Rob Gray

They finally finished multiple drives. They finally enjoyed a handful of good breaks. And during a dominant 31-14 triumph Saturday over West Virginia, the Iowa State Cyclones finally found themselves in the most desirable spot for the first time this Big 12 season: The win column.

The rain never stopped falling. The bad breaks for Cedar Rapids Prairie never stopped coming. And fourth-ranked and defending Class 5A state football champion Southeast Polk never relented in a 41-0 playoff quarterfinal win over the Hawks on a dreary, drizzly Friday night.

Iowa State football doesn’t have as many veterans dotting its two-deeps, but the ones who are there — including safety Anthony Johnson, linebacker O’Rien Vance, wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson, defensive end Will McDonald, and a handful of others — have continued to teach a youthful roster how to improve even as positive results prove hard to come by.

Iowa State hosts West Virginia at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, hoping to snap a five-game losing streak. Here are three keys to victory for the Cyclones.

Receiver Dimitri Stanley is a second-time Iowa State football recruit who chose Colorado the first time Matt Campbell offered him a scholarship, but now is thriving in second-chance mode.

Iowa State’s search for production on the ground has been a long and frustrating one, but at least the running backs room continues to get healthier.

If last-place Iowa State is to retain hopes of salvaging the season and playing in a sixth straight bowl game, a win absolutely must come Saturday against West Virginia. Here are five Mountaineers to watch in what should be another close game.

After five straight conference losses by an average of 5.6 points, how will Iowa State respond Saturday against West Virginia? Not with self-pity, nor a sense of despair.

Iowa State’s ground game bogged down yet again in Saturday’s 27-13 loss to Oklahoma at Jack Trice Stadium, managing to eke out a meager 66 yards on the ground against the worst rushing defense in the Big 12 by far.

Iowa State’s wide-ranging travails were on full display in a 27-13 loss to Oklahoma at Jack Trice Stadium and no single play, nor penalty, could serve as the reason why the Cyclones’ longest losing skid since 2016 swelled to five games.

Iowa State (3-4, 0-4 Big 12) hosts Oklahoma (4-3, 1-3) on Saturday, hoping to snap a four-game losing streak. Here are three keys to victory for the Cyclones.

Throughout Iowa State’s loss at Texas, one truth emerged about first-year Cyclone starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers: The game had finally slowed down, even as it slipped away late.

The biggest play of Iowa State walk-on linebacker Kendell Jackson’s college career proved to be a monumental one. He’s providing the Cyclones with a rare and precious on-the-field commodity: Consistency.

Iowa State’s recent bye week served its designated function for the Cyclones, who seek to rebound from four straight one-score losses in Saturday’s 11 a.m. Big 12 matchup with Oklahoma.

Saturday’s Oklahoma-Iowa State game will include Sooners QB Dillon Gabriel, who has returned after a concussion and is playing well.