Rob Gray

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.

Here are five Baylor Bears to watch as the Iowa State Cyclones seek to start the college football season 4-0 for the first time since 2000.

Iowa State’s Will McDonald is chasing the Big 12 sack record as the Cyclones get ready for Baylor this Saturday.

Iowa State football notes after the win over Ohio: A healthy Sean Shaw Jr. is helping the Cyclones diversify the passing game and Anthony Johnson Jr. did something he’d never done previously in his 44 straight starts for the Cyclones.

Iowa State first-year starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers shined as usual in the passing game. His top target, Xavier Hutchinson, posted big numbers yet again. And the Cyclones cruised to a 43-10 win Saturday over outmanned Ohio while simultaneously proving why Matt Campbell, often refers to football as “a game of imperfection.”