Iowa State’s conference season has become a brutal pattern, and the first half keeps sitting at the center of it.
The Cyclones have fallen behind early in every Big 12 game so far, and the numbers tell the same story over and over: 24-3 at halftime against Utah, 14-3 against BYU, and 25-3 against Arizona. The lone exception came against West Virginia, when Iowa State led 21-14 at the break and finished the job.
That slow start is doing real damage. The opening drives, the ones teams usually script and lean on to settle in, have been working for the opponent much more often than they have for Iowa State.
On the other side of the ball, the Cyclones have been handing out three-and-outs like Halloween candy. If that doesn’t change, the wins won’t either.
At 3-4, Iowa State has already lost four games to teams that entered as heavy favorites, and the next challenge does not look any friendlier. Oklahoma State is next, and it comes with one of the nation’s best offenses.
The offense, plainly, has not done enough. The staff tried Connor Moberly in search of a second-half spark, but Iowa State managed only a three-point first half before being blanked after halftime.
Neither quarterback reached the needed standard, but they are only part of a bigger problem. The whole offense is failing to pull its weight.
But the defense has not carried its end of the bargain, either. Going into the season, the concern was that the offense might struggle to consistently move the ball.
That has been true, and then some, but the defense was supposed to be the stronger side, the group that could help Iowa State grind out Big 12 wins in lower-scoring games. Instead, the Cyclones have been giving up too much too early, including 15 points over the first two drives against Arizona.
The linebackers have been the one defensive group living up to expectations. They’ve been reliable tacklers.
The defensive line has flashed at times, but not with enough consistent pressure to really shut down an offense. The secondary was already a concern before the season began, and that worry showed up early and often.
Iowa State was hit deep a few times in the nonconference slate, and once elite quarterback play arrived in conference play, the problem only got louder. Against Arizona, Noah Fifita hit a wide-open receiver down the sideline for a touchdown on the second play of the game.
That kind of start changes everything. It lights up the crowd, puts the defense on its heels and leaves the offense chasing the game. Iowa State has spent too much time in that spot already.
Still, it would be a stretch to pin every loss on the defense alone. What’s fair is that the defense has to be better. What’s also fair is that it’s hard to pile most of the blame on the side of the ball that was expected to struggle more than on the side that was supposed to be the team’s strength.
And then there’s the schedule, which has not done Iowa State any favors. Four of its five conference games have come against top-five Big 12 opponents, a stretch that would make life difficult for any team, let alone one with a new coach and modest expectations.
Fans should probably keep their patience for now. If Iowa State still looks overmatched in the final four games after Oklahoma State, then the complaints can really start.
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 Faces A Dangerous Oklahoma State Offense At The Worst Time
Oklahoma States offense has become a familiar kind of problem for defenses around the Big 12, the sort that can stress a game plan in more than one way. A big part of that comes from the North Texas pipeline head coach Eric Morris brought with him, with quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins stepping into prominent roles and helping drive the Cowboys attack. Mestemaker has piled up yardage through the air and already has 20 touchdown passes this season, giving the unit a clear rhythm that can force opponents to chase the game early.
For Iowa State, the timing makes the matchup even trickier because Oklahoma State is not relying on just one threat to carry the load. Hawkins has been productive as both a runner and receiver, while Justin Bowick gives the passing game another layer and Ethan Wesloski adds to the mix on the defensive side of the roster. The Cyclones are getting a team that can ask different questions on every snap, and that kind of versatility is usually at its most dangerous when a defense is trying to stay balanced and keep up. [Read more 🡒]