Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell enters the field with team before the game against Arkansas State in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Game Day Info
No. 18 Iowa State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) @ Houston (1-3, 0-1 Big 12)
Location: Houston, Texas
Stadium: TDECU Stadium (40,000)
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Eric Collins, Spencer Tillman)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -12
Over/Under: 43
Series Results
There have been no previous matchups between Iowa State and Houston.
Players to watch
Rocco Becht, quarterback (Iowa State)
This might come off as an obvious choice, but it will be interesting to see what Becht puts on the field on Saturday. He hasn’t yet had a complete performance where he was ‘on’ the entire game – and that’s not to say he’s been bad by any means. There’s still room to improve for the already proven redshirt sophomore and that’s a great thing for this team.
J.R. Singleton, defensive lineman (Iowa State)
The Iowa State captain has two sacks this year already and could end up with more on Saturday. Keep an eye on the defensive line in this in this one with the likes of Kenard Snyder, Domonique Orange, and Singleton going after quarterbacks that don’t air it out as much as other conference foes.
The quarterbacks (Houston)
Cougars coach Willie Fritz stated in his press conference Tuesday that both Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss will see the field on Saturday. Each of them has the tendency to run the football – even in passing situations. Chriss has only attempted five passes all year. Smith has thrown it a tad more, although he still ran the ball 10 times during Houston’s Big 12 opening loss to Cincinnati. Smith is coming off of a shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, but is being considered as 100 percent healthy, despite the quarterback battle.
Michael Batton, linebacker (Houston)
Houston’s leader in tackles on the defense is known for flying around the field. Batton has totaled 29 tackles in four games this year for the Cougars as well as two sacks and a fumble recovery. The defense is this team’s strength and finding ways to neutralize the top talents will be at the front of Iowa State’s game plan.
Keys to the game
Protect the ball
Iowa State has seen Houston’s defense go after fumbles at the end of plays on film – and they’ve been preparing for it. Both Rocco Becht and Jayden Higgins referenced that in media interviews this week. It’s imperative for Iowa State to protect the football and avoid giving Houston any momentum.
Take the crowd out of the game
There may not be more of an integral time to have a hot start out of the gates than in this game. A Saturday night Big 12 opener on the road against a coach known for his developmental traits is a difficult spot in any situation. This Houston team could break through at any moment. Take the crowd out of the game and establish a lead early on.
Get to the quarterbacks
No matter which quarterback is on the field for the Cougars, Iowa State’s defensive line will be going after them. Houston has allowed 13 sacks already this year and with this pair scrambling as much as they do, there will be more opportunities to pick them up.
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | ||
| Team | OVR | Big 12 |
| No. 10 Utah | 4-0 | 1-0 |
| No. 22 BYU | 4-0 | 1-0 |
| UCF | 3-0 | 1-0 |
| Cincinnati | 3-1 | 1-0 |
| Colorado | 3-1 | 1-0 |
| Texas Tech | 3-1 | 1-0 |
| West Virginia | 2-2 | 1-0 |
| No. 18 Iowa State | 3-0 | 0-0 |
| Arizona | 2-1 | 0-0 |
| No. 20 Oklahoma State | 3-1 | 0-1 |
| No. 23 Kansas State | 3-1 | 0-1 |
| Arizona State | 3-1 | 0-1 |
| Baylor | 2-2 | 0-1 |
| TCU | 2-2 | 0-1 |
| Houston | 1-3 | 0-1 |
| Kansas | 1-3 | 0-1 |
Saturday, September 28
11:00 a.m. | No. 20 Oklahoma State @ No. 23 Kansas State (ESPN)
11:00 a.m. | No. 22 BYU @ Baylor (FS1)
2:30 p.m. | TCU @ Kansas (ESPN+)
2:30 p.m. | Colorado @ UCF (FOX)
6:00 p.m. | No. 18 Iowa State @ Houston (FS1)
7:00 p.m. | Cincinnati @ Texas Tech (ESPN2)
9:15 p.m. | Arizona @ No. 10 Utah (ESPN)
