Baylor’s next kickoff is set, and the Bears will be back on the road to face Iowa State on Nov. 7 in an 11:00 a.m. CT start on FS1, the Big 12 announced late Saturday night.
The timing came into focus after Iowa State pulled off a stunning 51-49 win over Oklahoma State. Baylor, meanwhile, heads into the matchup riding the momentum of a 41-9 win at UCF, a game that marked the first time since 2019 that Dave Aranda was not on the sideline for the Bears. With Aranda out, Joe Klanderman served as interim head coach, and Baylor handled business in Orlando to improve to 5-3.
Iowa State enters at 4-4, a season that has been full of swings for the Cyclones. Matt Campbell left for Penn State, and first-year coach Jimmy Rogers has been working through a rebuilding year. Still, the Cyclones showed plenty of life against Oklahoma State, a game that had the feel of an old-school Big 12 shootout.
Jaylen Raynor posted a season-high 309 passing yards in that win, while Aiden Flora powered the ground game with 229 rushing yards and two touchdowns. That kind of production is part of why Iowa State has shown it can still light up the scoreboard.
Baylor and Iowa State have been meeting since 1988, and the series has stayed tight over the years. The Bears hold a 12-9 edge overall, though they’ve dropped the last two matchups. Baylor has been strong at home against the Cyclones, going 7-2 in Waco when Iowa State comes to town, but the last meeting there ended in a 30-18 Iowa State win in 2023.
The teams did not play in 2025. Their most recent matchup came in 2024, when Iowa State won 43-21 at home. Sawyer Robertson threw for 258 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in that game, but Baylor couldn’t slow down Rocco Becht and the Cyclones’ offense.
Baylor’s last victory over Iowa State came in 2022 in Ames, a 31-24 win.
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The conference announced Iowa State will face Baylor at McLane Stadium with an 11:00 a.m. CT kickoff on FS1, adding an early start to a matchup that has often been tight. The series history is close, with Baylor holding a 12-11 edge, and the coaching change only adds another layer to a game Iowa State now has to prepare for with a different feel than expected. [Read more 🡒]
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Kyle Konrardy ended up delivering the finish with a late field goal after Raynor helped set up the final drive, giving the Cyclones a hard-earned escape in a game that never settled down. Drew Mestermaker kept Oklahoma State dangerous with multiple touchdown passes, but Iowa State found just enough answers in the closing stretch to turn a frustrating week into a much-needed reset. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Showed Something Fans Needed To See In Big 12 Chaos
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The win mattered not just because it came down to the final kick, but because Iowa State kept its poise while Oklahoma State handed over chances with penalties and miscues. In a Big 12 race that can turn messy in a hurry, the Cyclones came away with a result that should resonate with fans looking for a team that can survive a shootout and still finish the job. [Read more 🡒]