Rob Gray

Chase Contreraz emerged from limbo — aka the transfer portal — and committed to the Iowa State. He earned the starting field goal kicker job in camp and enters Saturday's game against Oklahoma still finding his way as his long and winding college career nears its conclusion.

Iowa State finally experienced a modicum of success in the running game against an FBS opponent last week against Oklahoma State — a slight opening they seek to expand as heavy underdogs against No. 14 Oklahoma at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel is off to a great start, completing 78 percent of his passes; Bob Stoops’ son is one of his solid targets.

It was a coming-out party for the Iowa State offense in a 34-27 Big 12-opening win over Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Rocco Becht compiled the first 300-yard passing game of his young career as Iowa State opened conference play with a win for the first time since 2020, 34-27 over Oklahoma State. Here’s a look at three things that went right for the Cyclones.

Tyler Perkins has the ability to flip the field — and Iowa State desperately needs him to continue to unleash potentially game-changing punts in Saturday’s 3 p.m. Big 12 opener against Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium.

What’s at stake Saturday when Iowa State opens Big 12 play against Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium? Mainly, any realistic hope that ISU can prevent suffering through a second consecutive losing season. Here are three keys to the game and a score prediction.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht told reporters he felt the offense lacked a “sense of urgency” in the first half of a 10-7 loss to Ohio, which is concerning enough. It seemed the same could have been said about the previous week’s 20-13 loss to Iowa.

As frustrating as last Saturday’s 10-7 loss at Ohio proved to be for Iowa State’s beleaguered offense, opportunities for success dotted all four quarters. They simply went largely unmet — and that’s a situation that must change Saturday against Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma State seems to be facing even more wide-ranging problems than Iowa State right now. Here are five Cowboys to watch in Saturday’s Big 12 opener

The Cyclones must be able to run the ball and limit turnovers while taking away the ball once or twice themselves. Here are three keys and a score prediction for Iowa State’s game Saturday at Ohio.

Jeremiah Cooper is one of two players nationally with as many as three interceptions this season. He’s also one of 31 FBS players to have strode into the end zone with a pick-6 and it's hoped his ball-hawking mentality will rub off on his Iowa State teammates.

Iowa State trounced Ohio, 43-10, last season at home, but it’s unlikely to be that easy this time around. The Bobcats — who scored 17 unanswered points to beat Tom Herman’s Florida Atlantic Owls last week on the road — return several veteran standouts, including quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who is the reigning MAC offensive player of the year.

Jeff Ellis became a star tight end at Ohio State in the late 1980s, but injuries derailed his promising career. He died in 2018 after a battle with cancer and Jacob Ellis honors his dad’s memory by priming himself for every opportunity — taking nothing for granted while overcoming injuries of his own at Iowa State.

There’s a lot of familiar faces on the Ohio roster, but the Bobcats appear to be better this season. Here are five players to watch against Iowa State.