Iowa State’s season opener brings a new face to the spotlight, and Southeast Missouri quarterback Braylen Ragland already has one game under his belt heading into Jack Trice Stadium.
SEMO opened its season in Week 0 with a 23-21 win over Indiana State, and Ragland was a big reason the Redhawks pulled off the upset as underdogs. He completed 274 yards through the air and threw a touchdown early in the third quarter to John Anthony Jr., pushing the lead to 17-7.
The passing game was there. The running game, not so much.
Ragland was sacked once, dealt with pressure throughout the night, and finished with -11 rushing yards. That split tells the story: he can operate as a passer, but he had a hard time creating anything on the ground.
His path to this point has been a winding one. Ragland started at Georgia State, then transferred to Alabama State, where he saw virtually no time before landing at SEMO to try to get his career moving again. So far, that move has worked out.
There’s real value in a quarterback going over 250 yards in an opener, especially on the road against an Indiana State team that wasn’t easy to scheme against. That kind of performance should leave Ragland feeling good heading into Week 1.
But Iowa State is a different animal, and Jack Trice Stadium will raise the temperature fast. The crowd, the defense and the overall pressure all change the equation. Beating Indiana State away from home is one thing; trying to do the same against the Cyclones is another.
That puts the focus on Issac Terrell, Caden Crawford and the rest of Iowa State’s defensive line. Their job is to make life miserable in the backfield and keep Ragland from settling in. Based on how SEMO’s offensive line looked in Week 0, the Cyclones should have chances to get after him and make the pocket uncomfortable all night.
In Other News...
Iowa State Just Entered A Massive New Era Off The Field
Iowa State is not just planning around the next football season, it is reshaping the area around its biggest venues. The university officially broke ground on Cy-Town, the new entertainment district set between Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum, with the goal of having it finished by fall 2028. The project is designed to give fans and visitors a year-round destination, with a Marriott-branded hotel, a concert stage, bars, shops and other businesses all part of the mix.
The timing matters because the athletic department is also preparing for a leadership change at the top. President David Cook is now leading the search for a new athletic director after Jamie Pollard announced retirement following more than two decades in the job. With a new district taking shape and a new era beginning in athletics administration, Iowa State is heading into a stretch that could change both the look and the feel of campus for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Loses A Promising Backcourt Piece Before He Even Debuts
Iowa State has taken a hit before the 2026-27 season even gets rolling, with freshman guard Christian Wiggins sidelined after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in practice. Coach T.J. Otzelberger confirmed Wiggins had successful surgery, and the injury will keep him out for the entire season, delaying the debut of a player the program had been eager to add to the backcourt.
Wiggins will preserve his eligibility and turn his attention to rehabilitation, with the hope of returning the following year. For a Cyclones roster that was expecting to see what the freshman could bring right away, the setback leaves a hole in the long-term plan and puts the focus on how quickly he can get back to full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Just Got A New Week 3 Problem To Prepare For
Iowa States Week 3 prep just got a little more complicated with Bowling Green confirming a change at quarterback before the season even starts. Coach Eddie George told ESPN that transfer Jay Kastantin, who came over from Assumption College, will be the Falcons starter instead of the previously projected Austin Novosad, giving the Cyclones a different name to build around on the scouting report.
Kastantin arrives with real production behind him after a strong Division II run and a Northeast-10 Conference MVP award in 2025, so this is not just a depth-chart tweak on paper. For Iowa State, the main issue now is getting a clean read on what Bowling Green wants to do with a new QB leading the offense, and whether that change will force the Cyclones to adjust their early-season defensive plans before the matchup even arrives. [Read more 🡒]