No. 16 Iowa State vs. Baylor Primer

AMES, Iowa - No. 16 Iowa State puts its unbeaten record on the line Saturday under the lights at Jack Trice Stadium. The game has been dubbed a "White Out." The Cyclones look to improve to 5-0 overall for the first time since 1980 and just the fifth time ever. ISU's last 2-0 start in conference play came in 2020.

Who: No. 16 Iowa State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) vs. Baylor (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)
Where: MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium (61,500) – Ames, Iowa
When: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 – 6:30 p.m. CT
PURCHASE TICKETS (The game is officially sold out. Verified resale tickets are available) | PURCHASE PARKING

The Links
WATCH: FOX
PxP: Tim Brando; Analyst: Devin Gardner; Sideline: Josh Sims
LISTEN: Cyclone Radio Network – Varsity App, TuneIn Radio or Radio Affiliates
PxP: John Walters; Analyst: Eric Heft; Sideline: Ryan Harklau
LIVE STATS
IOWA STATE GAME NOTES
2024 FOOTBALL YEARBOOK
GAME PROGRAM
MEDIA CENTER

INSIDE THE SERIES
23rd Meeting
Overall: 10-12
Home: 6-5
Road: 4-7
Campbell vs. Baylor: 4-4
Last Meeting: 10/28/23 | ISU 30, BU 18

GAME PROMOTIONS
Get to your seats early because Jack Trice Stadium is sure to be rocking Saturday night with a white-out, fireworks for the team entrance and a halftime drone show on the docket.

50 SEASONS AT JACK TRICE STADIUM
Iowa State's is in its 50^th season of play at Jack Trice Stadium. Learn more about the stadium's history by clicking here.

NUMBERS OF NOTE
3 - J.R. Singleton leads the team with three sacks this season. Dating back to last season, he has 6.5 sacks in his last 14 games.

6 - Jayden Higgins has caught a touchdown pass in six consecutive games, the nation's longest active streak and a school record.

8.1 - Since the start of the 2021 season, ISU has allowed just 340 points in the second half of its 42 games, an average of 8.1 points. This season, ISU is allowing just 3.3 points and 108 yards in the second half of games.

11 - Iowa State has been in the red zone 15 times this season, scoring 11 touchdowns. In Campbell's tenure, ISU has been one of the nation's best inside the red zone. Las season, the Cyclones were a perfect 25-for-25 in Big 12 play, topping the league.

CAMPBELL IS ISU's WINNINGEST COACH
Last weekend, Matt Campbell became ISU's winningest football coach when he picked up his 57th win at the school, surpassing Dan McCarney's previous mark. He is in his ninth season leading the program, the third-longest tenured coach in ISU history and tied for the third-longest active tenure in the Big 12 Conference. in school history, only McCarney (1995-2006) and Clay Stapleton (1958-67) had longer tenures.

Matt Campbell - Beau Freyler (2024)

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE

Iowa State's defense, under the direction of Jon Heacock, leads the Big 12 and ranks fourth nationally allowing just 7.3 points per game.
ISU's last two opponents have not run a play in the red zone and have reached it just five times in four games.
The Cyclone passing defense has been stout, yielding just 102.5 yards per game and leading the nation in pass efficiency defense (73.20). Iowa State has yet to allow an opponent to pass for more than 125 yards this season, one of just two schools that can claim that feat (Minnesota).
Overall, ISU is allowing just 255.3 yards of total offense which ranks No. 11 nationally and tops in the Big 12.
The Cyclone defense has a +7 turnover margin, which ranks fifth nationally and leads the Big 12. Five different Cyclones have combined for seven interceptions to rank among the nation's top 10. Since the start of the 2023 season, ISU has 23 interceptions in 17 games.

BIG PLAYS
Iowa State's offensive playmakers have the ability to score anytime from anywhere. Since last season, the Cyclone offense has 15 plays of 50 or more yards, including four this season. The ISU offense also has 12 scoring drives of under 1:00, four of which have occurred this season.

Rocco Becht has a 50-yard pass in six of his last eight games while Abu Sama has six career rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards.

Total 50-Yard Offensive Plays Since 2023
Player	Number of Plays
Jaylin Noel	6
Abu Sama III	6
Jayden Higgins	3

OTHER KEY STORYLINES

Iowa State enters October after posting its first perfect September since 2011. Matt Campbell is 19-11 in October, including a 3-0 mark in 2023.
The Cyclones stayed perfect this season with a 20-0 shutout win against Houston last Saturday, ISU's first conference road shutout since 1971.
Jeremiah Cooper has an interception in back-to-back games and seven picks in his career.
Rocco Becht has a TD pass in eight-straight games after connecting with Jayden Higgins at Houston. He saw his streak of games with two TD passes come to an end at seven-consecutive games on Saturday. Becht surpassed 4,000 career passing yards, the 10th player in school history to reach the mark.

CYCAST WITH THE CYCLONE RADIO CREW
John Walters, Eric Heft and Ryan Harklau sit down to preview Iowa State's primetime showdown against Baylor. The podcast is presented by Van Wall Equipment.

To listen, CLICK HERE.

WEEKLY MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Matt Campbell, Jon Heacock, Rocco Becht, Jaylon Jackson, Carson Brown and J.R. Singleton met with the media on Tuesday. Watch their interviews below.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Rocco Becht

Carson Brown

Jeremiah Cooper

Jayden Higgins

Jaylon Jackson

Jaylin Noel

Abu Sama III

J.R. Singleton

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics