Completed Event: Football versus #17 Kansas State on August 23, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 21
Final
Football
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#17 Kansas State
21
Iowa State University Athletics
Saturday, October 14
Cincinnati, Ohio
11:00 AM
Iowa State University
4-3 , 3-1
30
at
10
Cincinnati
2-4 , 0-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Iowa St.
3
14
6
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30
Cincinnati
7
0
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10
ISU Stifles Cincy; Earns First Big 12 Road Win, 30-10
10.14.2023 | Football
CINCINNATI – Iowa State defeated Cincinnati 30-10 on Saturday afternoon at Nippert Stadium, starting the Big 12 season 3-1 for the fifth time under Matt Campbell. With the win, Coach Campbell earned his 50th win at ISU.
Jayden Higgins had his best game as a Cyclone, corralling six catches for 172 yards, including a season-high 72-yard catch. Higgins' 72-yard reception was also the longest career pass for quarterback Rocco Becht.
Iowa State (4-3, 3-1 Big 12) punted just two times on the day and held the Bearcats to a season-low 99 passing yards to secure its second-straight conference victory. Cincinnati (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) dropped its homecoming bout to the Cyclones, turning the ball over twice on the day to remain winless in conference action.
Becht completed 15-25 passes on the afternoon, amassing 241 yards through the air and tossing a pair of touchdowns. Becht has now thrown for at least one touchdown in all seven games as a starter, as he hit five different receivers in the rain. Becht also attempted a career-high 10 rushes on the day, securing his second rush touchdown of the season.
The Cyclone defense continued to turn over its opponent, as today ISU won the turnover margin 2-0, using a pair of interceptions from T.J. Tampa and Jeremiah Cooper. The Cyclone defense has had six interceptions over the last two games, and Cooper grabbed his fifth on the season, making him one of the nation's top ball-hawks. Iowa State now has 12 interceptions on the season and is +7 on the turnover margin.
The game started with Cincinnati receiving the opening kickoff and failing to convert on third down at their own 40, as Emory Jones missed a wide-open receiver, setting the offensive tone for the Bearcats.
The Cyclones would end up needing to punt the ball back after the third down stop but turned the Bearcats over almost immediately as Tampa snagged his second pick of the year off of Jones to put the Cyclones in prime position. Freshman tight end Benjamin Brahmer just missed hauling in a highlight, one-handed touchdown, and ISU had to settle for three as Chase Contreraz put ISU up 3-0.
Our Ball! @Tamp1A
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 14, 2023
🌪️🚨🌪️
pic.twitter.com/PrTYFpOZC3
Following an ISU touchback, the Bearcats marched the field and used a bit of trickeration to score their only touchdown of the day as tight end Chamon Metayer lined up as a tackle and snuck up the seam uncovered for six.
Iowa State followed Cincy's score with one of their own, eventually punching one in on a Becht QB-keeper that capped off a season-long 17-play scoring drive. The drive featured a Contreraz fake field goal first down and an ill-advised Cincinnati roughing the passer to keep the drive alive as ISU retook the lead, 10-7.
Contreraz Up The Gut!
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 14, 2023
🌪️🚨🌪️
pic.twitter.com/XRGA59kGBw
The ISU defense forced another stop, getting the ball back up three with 5:22 left on its own 19. The drive started with the aforementioned Becht to Higgins 72-yard bomb, which set the Cyclones up in prime position at the Cincinnati six. Three plays later, Becht found Brahmer in the end zone to extend the Iowa State lead to 17-7.
Seven-straight games with a Passing Touchdown for @RoccoBecht!
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 14, 2023
🌪️🚨🌪️
pic.twitter.com/IzH3FTcQFD
After exchanging possessions, Cincy got one last chance before the half, starting at their own 20 with 47 seconds on the clock. The Bearcats were able to push the ball to the ISU 41, but being outside of FG range, had to attempt a shot to the end zone as time expired. Jones' pass would be intercepted by Cooper as the teams went to the locker rooms.
Six Picks in the last Six Quarters!
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 14, 2023
🌪️🚨🌪️
pic.twitter.com/80WPY0tTth
Iowa State held Cincinnati to 1/6 on third down in the first half, allowing the lone conversion with just 23 seconds remaining.
After deferring at the start of the game, Iowa State got the ball to start the second stanza. Jaylin Noel took the opening kick back 72 yards to set up the Cyclones with another prime starting spot at the Cincinnati 28.
The Cyclones were unable to find the endzone despite the great starting point, and Contreraz once again converted a field goal to put the Cyclones up 20-7.
Four-straight games with multiple field goals for @ChaseContreraz
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 14, 2023
🌪️🚨🌪️
pic.twitter.com/zfjCvNNwqi
Cincy strung together its second scoring drive of the afternoon, getting a field goal off a 15-play drive to half the ISU lead, 20-10.
Following a Bearcat squib kick, Iowa State was able to start at its own 43-yard line, using five plays to set up another Contreraz field goal, which he knocked through from 30 yards out. Contreraz's three field goals on the day were a single-game high for the senior.
Contreraz Connects!
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 14, 2023
🌪️🚨🌪️
pic.twitter.com/IZSXfw4QI5
ISU's defense again held strong as Cincy got the ball back, forcing another punt and starting a new drive at its own 31. Higgins had another big catch, this time for 31 yards, as Iowa State looked to score the dagger in the fourth. That dagger came five plays later as Becht found Stevo Klotz in the back right of the endzone for the tight end's first career touchdown to give the Cyclones a 30-10 lead.
Stevo Gets Up! @RoccoBecht ➡️ @stevo_klotz
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 14, 2023
🌪️🚨🌪️
pic.twitter.com/Zuy7jmRvlj
The two teams would each have two more possessions before the clock hit zero as Iowa State earned its first Big 12 road win of the season.
The Cyclones have now won 18 straight games when leading at half and are 39-5 under Campbell when leading at the break.
Iowa State will be idle next week, taking its lone second place ranking into the off week.
Team Stats
ISU
CIN
Total Yards
364
214
Pass Yards
241
99
Rushing Yards
123
115
Penalty Yards
55
49
1st Downs
17
15
3rd Downs
5
3
4th Downs
3
1
TOP
33:40
26:20
1st Quarter
ISU 3, CIN 0
ISU - Contreraz,Chase 30 yd field goal 6 plays, 23 yards, TOP 02:12
ISU 3, CIN 7
CIN - Metayer,Chamon 20 yd pass from Jones,Emory (Brown,Carter kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:49
2nd Quarter
ISU 10, CIN 7
ISU - Becht,Rocco 2 yd run (Contreraz,Chase kick), 15 plays, 59 yards, TOP 07:45
ISU 17, CIN 7
ISU - Brahmer,Benjamin 14 yd pass from Becht,Rocco (Contreraz,Chase kick) 5 plays, 81 yards, TOP 01:39
3rd Quarter
ISU 20, CIN 7
ISU - Contreraz,Chase 34 yd field goal 7 plays, 12 yards, TOP 04:03
ISU 20, CIN 10
CIN - Brown,Carter 36 yd field goal 14 plays, 56 yards, TOP 06:42
ISU 23, CIN 10
ISU - Contreraz,Chase 30 yd field goal 6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 02:53
4th Quarter
ISU 30, CIN 10
ISU - Klotz,Stevo 13 yd pass from Becht,Rocco (Contreraz,Chase kick) 7 plays, 69 yards, TOP 04:05
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
15
TD
2
YDS
241
INT
0
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
PK
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
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