Iowa State got the kind of Big 12 win that can wake up a season.
After dropping its last game to Utah and opening conference play 0-1, the Cyclones needed something in the worst way. What they got was a full-on shootout against West Virginia, one that swung back and forth all afternoon before Iowa State finally closed the door and walked out with a 45-42 victory.
West Virginia landed the first punch. Michael Hawkins connected with Cyrus Traugh on a 33-yard touchdown to put the Mountaineers in front. Iowa State answered before the first quarter ended, as Jaylen Raynor found Omari Hayes on a touchdown pass to finish a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
The Cyclones kept the momentum rolling with a little trickery. Aiden Flora tossed a touchdown to Cody Jackson to give Iowa State a 14-7 lead, but West Virginia didn’t let that gap last long. Hawkins punched in an eight-yard rushing score to bring the Mountaineers right back into it.
Then Flora stepped back in. After a costly penalty helped extend the drive, he threw his second touchdown of the day just before halftime, sending Iowa State into the break with a touchdown cushion.
The Cyclones stretched that edge early in the second half when Flora broke loose for a 23-yard touchdown run. At that point, Iowa State looked in control. West Virginia had other ideas.
The Mountaineers ripped off two unanswered touchdowns to knot the game at 28-28 heading into the fourth quarter, and the final period turned into a track meet. Iowa State’s first drive of the quarter stalled after 10 plays and 59 yards, forcing the Cyclones into their first field goal of the day. West Virginia answered quickly, scoring three minutes later to take the lead back.
Iowa State responded again. Flora ripped off a 63-yard run to put the Cyclones back in front 38-35. But the Mountaineers kept pace, needing just 1:04 to score on a 47-yard pass to DJ Epps and swing the lead right back.
That set up the finish, and Flora kept doing damage. His fifth touchdown of the day put Iowa State ahead 45-42, and this time the defense finally found a stop when it mattered most. West Virginia moved the chains on a fourth-and-11, but Epps was stripped and fumbled to end it.
For Iowa State, it was the kind of wild conference win that can change the mood in a hurry.
In Other News...
WVUs Defensive Collapse Is Raising Bigger Questions Than Fans Expected
West Virginias defensive struggles are no longer just a bad stretch, theyre becoming a real problem for a program trying to find stability in conference play. The Mountaineers have given up plenty of yardage and too many explosive plays in recent games against Iowa State and Oklahoma State, and the concern goes beyond one rough afternoon or one busted coverage. With the defense sitting last in total defense among Power Four teams, the numbers are starting to match what has looked obvious on the field.
Zac Alley and Rich Rodriguez are both under the microscope now, because the issues keep pointing in two directions at once: execution and roster talent. West Virginia has also had trouble against first-year head coaches this season, which only adds to the sense that opponents are finding answers faster than the Mountaineers are. The deeper question is whether this is simply a correction period for a young unit, or a more serious sign that the defensive foundation is not where it needs to be. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Defense Has A New Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Pro Football Focus latest grades gave West Virginia fans a familiar kind of snapshot, one that showed a defense still searching for answers after a recent game. The numbers pointed to a unit that had trouble finishing plays, with tackling angles and overall disruption becoming recurring issues, even as the offense had its own uneven day up front.
The bright spots on defense were limited to linebacker Isaiah Patterson and safety JaCorey Thomas, the only Mountaineers who really stood out in the grading. Elsewhere, West Virginia managed only eight pressures, and the offensive line also had its hands full despite a strong rushing total, leaving the bigger concern less about one bad sequence than about whether the front seven can start looking more consistent. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Just Showed How Dangerous This Team Can Be
West Virginias latest matchup with Iowa State offered another reminder that this team can beat you in more than one way. In the 13th meeting between the programs and the first since 2024, the Mountaineers leaned on a ground game that kept churning and a supporting cast that showed up everywhere else, from the trenches to the kicking game. Michael Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook each went over 100 rushing yards, a sign that the offense has found a reliable physical edge.
The rest of the roster did its part too, with the defense stacking tackles and sacks while special teams helped tilt field position with solid punting. For a West Virginia team trying to prove its ceiling is higher than a one-dimensional attack, that kind of complete effort matters. When the run game is rolling and the other phases are holding up their end, the Mountaineers look dangerous in the way good teams are supposed to. [Read more 🡒]