Iowa State comes out of its bye week with a road test that says plenty about where this season stands. The Cyclones head to face No. 25 Arizona on the road after last seeing the field in a 24-10 loss to BYU, a game in which the offense never really found its footing.
That defeat dropped Iowa State to 3-3, and it also continued a rough run against ranked teams. The Cyclones have already taken losses to Iowa, Utah and BYU, with the Cougars now sitting at No. 2 in the country. Arizona, meanwhile, enters at 5-1 and has been playing strong football.
For head coach Jimmy Rogers, this is the kind of stage that can shape how the season is viewed in Ames. It is already Iowa State’s fourth game against a ranked opponent, and this one arrives with the Cyclones looking for a breakthrough after the bye week gave them time to reset.
The best path forward may start on the ground. Iowa State has had success running the ball this season, and Aiden Flora is once again central to that effort. Against ranked opponents, the Cyclones’ offense has not produced much, but Flora has remained a steady source of yards and will be leaned on heavily again.
The passing game is a bigger question. Jaylen Raynor has yet to look fully comfortable, and the injuries at wide receiver have not made things any easier. His production has fallen well short of what he showed with the Arkansas State Red Wolves, and Iowa State needs more from that side of the offense.
Arizona brings a very different kind of challenge at quarterback. Noah Fifita has been sharp and efficient, leading the Big 12 in completions and completion percentage. He is the kind of passer who can stress a defense quickly, which puts Iowa State’s secondary in a difficult spot.
That makes pressure up front a priority. Star defensive end Issac Terrell has not recorded a sack since the season opener, and getting the pass rush moving again has to be near the top of the list for Jesse Bobbit and his staff.
In Other News...
Iowa State Faces A Brutal Test Against Another Elite Big 12 Passer
Coming off a loss to Arizona, Jimmy Rogers was quick to point out what Iowa State is walking into next. The schedule has not offered many soft landing spots, and the Cyclones now turn around to face an Oklahoma State team that is still very much in the Big 12 race under first-year coach Eric Morris.
The matchup also brings another big challenge through the air in Drew Mestemaker, who has emerged as one of the conferences most productive young passers and is drawing national attention for the way he has played. For Iowa State, the issue is less about the name on the jersey and more about surviving another week against an offense that can stress a defense in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Tamin Lipseys Return Just Made Iowa States Biggest Question Even Bigger
Tamin Lipseys first appearance of the season in Iowa States preseason exhibition against Northwestern offered a timely reminder of how much the Cyclones lean on their point guard. He came back with 14 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals, and the contrast was immediate after Iowa State had dropped its first exhibition without him before handling the second one convincingly with him in the mix.
Even with that encouraging showing, the bigger issue around Ames remains unresolved because Lipseys eligibility for the season is still under NCAA review. For a team that views his presence as central to its success, the wait leaves Iowa State in a familiar spot for this time of year, with the on-court fit looking obvious and the final roster answer still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Keeps Making Conference Play Harder Than It Should Be
Iowa State has spent too much of Big 12 play trying to climb out of early holes, and the pattern has made every conference game feel tougher than it needs to be. The offense has had trouble finding any rhythm, and the defense has not been able to steady things often enough against stronger opponents, especially on the back end where the secondary has been tested and beaten more than the staff would like.
The one bright spot on that side of the ball has been the linebackers, who have been a steady presence even as the rest of the unit has wobbled. With a schedule still packed with top-ranked Big 12 teams, the Cyclones do not get many chances to ease into anything, which only raises the pressure to start faster and play cleaner before the next difficult matchup arrives. [Read more 🡒]