Iowa State’s first trip out of the state this season sends the Cyclones straight into the league’s spotlight, and it comes with a brutal assignment: No. 8 BYU in Provo.
Jimmy Rogers’ team is coming off a Homecoming win over West Virginia and has already shown enough grit to win tight games and absorb punches, but this one feels different. The Cougars have climbed into national-contender territory, and the staff at Cyclone Fanatic sees a game that stays tight - even if most of the picks still lean BYU’s way.
A few themes keep coming up: the atmosphere in Provo, the challenge of tackling Bear Bachmeier, and whether Iowa State’s offense can keep climbing against a defense that looks every bit like one of the Big 12’s best. The injuries on BYU’s side also matter here, especially with star running back LJ Martin and standout linebacker Isaiah Glasker reportedly sidelined. That, plus a looming showdown with Notre Dame next week, has some seeing a path for Iowa State to hang around.
Chris Williams likes the setup for the Cyclones, pointing to BYU injuries and the Cougars’ look-ahead spot. He also wants to see Iowa State’s tackling sharpen up and wonders if the offense can keep progressing against a stronger opponent. His pick: BYU 24, Iowa State 20.
Rob Gray went back to the last time Iowa State played in Provo, when Rocco Becht threw two touchdown passes to Jaylin Noel and Abu Sama III ran for a team-best two scores in a 45-13 Cyclone win in 2023. But a lot has changed since then, including the rosters and the stakes around BYU, which reached the Big 12 title game last season and now has its eyes on Texas Tech’s crown.
Gray expects Iowa State’s toughness to show, but still sees the Cougars edging it late. His pick: BYU 24, Iowa State 17.
Jake Brend is cautiously optimistic about the Cyclone defense bouncing back, even with Bachmeier looming as a problem both on the ground and through the air. He says Iowa State is better suited to handle a power-running quarterback than a speed threat, but still thinks the offense will need to get into the mid-20s or upper 20s to win.
In that kind of road environment, he doesn’t see that happening. His pick: BYU 28, Iowa State 20.
Jackson Pence called the game far more interesting than it looked in the preseason and leaned on the absence of Martin and Glasker as a reason Iowa State can keep this one close. He also pointed to the Cyclones’ offensive surge against West Virginia, when they piled up nearly 600 yards of total offense.
Jaylen Raynor’s interception was the lone real blemish Pence highlighted, and while he believes Iowa State can press this game into the fourth quarter, he still trusts Bachmeier’s legs to close it out. His pick: BYU 24, Iowa State 21.
Jacqueline Cordova said BYU doesn’t scare her nearly as much as it did early in the season, especially with two key players allegedly sidelined. Still, she said Iowa State’s inconsistency makes it hard to fully buy into the upset.
She wants the defense that held Utah scoreless in the third quarter and more from Tyler Roehl now that opponents know what Aiden Flora can do. Cordova thinks the Cyclones keep it interesting, but stays cautious.
Her pick: BYU 30, Iowa State 27.
Derek Duke closed things out by calling Provo one of the toughest home environments in the Big 12 and said he doesn’t think any atmosphere tops it. He also believes BYU may be the league’s best team, and he sees the Cougars’ physicality - along with Bachmeier’s ability to escape pressure - as major issues for Iowa State.
Even with Martin out, Duke still expects BYU to be strong up front and thinks the Cougars may also own the conference’s best defense. He does think the Cyclones keep it respectable.
His pick: BYU 27, Iowa State 17.
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Now the focus turns to BYU, where Iowa State will need more of those kinds of impact plays to keep building on that result. Taase and his teammates have already talked about the value of those moments, and with a tough road matchup ahead, the Cyclones will be looking to turn disruption on defense into the same kind of edge they found against West Virginia. [Read more 🡒]
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