Iowa State has already exceeded the low expectations many people slapped on this team before the 2026 season, but the Cyclones still have a glaring problem staring them in the face: the passing game just isn’t holding up against good defenses.
That showed up again in Friday night’s Week 6 loss to BYU in Provo, Utah. Iowa State walked into a tough road setting and came away with almost nothing offensively, managing only 200 total yards and never finding a rhythm through the air.
The one clean part of the performance was ball security. Iowa State didn’t turn it over. Beyond that, there wasn’t much to grab onto.
Quarterback Jaylen Raynor, after back-to-back solid outings against Utah and West Virginia, had a rough reset against the Cougars. He finished 16-of-29 passing for just 98 yards. That works out to 3.4 yards per attempt, a number that simply doesn’t give an offense much of a chance.
With the passing game offering no real threat, BYU was able to crowd the line and make life harder for the Cyclones’ run game. Running back Aiden Flora still fought through it and posted 86 yards on 17 carries, but that wasn’t enough to drag Iowa State into winning position.
Offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl has clearly gotten the ground game in better shape, and that has helped Iowa State stay competitive. But if the Cyclones are going to turn close games into wins, the attack has to be more balanced.
The contrast in quarterback play was impossible to miss. BYU’s Bear Bachmeier carved up the Cyclones, throwing for 329 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 109 rushing yards to his stat line.
Through six games, Raynor has 1,001 passing yards and 166 rushing yards. For Iowa State, that level of production is not enough if the offense wants to start piling up wins instead of hanging on against stronger opponents.
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Iowa States Bowl Hopes Suddenly Hinge On One Tough Raynor Decision
Iowa State left Week 5 with a 24-10 loss to BYU, and the offense again offered more questions than answers. Aiden Flora provided one of the brighter spots with 86 rushing yards on 17 carries, while Jaylen Raynor finished 16 of 29 for 98 yards and did not turn the ball over, but the passing game never found the kind of rhythm the Cyclones need if they want to steady the season.
After six games, Raynors body of work has become part of a larger conversation around where Iowa State goes from here. The Cyclones are still chasing bowl eligibility, and with the offense struggling to generate enough through the air, the staff may have to weigh whether a different quarterback path gives them a better chance to keep those hopes alive down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Jimmy Rogers Sounds Alarm As Iowa State Hits Bye Week
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Jaylen Raynors line told part of the story, but not all of it, because the overall picture was one of a team that never found rhythm and now has extra time to reset. Rogers said the defense needs to be better, and the bye week gives Iowa State a chance to address the issues before the seasons next stretch gets any less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Women's Basketball Faces An Emotional Bill Fennelly Turning Point
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For Iowa State, the announcement is as much about legacy as it is about the future. Athletics director Jamie Pollard praised Fennellys impact on both the program and the community, a reminder that his reach has gone well beyond the scoreboard. The timeline gives the Cyclones some breathing room, but it also starts the clock on an emotional transition that will shape the program long after his final season ends. [Read more 🡒]