Iowa State is already back in underdog mode.
That’s not because the Cyclones did anything wrong in Saturday’s 55-7 wipeout of Bowling Green at Jack Trice Stadium. It’s because head coach Jimmy Rogers refuses to let his team drift into the dangerous space where a game starts looking easy before it’s played.
“There’s a good reason why Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers derided the very notion that “gimmes” exist on his team’s schedule.”
That mindset has been part of the formula through the first month, and it’s showing up in the results. Iowa State is 2-1, and now it turns to a Big 12 opener against No.
15 Utah this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on FOX. The Utes come in 3-0, ranked ninth nationally in points per game at 47.3 and sixth in third-down conversion percentage at 60.5%.
Rogers isn’t interested in letting the matchup get framed as anything close to a free pass, and he said so plainly after the Bowling Green win.
“If you lower the standard based off who you’re playing, you’ll never get the result that you want,” said Rogers, whose Cyclones (2-1) face No. 15 Utah in this Saturday’s 2:30 p.m.
(FOX) Big 12 opener at home. “We refuse to do that.”
The defense has been the most reliable part of the Cyclones’ profile so far. On paper, Iowa State is tied with Ohio State for 13th nationally in scoring defense at 11 points allowed per game, and it’s one of just 12 FBS teams to surrender five or fewer plays of 20 yards or more.
But the numbers don’t hide everything. Missed tackles have lingered, and Iowa State has allowed two plays of 50 yards or longer, which leaves it tied for 90th nationally in explosive plays allowed. Rogers also pointed to a problem that showed up in the box score against Bowling Green.
“We need to eliminate the penalties,” Rogers said. “We had four for 55 (yards) today, which cost us, and they were stupid penalties. So they’ll hear that message.”
That message will matter quickly with Utah waiting.
Even with those flaws, Saturday’s win showed what Iowa State can look like when the whole operation is rolling. The Cyclones ran for 365 yards, their highest total since they rushed for 368 against Texas Tech in 2011. Rogers said that kind of production comes from more than one player carrying the load.
“It’s what we believe we can do,” Rogers said. “We’re gonna have some tougher games coming up and we’ve got to be able to strain for those yards. They may not come as easy at times, but I was just happy to see the body of work come together, and the effort that we preach, it showed up.
“When we spring a run, it’s not just (top tailback) Aiden (Flora) making somebody miss, which he did multiple times. And it’s not just the O-line. It is the downfield blocks of the wide receivers (such as) Dom Overby, Carter Pabst and Amari Hayes.”
That kind of connected effort is what Iowa State will need once the schedule stiffens. For now, the job is to reset, clean up the mistakes and get ready for Utah without overreacting to a lopsided win.
“See what we did well, see what we can continue to fix, and make sure everybody’s feeling good and healthy,” said quarterback Jaylen Raynor, who’s thrown four touchdowns and rushed for two more this season. “Get our minds right, get our bodies back and be ready to come back (this) week.”
In Other News...
Jaylen Raynor Debate Is Getting Harder For Iowa State To Ignore
Jaylen Raynors start under center has given Iowa State plenty to evaluate, and the early returns have been mixed in a way that makes the conversation harder to avoid. He helped guide the Cyclones to wins over Southeast Missouri and Bowling Green, and even in the close game against Iowa there were enough positive moments to keep the confidence level steady. At the same time, the volume of passing work has stayed modest, leaving the staff and fan base to wonder how much more they will need from him once the schedule tightens.
The next test comes with Utah looming, and that is where the debate figures to sharpen. Iowa State can lean on a running game that has already done its part, and the special teams showed up in the Bowling Green win as well, but the offense may need more balance to keep pace in tougher spots. Raynors play has been part of the winning formula so far, yet the questions around his role are getting louder precisely because the Cyclones have not had to ask him to do everything - at least not yet. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces A Bigger Question Than Its Bowling Green Blowout
Iowa State left no doubt in a 55-7 win over Bowling Green, finishing nonconference play with two home victories and a road loss and moving to 2-1 on the season. The afternoon also brought a scare when injured defensive back Jaheim Singletary was released from a medical center after a collision during the game, a reminder that even lopsided wins can carry their own concerns.
Now the bigger question around the program is less about what happened on the field and more about what comes next off it. A legal decision regarding former Cyclone guard Tamin Lipsey's eligibility case is expected by Friday, leaving Iowa State with another issue to monitor as it shifts from nonconference tune-up mode into the next phase of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Homecoming Just Got More Dangerous Than Fans Expected
Iowa States early-season momentum has been built on balance, with the Cyclones showing they can lean on both sides of the ball in a win over Bowling Green. Aiden Flora and Cameron Pettaway were among the names that stood out in that performance, a reminder that this team has more than one way to tilt a game in its favor as it heads into a Week 4 meeting with Utah.
The bigger date on the calendar is now coming into focus, too, with the homecoming game against West Virginia set for Oct. 3. And if the Mountaineers looked dangerous before, they only strengthened that case with a notable win over Virginia, while quarterback Michael Hawkins has given them a threat who can hurt defenses through the air and on the ground. For Iowa State, that makes the homecoming showcase feel a little less like a celebration and a little more like a test. [Read more 🡒]