Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) reacts after drawing an offside penalty on the Cincinnati Bearcats defense in the fourth quarter during a college football game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at Nippert Stadium win Cincinnati. The Iowa State Cyclones won, 30-10. © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State returns to Jack Trice Stadium to face Cincinnati Saturday in its penultimate home game of the 2024 regular season.
Game Day Info
Iowa State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) vs. Cincinnati (3-2, 2-0 Big 12)
Location: Ames, Iowa
Stadium: Jack Trice Stadium (61,500)
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 -7.5 (via Action Network updated Friday)
Over/Under: 53.5
Series Results
Iowa State leads the all-time series 1-0.
Recent Results
2023: Iowa State 30, Cincinnati 10
Players to watch
Rocco Becht, quarterback (Iowa State)
Becht hasn’t had an ‘elite’ performance yet this season, at least by his standards. The redshirt sophomore missed a couple of throws during Iowa State’s loss to Kansas, and he’s the first to admit that. The Cyclones will need a big game out of him Saturday, and with how much he hates to lose, it wouldn’t come as a surprise.
Jeremiah Cooper, defensive back (Iowa State)
At this point, Jeremiah Cooper might be considered Iowa State’s healthiest defensive starter. The junior had a pair of pass deflections and nearly a pick in Iowa State’s loss to Kansas. He’s a treat to watch on any given week, but might have a bigger role Saturday.
Brendan Sorsby, quarterback (Cincinnati)
The sophomore has been one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 this season, throwing for 2,387 yards this year with 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He’s far more of a pocket passer, but will scramble when needed, rushing for 192 yards and another seven scores. He’s thrown picks in vulnerable spots, but Iowa State’s defense will have to push him into that if it wants to force any takeaways.
The Cincinnati running backs
Each of Cincy’s tailbacks are picking up yards with ease against anyone and everyone this season. Senior Cory Kiner has gone for 783 yards on 148 carries with three scores, while junior Evan Pryor has gained 350 yards with five touchdowns on just 40. Each of them average more than five yards per carry and Pryor is actually at 8.8 yards per rush. The defense will be tasked with slowing both down, and it may be a tall task.
Keys to the game
Bring out something new
Whether its trick plays or something that’s not on film yet, bring it out for this one. Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator, Tyson Veidt, was Iowa State’s linebackers coach a season ago and had been here since the early days of the Campbell era. Throw something or some things at them offensively that Cincy hasn’t seen yet.
Turn it into a shootout
Along with that, Iowa State has got to rely on the offense this week. The defense is hampered, and that was clear against KU. This game has got to go through the offense for the Cyclones to succeed, unless a different defense shows up.
Cyclones vs. the World
The backs are against the wall this weekend. The Big 12 championship, which once seemed like it was sitting on the doorstep, is now just one or two losses away from falling out of reach. Iowa State has traditionally played its best ball under Campbell in these situations, and it will need to here.
In the Big 12
| Big 12 Standings | ||
| Team | OVR | Big 12 |
| No. 6 BYU | 9-0 | 6-0 |
| No. 17 Colorado | 7-2 | 5-1 |
| No. 16 Kansas State | 7-2 | 4-2 |
| Iowa State | 7-2 | 4-2 |
| Arizona State | 7-2 | 4-2 |
| West Virginia | 5-4 | 4-2 |
| TCU | 6-4 | 4-3 |
| Texas Tech | 6-4 | 4-3 |
| Cincinnati | 5-4 | 3-3 |
| Baylor | 5-4 | 3-3 |
| Houston | 4-5 | 3-3 |
| Kansas | 3-6 | 2-4 |
| UCF | 4-6 | 2-5 |
| Arizona | 3-6 | 1-5 |
| Utah | 4-5 | 1-5 |
| Oklahoma State | 3-7 | 0-7 |
Friday, October 11
9:15 p.m. | Houston (4-5, 3-3) @ Arizona (3-6, 1-5), FS1
Saturday, October 12
11:00 a.m. | Utah (4-5, 1-5) @ No. 17 Colorado (7-2, 5-1), FOX
3:00 p.m. | Baylor (5-4, 3-3) @ West Virginia (5-4, 4-2), ESPN2
6:00 p.m. | Arizona State (7-2, 4-2) @ No. 16 K-State (7-2, 4-2), ESPN
7:00 p.m. | Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3) @ Iowa State (7-2, 4-2), FOX
9:15 p.m. | Kansas (3-6, 2-4) @ No. 6 BYU (9-0, 6-0), ESPN
