Oct 5, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) catches a pass against the Baylor Bears at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Bears 43 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Game Day Info
No. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) @ West Virginia (3-2, 2-0 Big 12)
Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Stadium: Milan Puskar Stadium (60,000)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
TV: FOX (Tim Brando, Devin Gardner, Josh Sims)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Iowa State -3 (via Action Network updated Thursday)
Over/Under: 50.5
Series Results
Iowa State trails 12-10 in the all-time series between the two programs.
Last 5 games
2022: Iowa State 31, West Virginia 14 (Ames)
2021: West Virginia 38, No. 22 Iowa State 31 (Morgantown)
2020: No. 12 Iowa State 42, West Virginia 6 (Ames)
2019: Iowa State 38, West Virginia 14 (Morgantown)
2018: Iowa State 30, No. 6 West Virginia 14 (Ames)
Players to watch
Jayden Higgins, wide receiver (Iowa State)
The dynamic wide receiver is going for his eighth-straight game with a touchdown this weekend after he caught another in the Baylor game. He’s still yet to go under 65 yards receiving in a game this year. And a bonus – Mel Kiper released his new NFL Draft rankings and has Higgins as the No. 8 player in this class – take it all in over the rest of the season. Iowa State has a special talent here.
Jalen Travis, offensive line (Iowa State)
The Cyclones transfer from Princeton on the offensive line has made his presence felt after injuries kept him off the field for the first three weeks of the season. If Iowa State’s rushing game is there as it has been, the 6-foot-7, 340-pounder will be one to watch this week.
The Iowa State linebackers
I’ve referenced the position group before in this series during this portion of the article, but it’s for a different reason this week. Cael Brezina is battling an injury that kept him largely out for the second half of the Baylor game. Meanwhile, Iowa State kept Jack Sadowsky off of the field due to redshirt eligibility, according to coach Matt Campbell. That’s why fans saw walk-on Rylan Barnes perform during the final 30 minutes of that game. There’s no telling who’s on the field this week until after kickoff.
Garrett Greene, quarterback (West Virginia)
The dual threat QB has shown that he can get it done on the ground with ease this season. Excluding the Penn State game, Greene has rushed for 49 yards or more in every game this season, collecting three touchdowns on the ground. He does have the tendency to turn the ball over, throwing four picks to his seven passing touchdowns, so far. Look for the Cyclone defense to make him throw.
Hudson Clement, wide receiver (West Virginia)
Greene’s favorite target – Clement leads the Mountaineers in receptions with 17 catches on the year and is averaging 17.4 yards per catch in five games this season. When the passing game is working for WVU, he’s involved.
T.J. Jackson, defensive lineman (West Virginia)
West Virginia’s standout on the defensive line has racked up 3.5 sacks and 20 tackles on the season. Jackson had a fumble recovery against Penn State and none of his sacks came against the depleted Oklahoma State team the Mountaineers faced Saturday. Iowa State’s offensive line will be keyed up against him.
Keys to the game
Get out of the gates
Iowa State has tended to be a slow starting team thus far in the 2024 season – and that will bite this team if it happens at the wrong time. With Morgantown rowdy for a top 15 team in its own stadium and a rushing attack that can bleed the clock, it could be more imperative than ever for the Cyclones to score early.
Contain the dual-threat quarterback
For the fourth-straight game, Iowa State’s defense will line up against the best dual-threat quarterback its faced this season. It sets up well for the typical college defense, but the Cyclones have a number of players that have been dinged up in recent weeks. However, that hasn’t hindered the team yet – it’s very much been a deep defense that has managed to perform no matter who’s on the field. If that continues and the Cyclones limit Greene like they have other opponents, this game becomes much more winnable.
Utilize your run game
Iowa State is on its best three-game rushing stretch in nearly a decade behind one of its deepest offensive lines in the Matt Campbell era. If the Cyclones can get the most out of two of its three backs this week – no matter which it may be – while playing with a lead, they could make quick work of the Mountaineers.
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | ||
| Team | OVR | Big 12 |
| Texas Tech | 5-1 | 3-0 |
| No. 11 Iowa State | 5-0 | 2-0 |
| No. 14 BYU | 5-0 | 2-0 |
| Colorado | 4-1 | 2-0 |
| West Virginia | 3-2 | 2-0 |
| No. 16 Utah | 4-1 | 1-1 |
| No. 18 Kansas State | 4-1 | 1-1 |
| Arizona State | 4-1 | 1-1 |
| Arizona | 3-2 | 1-1 |
| Cincinnati | 3-2 | 1-1 |
| UCF | 3-2 | 1-1 |
| TCU | 3-3 | 1-2 |
| Houston | 2-4 | 1-2 |
| Oklahoma State | 3-3 | 0-3 |
| Baylor | 2-4 | 0-3 |
| Kansas | 1-5 | 0-3 |
Friday, October 11
9:30 p.m. | No. 16 Utah (4-1, 1-1) @ Arizona State (4-1, 1-1), ESPN
Saturday, October 12
2:30 p.m. | Cincinnati (3-2, 1-1) @ UCF (3-2, 1-1), ESPN2
3:00 p.m. | Arizona (3-2, 1-1) @ No. 14 BYU (5-0, 2-0), FOX
7:00 p.m. | No. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0) @ West Virginia (3-2, 2-0), FOX
9:15 p.m. | No. 18 Kansas State (4-1, 1-1) @ Colorado (4-1, 2-0), ESPN
