Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Beau Freyler (17) celebrates after his interception against the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Game Day Info
No. 18 Iowa State (10-3, 7-3 Big 12) vs. No. 13 Miami (10-2, 6-2 ACC)
Location: Orlando, Florida
Stadium: Camping World Stadium (60,219)
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
TV: ABC (Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic)
Radio: Varsity Network (John Walters, Eric Heft, Ryan Harklau)
Line: Miami -4.5 (via Action Network updated Friday)
Over/Under: 57
Series Results
This is the first ever meeting between Iowa State and Miami.
Transfer portal
It’s more of the norm in this era of college football that the big-name stars will sit out of their bowl games rather than suit up and risk injury ahead of the NFL Draft. However, both of these teams should have almost all of their contributors in action Saturday.
The Hurricanes will be down a starting receiver in Isaiah Horton. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound wideout entered the portal and is heading to Alabama. Horton was the biggest name to go to the portal for the Hurricanes, who otherwise didn’t see any major contributors go.
Iowa State’s biggest loss in the portal came from Tyler Onyedim. The junior defensive end was the first Cyclone starter to enter the portal from either the 2023 and 2024 teams following the season. Like Miami, Iowa State should be at full-go (aside from the barrage of linebacker injuries this year) Saturday.
Players to watch
Carson Hansen, running back (Iowa State)
We saw Hansen break out during the middle of the season for the rushing attack, but he’s been on somewhat of a ‘pitch count’ after coming down with an injury this year. The hope for Cyclone fans is that three weeks off between the Big 12 Championship and this bowl game pays a big difference, and they see his best this week.
Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, wide receivers (Iowa State)
In their final game as Cyclones, Iowa State will call on the pair of 1,000-yard wideouts to show out. Both have shined in big games and this is no exception. Keep an eye on them Saturday.
Beau Freyler, star/defensive back (Iowa State)
Another senior that’s put his body on the line – literally – throughout his career in Ames. Take in whatever you can of Feyler’s final game in an Iowa State uniform.
Cam Ward, quarterback (Miami)
This is an easy one. The Heisman finalist has wowed college football fans all season, finishing the regular season with 4,123 yards along with 36 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. All indications are pointing to Ward playing Saturday.
Xavier Restrepo, wide receiver (Miami)
The Miami senior is Ward’s favorite target. He collected 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns on 69 receptions this season. He’s projected to go in the first few rounds of the draft. Restrepo, along with Miami’s other pair of top targets in Jacolby Long and tight end Elijah Arroyo, have not announced that they will not be playing.
Mishael Powell, defensive back (Miami)
The ball-hawk is among the nation’s best, corralling five interceptions on the season and nearing the top of Miami’s tackles list. Powell has 31 tackles on the year along with a sack and is the staple to the defensive back room for the Hurricanes.
Keys to the game
Air it out
If Miami has a weakness, it’s giving up yards through the air. Former Texas Tech gunslinger Tyler Shough (now at Louisville) put 342 yards on the Hurricanes. Maalik Murphy had 325 for Duke in their loss to Miami, and Syracuse’s Kyle McCord ended with 380 in the regular season finale. Iowa State fans have seen Rocco Becht put up big numbers like this, but most of those performances came during his freshman year. It’s sure to be a shootout, with the nature of Miami’s offense, and Becht will need to be on his game for the Cyclones to win this one.
Protect the quarterback
Miami has three different players with 5.5 sacks this season. They’ve totaled 35 sacks through the year, which is good for tying for 22nd in the country in total sacks recorded. Although Kansas State is tied with the same amount, Miami will be the best team Iowa State has faced in that category. It’s a big spot for this offensive line.
Push Miami to run, but stay disciplined
The eyes are all going to be on Ward this week, but the Hurricanes rushing attack features a pair of 100-plus carry backs. Starter Damien Martinez ended the year with 823 yards and nine touchdowns while sophomore Mark Fletcher Jr. collected 545 yards and eight scores. Those are lesser numbers than the best of rushing attacks Iowa State has faced this year, but it’s a formidable threat. Paired with the freshman Jordan Lyle, who has the ability to break things open for large gains, and Ward’s athleticism being a threat to run at any time, Iowa State’s defense will have to stay disciplined in its attack.
