Articles Tagged: Big 12

Cyclones will try to snap 4-game losing skid in game with Horned Frogs

Cyclones have lost 4 in a row and facing a team on a 2-game winning streak

Consequently, the luster has been removed from the matchup Saturday between the Cyclones (5-3, 2-3) and Sun Devils (5-3, 3-2). This was circled in the preseason as one of the top conference games of the year.

Not massive ones. Not full-scale overhauls. Just a handful of well-crafted tweaks designed to help cure what ails Iowa State’s now-struggling football team.

Lately, those issues inside the 20 have been caused by miscommunication and/or poor execution — and it helps explain how the once highly ranked Cyclones are currently on a three-game skid.

Iowa State’s Yonger Bastida and former Missouri wrestler Rocky Elam formerly bitter rivals at 197 pounds are Cyclone teammates standing shoulder to shoulder Tuesday at media day — and have swiftly morphed from being fierce foes to fast friends.

The strong-legged sophomore from Dubuque drilled two field goals — a 36-yarder and a 43-yarder — in last Saturday’s 41-27 loss to No. 10 BYU after missing three games because of a hip injury.

Cyclones have lost 3 in a row, but still are favored against the Sun Devils in Big 12 showdown at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames

It’s also a team-wide talking point star tight end Ben Brahmer strictly adhered to this week when discussing what the Cyclones (5-2, 2-2) must do to end their two-game losing streak at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (Fox) against No. 11 BYU (7-0, 4-0) at a sold-out Jack Trice Stadium.

Iowa State faces BYU at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, October 25, 2025. What do the Cyclones have to do against the Cougars to stay in contention to be in the Big 12 title game?

What’s gone right? What’s gone awry? What needs to be fixed immediately?These questions loomed large for the Cyclones (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) in advance of Saturday’s crucial 2:30 p.m. (Fox) matchup with 11th-ranked BYU (7-0, 4-0) at Jack Trice Stadium.

It’s hard for any of the Cyclones (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) a flaw in the Cougars (7-0, 4-0) — and that’s why head coach Kalani Sitake’s team has won 18 of its past 20 games dating back to last season.

The Cyclones are coming off a bye week and are actually favored against the No. 11 Cougars heading into game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames

A second setback in a row would obviously be devastating to the Cyclones’ hopes of returning to the Big 12 title game.

As a freshman Sowell proudly donned a Buffaloes jersey — until head coach Deion Sanders took over the program and told him and many of his teammates to “jump into the portal” so he could fully reshape the downtrodden program.