Iowa State had enough offense to win in Waco. What it didn’t have was enough clean football everywhere else.
The Cyclones moved the ball well again on Nov. 7, piling up more than 450 yards for the second straight week, but Baylor took advantage of Iowa State’s defensive busts and special-teams mistakes on the way to a 42-31 win. The loss dropped Jimmy Rogers’ team to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in Big 12 play, and it wiped out the momentum Iowa State had built from its Halloween win over Oklahoma State.
“We didn’t play well enough to win, really it comes down to poor execution in so many ways,” Rogers said. “There was a lot of things inside of the game that kind of bit us as we were trying to get ourselves out of situations, so we need to continue to grow and get better at technique. And we have three games left, and we got to really work at trying to improve as a whole football team right now.”
Jaylen Raynor delivered a turnover-free passing performance, going 22-of-37 for 256 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Aiden Flora kept finding room against one of the nation’s top rushing defenses and the Big 12’s best scoring defense, finishing with 182 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. He also caught four passes for 20 yards.
“Stats are for selfish players, I don’t really care about those stats,” Flora said. “I care about winning and we didn’t do that tonight.”
Iowa State opened with real control, jumping out to a 10-0 lead and setting the tone early on both sides of the ball. Kyle Konrardy drilled a 57-yard field goal to help spark that start, though he later missed from 41 yards with a chance to push the margin to 13-0 in the second quarter. The Cyclones still forced a punt, but the sequence that followed flipped the game.
Flora muffed the punt, Baylor recovered, and the Bears cashed in. Tony Livingston then added a one-handed touchdown grab that got Baylor on the board and changed the feel of the night.
“Momentum’s a big thing and I made a mistake, and I take full ownership of that,” Flora said. “I do think that was the point that the game changed and that’s on me. I’ll get better.”
From there, Baylor’s energy rose while Iowa State’s grip slipped. The Bears, who had looked sluggish early despite the homecoming atmosphere, suddenly had life.
The Cyclones’ defense never settled in. Iowa State has now allowed 400-plus yards in six straight games and has given up 40 or more points three times this season. The Bears scored two late touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 21-17 lead into halftime, then stretched away after the break.
Penalties made the damage worse. Iowa State was flagged seven times, with five of those coming in the third quarter, including several on third down and others that handed Baylor extra yards.
“It’s hard because I wouldn’t say a whole lot changed, I mean, they made some really good plays,” linebacker Carson Willich said. “They made that really good catch down there on their sideline, then that tight end made an unbelievable catch, those things are going to happen, but it’s one thing to let those things happen. You got to be able to respond to those things with good attitudes and things like that.”
Rogers said the breakdowns were rooted in the basics.
“Basic fundamental things, honestly, and so that maybe is what is frustrating, I don’t think that was an Earth-shattering plan,” Rogers said. “We need to be able to limit error physically and that starts with technique and us as coaches put them in a situation to make plays. I just told them I don’t think all of that was bad, but we gave up too many explosive (plays) and we need to get better.”
Iowa State now has three games left to try to win two and become bowl eligible, beginning with Cincinnati on Nov. 14.
“I know I’ll get better, I know (Jaylen Raynor), offense, defense, special teams - I know we’ll get better,” Flora said. “We’re blessed to have three more opportunities God has gifted us with and we got to go out and do whatever we can to make those work.”
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Iowa State Just Got Exposed In One Painful Road Loss
Iowa States trip to Waco turned into one of those road losses that lingers, with Baylor rallying past the Cyclones 42-31 at McLane Stadium and punching its ticket to bowl eligibility in the process. The Bears shook off an early deficit and leaned on the ground game to take control, piling up 194 rushing yards and four touchdowns while getting key work from DJ Lagway and Tony Livingston.
For Iowa State, the frustrating part was how much the game opened up after a promising start. The Cyclones still ran for 216 yards, but Baylors defense made enough disruptive plays to tilt the night, finishing with three sacks and nine tackles for loss as the Bears steadily pulled away and left Iowa State searching for answers on the road. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Offense Looked Dangerous But One Concern Still Lingers
Baylors Homecoming win over Iowa State had the kind of offensive balance that can make a team look dangerous in a hurry. DJ Lagway was a major part of it, helping the Bears move the ball both through the air and on the ground while different position groups took turns making an impact. The result was a 42-31 victory that showed how much variety Baylor can bring when the offense is clicking.
Even with the points piling up, there was still a reminder that the Bears are not quite complete yet. The defense generated pressure with three sacks and nine tackles for loss, and special teams did its part with clean extra points and solid punting, but Iowa State still found room to run. For a Baylor team trying to keep building momentum, that lingering issue is the one thing that could matter most as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Finally Took Control After An Early Warning Sign
Iowa State spent the first half getting a reminder that even a home game at Hilton Coliseum can get sticky if the pace slips away. Eastern Illinois hung around long enough to make the Cyclones work, but Iowa State steadied itself after the break and turned a close game into a 77-61 win behind Tjaa Turneks 20 points and Xiao Zhangs 14.
The second-half separation was the part Iowa State needed most, especially with tougher tests ahead and Howard next on the schedule at home. After an early warning sign, the Cyclones did what good teams are supposed to do: settle in, tighten up and finish with control. [Read more 🡒]