One freshman may have changed the look of Iowa State’s passing game.
On a cold, rainy night in Ames, the Cyclones and Oklahoma State put on a Big 12 shootout that hardly ever let up. Iowa State edged the Cowboys 51-49 after Kyle Konrardy drilled a last-second field goal, capping one of the wildest games of the college football season for any team.
The Cyclones needed that kind of jolt after a miserable showing against Arizona, when the offense managed only three points. Instead of another quiet night, Iowa State erupted - and a huge part of that turnaround came from Jamal Polite Jr.
The true freshman has been steady all season, not flashy, just reliable. He entered the game with catches in six of Iowa State’s first seven contests, and in four of those he topped 20 receiving yards. His best outing before Oklahoma State came against Bowling Green, when he posted 34 yards and a touchdown on that catch.
Against the Cowboys, though, he went from dependable contributor to centerpiece. In the second quarter, he hauled in a remarkable catch to help put Iowa State ahead at halftime. Then, on the final drive, he came through again with a key sideline grab that helped set up Konrardy’s winner.
Polite Jr. finished with six catches for 171 yards, easily the biggest total on the team. He wasn’t just making highlight plays; he kept the offense moving all night and delivered when the game was on the line.
That matters even more because Iowa State’s receiver room has been hit hard. Dominic Overby, Carter Pabst, Jordyn Bailey, and Evan Boyd are all out for the season, and those injuries have taken a real toll on the offense.
Quarterback Jaylen Raynor has had trouble finding rhythm with his targets, and that disconnect has shown up in the results. But with Polite Jr. emerging this way, Iowa State may have found the player who can help open everything back up.
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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 🡒]