Rob Gray

Iowa State made too many mistakes on the road, falling to 0-2 in Big 12 play with a 14-11 loss to Kansas.

Iowa State’s litany of miscues in the first half included an interception at their own 19-yard line from quarterback Hunter Dekkers, a doink off the uprights on a 39-yard field goal attempt from Jace Gilbert, and a pair of 15-yard penalties that helped Kansas complete two impressive touchdown drives before the break.

One year after a 59-7 Iowa State win, the seemingly unbridgeable gap between the Cyclones and Kansas has virtually vanished.

Here are three keys to victory for Iowa State as the Cyclones hit the Big 12 road for the first time Saturday, facing a Kansas team off to a surprising 4-0 start.

Iowa State focused on mistakes and bad breaks from last week’s 31-24 loss to Baylor in order to learn from them — and turn those shortcomings into grist for a rebound Saturday against unbeaten Kansas.

MJ Anderson’s ability to rush the passer and wrap up running backs has been crucial as Iowa State continues to find ways to thwart opposing offenses that double-team all-time sacks leader Will McDonald and scheme to run plays to his opposite side.

Iowa State won seven straight meetings in the series, but this Big 12 season already has proved to be wild, wacky and wholly unpredictable. So buckle up and view snapshots of five Kansas players to watch.

As the Iowa State Cyclones prepare for Kansas, transfer wide receiver Dimitri Stanley could play a bigger role the rest of the season coming off a loss to Baylor.

After a fumble nearly cost Iowa State, Jirehl Brock scored a touchdown on the play that helped keep the Cyclones in the game late against No. 17 Baylor, but it wouldn’t be enough in a 31-24 loss Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.

The turning point, numbers and notes to know from Iowa State’s 31-24 loss to Baylor.

Saturday’s Big 12 football opener provided Iowa State with its latest example of how devastating a lack of attention of detail can be, as No. 17 Baylor trotted off the field with a 31-24 triumph before an ornery early, but subdued late crowd of 58,069 at Jack Trice Stadium.

Defending Big 12 champion and 17th-ranked Baylor poses a distinct challenge to the youthful, but surging Iowa State Cyclones precisely because they don’t have a noticeable flaw.

Here are three keys to an Iowa State victory and a score prediction as the Cyclones host No. 17 Baylor on Saturday.

Iowa State tight end DeShawn Hanika’s first touchdown as a Cyclone was a long time coming, but merely the beginning for an athletic and versatile player who’s eager to do more.

Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers’ dedication to postgame film study mirrors that of record-setting Cyclone predecessor Brock Purdy, who now is a backup for the San Francisco 49ers.