Rob Gray

Notes from Iowa State’s 52-7 win over Arkansas State, including Darien Porter’s fourth career blocked punt and a bit of trickery from the offense.

Gaping holes opened up. Carson Hansen dodged and darted through them. Iowa State’s powerful tailback then bulldozed any resistance Arkansas State attempted to muster, surging for two touchdowns in the No. 20 Cyclones’ dominant 52-7 win Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.

Matt Campbell yearned to pay homage to what Dan McCarney had done to turn around a forlorn Iowa State program before — and he’s humbled to be approaching McCarney’s 18-year-old school wins record in just his ninth season at the helm.

Here are three keys and a score prediction for Iowa State football against Arkansas State. If the Cyclones truly are Big 12 championship contenders, they’ll be sharp on Saturday in advance of that nine-game conference slate.

What do current Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht and former Ducks play caller Bo Nix have in common? They are the only three FBS quarterbacks to record six or more completions of 50-plus yards since Nov. 11, 2023

Blink and you’ll miss them. Arkansas State’s offense — which 20th-ranked Iowa State will face Saturday — moves at such a brisk pace, the term “tempo” seems an inadequate description.

Red Wolves may present a challenge to No. 20 Cyclones on Saturday as Matt Campbell eyes record win

Depth can be a blessing and a challenge. Just ask Iowa State’s veteran volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch, who’s played everyone on her roster in five matches this season.

A second-half surge leading to a 20-19 win at No. 21 Iowa should send Iowa State into its first bye week of the season with bolstered confidence and even higher expectations.

Cornerback Darien Porter gave Iowa State hope. Quarterback Rocco Becht, in turn, gave the offense life. And walk-on kicker Kyle Konrardy furnished the fireworks and heroics, drilling a 54-yard field goal with six seconds left that completed the Cyclones’ stunning 20-19 comeback win over No. 21 Iowa Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht pinned last year’s loss to Iowa on himself. But the sophomore has been a portrait of efficiency lately.

Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will be a problem for Iowa’s secondary, but a third (and possibly fourth) good option for Rocco Becht must emerge. Here are three keys and a score prediction for Iowa State against Iowa.

It's Cy-Hawk week, so The Gazette's Iowa and Iowa State writers are teaming up on the Hawk Off The Press podcast to break down Saturday's game. Hear analysis and predictions from John Steppe and Rob Gray.

Iowa State’s remarkable 99-yard drive in its 2022 win over Iowa is hard to replicate, but illustrative of the keen precision required to keep Iowa’s defense on the field — and possibly escape with a second straight Cy-Hawk road win.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has been texting linebacker Caleb Bacon well-wishes as the latter recovers from surgery to mend a lower leg injury that will keep him off the football field for the foreseeable future — and the message is clear: Bacon’s value as a leader is as important as ever. More important, maybe.