Sep 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates with wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) after a touchdown reception during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Iowa State entered Saturday night’s Big 12 season opener at Houston seeking its first 4-0 start since 2000.
Las Vegas oddsmakers crowned the No. 18 Cyclones double-digit road favorites — and their head coach, Matt Campbell, stood one victory away from the program’s all-time wins record.
But the struggling Cougars (1-4, 0-2) clawed up that feel-good script early before ISU (4-0, 1-0) seized control in the second half to record a convincing 20-0 victory at TDECU Stadium.
Campbell now owns 57 wins as ISU’s coach — one more than Dan McCarney — and his wife and kids were flown to Houston to surprise him after the historic triumph.
“Coach Mac has been such a great mentor to us, so to even be in the same spectrum as him, I’m really grateful,” Campbell said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “We wouldn’t be here without him and his support, and the former players, what they’ve meant to our current players, it’s been really special.”
The Cyclones notched their fifth straight conference road victory dating back to last season — a feat never previously accomplished in program history. They also blanked a conference foe on the road for the first time since 1971 despite nursing a meager 3-0 lead at halftime.
“We kind of started out a little slow in the beginning, but it was a big emphasis to come out there and do better in the third quarter,” safety Malik Verdon said.
Cue ISU star receiver Jayden Higgins, who broke the school record by catching a touchdown pass in his sixth consecutive game. Higgins’ 12-yard leaping grab on a deftly thrown ball by quarterback Rocco Becht put the Cyclones ahead, 10-0, with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter. He finished with a game-high eight receptions for 79 yards.
“Rocco just threw a great pass, ultimately,” Higgins said. “It’s awesome to be in the history books, (and) hopefully we can continue to do great things and, hopefully, I can continue to score touchdowns this year.”
Becht completed 17 of 28 passes for a season-low 153 yards. Tailback Abu Sama — thanks to a game-sealing 77-yard sprint to the end zone in the fourth quarter — topped the 100-yard mark for the first time this season. Fellow back Jaylon Jackson nearly did the same, but ended up with 96 yards on 14 carries — including a 50-yard run that helped set up a score.
“We complement each other really well,” Jackson said of ISU’s backfield. “We just continue trying to get better each and every game.”
The Cyclones eclipsed 235 rushing yards for the second straight game and outgained Houston 393 yards to 241. The defense allowed the Cougars to convert just one of their 10 third down opportunities and forced three turnovers. Verdon forced a fumble linebacker Jacob Ellis recovered to set up a field goal. Cornerback Jontez Williams intercepted a pass in the end zone on Houston’s most promising drive of the game and safety Jeremiah Cooper notched his seventh career interception late in the game to allow the offense to run out the clock. ISU now owns 10 takeaways this season — a number topped by just two FBS games entering Saturday.
“We just wanted to come out and play our game; play harder for longer,” Williams said. “That was the main goal, just to go out there and attack those guys.”
It took a while to achieve that goal, but the Cyclones now enter next Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. home game against Baylor (2-3, 0-2) with a chance to start 5-0 in a season for the first time in the modern era. And guess who will be there? McCarney, who was already scheduled to speak to ISU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams next weekend.
“I’ve felt nothing but respect and love when I go back to games, and I know that starts with Matt Campbell,” McCarney told me a week and a half ago. “He’s about as genuine as the day is long. He’s authentic. He’s a gift to all of us (who) love Iowa State.”
