Iowa State delivered a stellar performance Saturday night, defeating Kansas State 29-21 at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium. This victory marked the Cyclones’ first 10-win season in program history and solidified their place in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship Game.
The 17th-ranked Cyclones (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) relied on Rocco Becht’s three touchdowns and a relentless defense that came through with pivotal stops. A subsequent BYU win over Houston confirmed Iowa State’s second trip to the Big 12 title game, where they will face No. 14 Arizona State.
Becht Leads the Way
Becht connected on touchdown passes of 15 yards to Jayden Higgins and 9 yards to Jaylin Noel, while also scoring on a 5-yard run. These efforts helped the Cyclones build a 24-14 halftime lead. Becht extended his streak to 16 consecutive games with a touchdown pass and climbed to fourth on Iowa State’s all-time list with 43 career TD passes. His 20 touchdown passes this season tie him for third in school history.
Kansas State Pushes Back
Kansas State (8-4, 5-4 Big 12) narrowed the margin to 24-21 in the third quarter with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Avery Johnson to Garrett Oakley. However, the Cyclone defense held firm, forcing a safety and adding a 20-yard field goal by Kyle Konrardy to secure the win. Jacob Ellis delivered the game-changing safety by pressuring Johnson into an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone—the program’s first safety since 2018.
Strong Defensive Plays
Iowa State’s defense was pivotal in the second half. Senior Darien Porter, in his final home game, blocked a crucial Kansas State field goal attempt early in the third quarter. Later, the defense held the Wildcats to a failed fourth-down attempt, ultimately sealing the victory.
Complementary Football Shines
The Cyclones capitalized on Kansas State’s early mistakes, with Myles Purchase recovering a fumble on the first play of the game. Becht later found Higgins for the first touchdown. Another Kansas State fumble led to Becht’s second touchdown pass, putting Iowa State ahead 17-7. Jaylin Noel’s contributions included six catches for 37 yards, pushing him past 1,000 receiving yards for the season alongside Higgins—the first duo in program history to achieve this feat.
Ground Game Takes Over
Iowa State’s rushing attack stepped up in the second half, amassing 187 yards on the ground. Abu Sama led the way with 81 yards on 15 carries, his best performance since late September. Carson Hansen added 58 yards, while Becht chipped in with 35 rushing yards.
Looking Ahead
No. 17 Iowa State now shifts focus to the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship Game against No. 14 Arizona State on Saturday, Dec. 7, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on ABC.