Rob Gray

Demarion Watson’s minutes are slightly up. So are his numbers, which are achieved in brief bursts throughout a game. Iowa State’s sophomore sparkplug knows his role. He must provide energy. Maximum effort. A handful of explosive plays on both ends of the floor even though most of the game he resides on the bench — for now, at least.

Iowa State likely will feature just five senior starters on Saturday, but that doesn’t diminish the impact those players have had on a program that’s rebounded from its first losing season since 2016 by already clinching bowl eligibility.

The stakes are stratospherically high for both Texas and Iowa State under the lights at Jack Trice Stadium in a Saturday night game that will be broadcast nationally on Fox. Here are three keys for the Cyclones.

Texas’ pair of elite wide receivers don’t evince fear from time-tested senior T.J. Tampa. The Iowa State cornerback is one of several top NFL prospects at his position and he didn’t ascend to such a lofty perch by being nervous.

Texas’ defensive line features speed and athleticism on the edge, and strength and versatility tucked between the tackles. So if there’s a weakness for the Longhorns up front, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht hasn’t found it.

Iowa State is playing for much more than a win Saturday against Texas, still in the hunt for Big 12 championship berth. Here are five Longhorns to watch against the Cyclones.

With a big win at BYU on Saturday night, Iowa State is bowl eligible again after missing out last season.

Iowa State women’s basketball went ice cold in the second quarter against Drake, but rallied to make it a game.

Iowa State’s freshmen accounted for well above 50 percent of the team’s points, rebounds, made 3-pointers, rebounds and assists in Monday’s win over Butler. Sunday, the Cyclones take on a Drake team that has won 20 or more games in eight of the past nine seasons and has been tabbed to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference.

LaVell Edwards Stadium is a naturally gorgeous setting, at least, for a football game that Iowa State hopes to use as a springboard to bowl eligibility for the sixth time in the past seven seasons, while BYU seeks to earn a postseason berth for the 18th time since 2004.

Ames native Tamin Lipsey led Iowa State with a career-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the Cyclones’ 102-47 dismantling of Lindenwood. The skilled sophomore point guard added seven assists and six rebounds and achieved those impressive numbers in just over 22 minutes.

Iowa State and BYU have a chance to get bowl-eligible with a win Saturday night in Provo Utah. Here are three keys for the Cyclones.

Iowa State freshman Milan Momcilovic was 6-for-7 from 3-point range in Monday’s season opener. Momcilovic proved to be fully ready for his first breakout opportunity precisely because of how he hones his craft.

Dimitri Stanley could have walked away from football after his first season with Iowa State ended with a disappointing 4-8 mark — and his new team saw its string of five consecutive winning seasons snuffed out. But the speedy 6-foot, 200-pound Colorado transfer didn’t quit for two powerful reasons.

Stevo Klotz’s versatility within a deep tight ends room has helped Iowa State begin to get some traction in terms of accumulating yards and scoring points.