13
Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 19: win over Bowling Green, 55-8
Week 4: Saturday, Sept. 26: loss to Utah, 31-17*
Week 5: Saturday, Oct. 3: win over West Virginia, 45-42*
Week 6: Friday, Oct. 9 loss to BYU, 24-10*
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: Saturday, Oct. 24 at Arizona* (time TBD)
Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 31 at Oklahoma State* (time TBD)
Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 7 at Baylor* (time TBD)
Week 12: Friday, Nov. 20 at UCF* (time TBD)
In Other News...
Iowa State Just Lost A Weapon It Could Not Afford To Lose
A key piece of Iowa States depth chart went down in a way the Cyclones could not have wanted, with Dominic Overby suffering a season-ending knee injury in the game against BYU. Coach Rogers confirmed the news on the Iowa State Coaches Corner podcast, ending any suspense about Overbys status for the rest of the year.
Overby had been carving out an increasingly important role as both a wide receiver and a special teams contributor, making his absence more than just a loss of one body. For a team that was counting on reliable help in multiple phases, losing a player on that kind of upward trajectory changes the feel of the rotation and leaves Iowa State looking for answers it would rather not need this soon. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States New Point Guard Faces A Tough Path To Minutes
Yusef Gray Jr. arrives in Ames with plenty to like about his game and not much certainty about his immediate role. The 6-4 point guard and Wisconsin Mr. Basketball finalist joins Iowa State after a shoulder injury cut short his senior season, but his profile still fits what the Cyclones tend to value: defense, competitiveness and enough scoring punch to make a backcourt assignment worth watching.
The challenge is the depth chart in front of him. Iowa State already has a crowded point guard room with injured and experienced players vying for minutes, so Grays path may be more about earning every opportunity than stepping into a defined role right away. Still, the Cyclones have seen young guards make real contributions before, and Gray has the kind of background that gives him a chance to do the same if the opening comes. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces A Brutal Stretch That Could Decide Everything
After the bye week, Iowa State returns to a season that suddenly feels like it is on a narrow track. The loss to BYU left the Cyclones with six games left, and the margin for error is thin if they want to reach bowl eligibility. With Arizona, Oklahoma State and Baylor all still ahead, there is not much room for a stumble if they hope to keep their postseason path straightforward.
The bigger issue is timing. Iowa State needs at least three wins from this final stretch, and the games coming right after the bye will go a long way toward shaping the rest of the year. A strong start out of the break would give the Cyclones some breathing room, while a slow one would make the closing weeks feel a lot heavier. [Read more 🡒]