Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) is held up by Miami Hurricanes defensive back Markeith Williams (15) in the third quarter during the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The conversation about whether bowl games ‘matter’ or not is still as fluid as ever, but there’s no sign of that in and around Ames after Iowa State’s Pop Tarts Bowl win over No. 13 Miami.
Let’s talk about what we saw.
The standouts
Wide receiver Isaiah Alston caught his first pass a Cyclone – and it was a great one at that.
Alston finished with two receptions for 52 yards, and while it doesn’t necessarily jump off the page, it should.
Rocco Becht throws an absolute DIME to Isaiah Alston for the first catch of his Iowa State career! pic.twitter.com/ffndCwOnsH
— OutCYde the Lines (@OutCYdetheLines) December 28, 2024
Iowa State has tried its hand with a number of players to supplement Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins before they graduated, and Alston looked the part in this game.
It comes against a Miami secondary that wasn’t highly touted by any means, but it’s a step for the Army transfer. That’s one more name we’ll be talking about over the off-season, for sure.
Running back Carson Hansen, I thought, gave the latest example of Matt Campbell’s ‘Prove It,’ mantra in what he was able to do.
The sophomore running back scored three touchdowns in the first half after a season where he was on a ‘pitch count’ in more games than one.
The three weeks off gave Hansen some time to rest up and he’s undoubtedly Iowa State’s RB1 as things stand right now. Walk-on Aiden Flora was fun to watch as well.
While those performances will be remembered fondly, tight end Gabe Burkle may have had the best.
The sophomore could have been Iowa State’s MVP with the catches he made Saturday, including Iowa State’s first touchdown of the day.
Gabe Burkle : 4 catches for 54 yards & a TD on 6 targets pic.twitter.com/WxOP1SZYzL
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) December 29, 2024
I called for Burkle to be more consistent earlier this season – it was an immediate need when Ben Brahmer went down with his injury. Not only did Burkle step up, but he’s cemented himself as another regular target for this offense – something inherently important for this group, specifically.
If he can make another jump next season, Iowa State will feel a lot more comfortable in its passing attack.
The Black-and-white uniforms
Now to air some things out.
I’ll keep this short, but the arguments from those that don’t like the black-and-white uniform combos have become so disingenuous. It’s awful.
The arguments I’ve read against them include black and white not being ‘school colors.’ If they were, it wouldn’t change it.
I’ve read that it prevents Iowa State from establishing a brand, but it the helmets had the new script ‘Cyclones’ on them and I’ll let you know there isn’t another college that holds that nickname in the country above Division II.
Y’all could be Penn State fans and have bland uniforms that look like they belong on a 2A high school team. Y’all could have jerseys without players’ names on the back during the boom of the NIL era.
Iowa State’s got something unique, just embrace it.
Cam Ward
Miami quarterback Cam Ward completed 12 of his 19 pass attempts for 190 yards and three touchdowns, but that all came in the first half before the Heisman finalist stood on the sidelines for the remainder of the game.
This move comes in an era where players projected to go in the early rounds of the NFL Draft choose to sit, or ‘opt out,’ of bowl games regularly.
That part is pretty annoying – I think we’d all rather see all the guys play that can – but I think most see both sides to it. If one of those guys gets hurt their futures change, and that can happen in any game. Those players, in most cases getting paid to play already, should be getting some for playing in the end-of-year, one-off showcase, too.
What Ward did on Saturday only comes off as selfish.
The threat of injury wasn’t an issue for Ward – that’s what playing the first 30 minutes shows.
Calling it quits afterwards shows you don’t care about the score, nor the teammates that played a 12 games alongside you.
There was some speculation that Ward stayed in the game to break Case Keenum’s NCAA Division I record for touchdown passes, but Ward stayed in the game after passing Keenum. And if that was still the reason, woof.
LOL, what advice is Cam Ward even giving?
“Opt out and they can’t blame you?” pic.twitter.com/21blVTPUUH
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 29, 2024
When asked after the game about the move, Miami coach Mario Cristobal essentially gave a ‘no comment.’
“All meetings with players, and decisions like that, we made them in private; We keep them in private,” Cristobal said after the game. “So, I’ll prefer not to answer any questions as it relates to that. But I know he played his best while he was in there.”
Whether Ward was given bad advice, or made the decision himself, it’s a bad look – one that begs an explanation in the coming days to save what face you can before the draft.
Without that? It’s maybe the most detrimental thing a player could do without pushing a guy’s helmet into a referee (which we saw later in the Military Bowl.
Beau Freyler’s career ends
While Miami’s ‘star player’ stood on the sidelines with two healthy legs, Iowa State’s star position defensive back in Beau Frelyer needed crutches to watch his team secure its most impressive bowl win in program history.
There are more that should be remembered forever in Iowa State lore, but Freyler put his body on the line more than anyone to ever rock the ̶c̶a̶r̶d̶i̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶&̶ ̶g̶o̶l̶d̶ black & white.
Thanks for everything Cap🫡 pic.twitter.com/auXZg4hoXI
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) December 29, 2024
…
I try to end these on a fun note, so I’ll just bring up one of those seniors. Go look at Jaylin Noel’s Twitter/X account if you’re a Cyclone fan. He’s running in Georges Niang’s trail.
