The Iowa State Cyclones are heading into their fifth game with a real chance to define where this season is going. At 2-2, and already 0-1 in Big 12 play, Saturday’s meeting with West Virginia carries real weight for a team that has been better than expected under Jimmy Rogers, but still has work to do.
Iowa State has shown some encouraging signs in Rogers’ first season on the sideline, including two wins and a close game against its in-state rival. But this matchup feels different. It is the kind of game the Cyclones need to handle if they want to stay on track in the conference and avoid slipping to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in league play.
The challenge starts with the passing game, which has not yet found its footing. Iowa State lost Rocco Becht through the transfer portal, a hit that left a clear opening for Jaylen Raynor to step in and steady the offense. Raynor arrived with plenty of experience after three seasons as a starter at Arkansas State, but that résumé has not yet translated into consistent production in Ames.
Through four games, Raynor has thrown for 639 yards and topped 200 yards only once. That came in Iowa State’s most recent game against Utah.
For a team that wants to lean on the run, that kind of output can be enough some weeks. Against West Virginia, though, the Cyclones need more.
The Mountaineers have already shown they can compete with quality opponents, beating Virginia when it was ranked in the Top 25. And quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. gives them a dangerous weapon. He is a superb dual-threat player and should create problems for the Iowa State defense.
That puts extra pressure on Raynor to answer on the other side. Iowa State does not need him to carry everything, but it does need him to make plays in the air if the Cyclones are going to protect home field and get back above .500.
In Other News...
BYUs Undefeated Run Suddenly Carries One More Concern Against Iowa State
BYUs unbeaten start has turned Week 6 into more than just another road test, with the No. 8 Cougars carrying both momentum and expectations into a matchup against an Iowa State team still sorting through a transition year under coach Jimmy Rogers. Bear Bachmeier has helped fuel that rise with 10 total touchdowns in four games, and the Cougars now get a chance to keep their perfect record intact against a Big 12 opponent that has not always made life easy on the ground.
For Iowa State, the concern goes beyond simply slowing down an elite-looking team. The Cyclones have had trouble defending the run, which makes this a tricky spot even before considering the pregame questions around personnel and the betting market that has formed around the matchup. If Iowa State is going to turn this into a real fight, it likely starts with fixing the issues that have made this one of the more revealing early-season games on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Raynor Is Giving Iowa State Fans A Real QB Debate
Iowa States 3-2 start has already given the Cyclones plenty to sort through, from a pair of losses to Utah and Iowa to wins over West Virginia, Bowling Green and Southeast Missouri State. One of the biggest developments has been at quarterback, where Jaylen Raynor, the Arkansas State transfer, worked through a rough opening stretch with shaky completion numbers and some interceptions before settling in and helping steady the offense.
What makes the conversation around Raynor more interesting now is how quickly his role is growing. His passing game is becoming a more important part of what Iowa State does each week, and the recent uptick has created a real debate for fans watching this offense take shape. The Cyclones are still early in the season, but the trajectory at quarterback has become one of the clearest reasons the rest of the schedule feels worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cyclones Are Making Noise Across The NFL Right Now
A familiar Iowa State pipeline is showing up all over the NFL through the first month of the season. Ten former Cyclones were on the field in Week 4, logging snaps on offense, defense and special teams as they kept carving out roles for their pro teams. For a program that has sold itself on development for years, it was another reminder that Ames continues to send players into the league who are capable of contributing in a variety of ways.
The full Week 4 snapshot also included the less visible side of an NFL season, with some former Cyclones sidelined by injuries and others on injured reserve. Even so, the groups combined workload highlighted how widespread the Iowa State footprint has become on Sundays, from rotational pieces to bigger-minute contributors. For Cyclones fans tracking the alumni watch, it was one of those weeks that made it easy to see just how many former players are staying in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]