PRIMER: No. 11 Iowa State at West Virginia

AMES, Iowa - No. 11 Iowa State looks to extend its five-game road Big 12 winning streak when it travels to Morgantown to face West Virginia Saturday night. The Cyclones are 5-0 for the first time since 1980 and, with a win, would improve to 6-0 for just the second time in school history.

Who: No. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) at West Virginia (3-2, 2-0 Big 12)
Where: Milan Puskar Stadium (60,000) - Morgantown, W.Va.
When: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 – 7 p.m. (CT)

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
MEDIA CENTER

INSIDE THE SERIES
12th Meeting
Overall: 5-6
Home: 3-3
Road: 2-3
Campbell vs. West Virginia: 4-3
Last Meeting: 11/5/22 | ISU 31, WVU 14

NUMBERS OF NOTE
2 - Iowa State is one of 10 teams nationally with two blocked punts this season. It marks the first time the Cyclones have blocked two punts in a season since 2008.

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

8 - The Cyclone defense ranks No. 8 nationally and tops in the Big 12 with eight interceptions on the season. Three Cyclones - Darien Porter, Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams - have two interceptions on the year.

30 - Iowa State has scored 30-plus points in the last five meetings with West Virginia. The Cyclones are averaging 29.6 points per game against the Mountaineers in the Matt Campbell era.

ROAD WARRIORS
Iowa State has won five-consecutive Big 12 games, and six of its last seven overall, away from home.

Iowa State at Houston

HEACOCK'S DEFENSE
Iowa State's defense, under the direction of Jon Heacock, leads the Big 12 and ranks sixth nationally allowing just 10 points per game. Its passing defense has been stout, yielding just 133.6 yards per game (fifth nationally). Overall, ISU is allowing just 271.6 yards of total offense, 13th nationally and tops in the Big 12.

The longer the game goes, the better the defense gets. In the second half of games, ISU is giving up just 4.0 points and 112.0 yards and, in the fourth quarter, opponents are averaging 1.4 points.

Iowa State owns a turnover margin of +7, which ranks among the nation's Top 10. The Cyclones had 16 interceptions last season and have eight already in 2024, totaling 24 picks in the last 18 games.

Most Interceptions Since 2023 (FBS)
27	UNLV
25	Maryland, Oklahoma
24	Iowa State, Fresno State, Liberty, Michigan, Tulane

BIG PLAYS AND QUICK STRIKES
Iowa State's offense has the ability to score anytime from anywhere on the field. Since 2023, the Cyclones have 17 plays of 50 or more yards, including six this season. The ISU offense also has 12 scoring drives of under 1:00 in that time frame, four of which have occurred this season.

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

Running back Jaylon Jackson has a 50-yard rush in back-to-back games against Houston and West Virginia.

Jaylon Jackson vs. Baylor (2024)

OTHER KEY STORYLINES

Iowa State sits at 5-0 with an opportunity to start 6-0 for the first time since 1938. ISU's last 3-0 record open to Big 12 play came in 2020. Matt Campbell is 20-11 in October at ISU, including a 3-0 mark in 2023.
The Cyclones maintained their unblemished record last weekend with a 43-21 win against Baylor. ISU trailed 14-3 in the second quarter but outscored the Bears 40-7 the rest of the way while racking up 542 yards of total offense.
ISU had nine plays of 20 or more yards against the Bears, tied for the most by a Power-4 team against a conference foe this season.
Rocco Becht has a TD pass in nine-straight games after tossing two against Baylor, which is the fifth-longest streak in school history.
Becht's favorite tandem - Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel - has made it clear they are one of the nation's best pass-catching duos. Higgins extended his streak with a touchdown reception to seventh-straight games, breaking the school record and the nation's active leader, while Noel has two 100-yard games this season and a pair of scores. Against Baylor, the pair combined for 13 receptions for 214 yards and Higgins' score.

CYCAST WITH THE CYCLONE RADIO CREW
John Walters, Eric Heft and Ryan Harklau sit down to preview a key Iowa State road game at West Virginia. The podcast is presented by Van Wall Equipment.

To listen, CLICK HERE.

WEEKLY MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Matt Campbell, Taylor Mouser, Jaylin Noel, Jalen Travis, Benjamin Brahmer and Jontez Williams met with the media on Tuesday. Watch their interviews below.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Rocco Becht

Benjamin Brahmer

Jeremiah Cooper

Jayden Higgins

Jaylon Jackson

Jaylin Noel

Darien Porter

Jalen Travis

Jontez Williams

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics