Rob Gray

He’s no Brock Purdy, of course, but he Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht developing into an elite version of Rocco Becht, which bodes well for the Cyclones as they try to topple Kansas State on Saturday.

The Cyclones are heavier underdogs than they’ve been against any team all season and a win over the Wildcats would certainly improve their standing in the Big 12’s bowl pecking order. Here are three keys for Iowa State against Kansas State.

Iowa State standout sophomore safety Jeremiah Cooper took sitting out two football games this season because of injury as an opportunity to improve, teach and return to the field better than before.

Iowa State’s slim hopes to play in the Big 12 football title game evaporated against Texas, but another shot at a Top 20 team on the road — as well as playing in a sixth bowl game in seven seasons — still lurks ahead of Saturday’s game at Kansas State.

Iowa State is seeking a rare road winning streak against Kansas State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in a Big 12 game Saturday. Here are five Wildcats to watch.

Freshman plays 20 minutes and scores 14 points as Cyclones improve to 4-0

Assemble all of the potential elements for an upset and they’re overshadowed by one stark reality: Iowa State simply failed to execute crisply enough to prevent a 26-16 loss to the No. 7 Texas Saturday night under the lights at Jack Trice Stadium.

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.