Completed Event: Football versus Southeast Missouri on September 5, 2026 , Win , 38, to, 10
Iowa State University Athletics
Flora’s AP National Player of the Week Nod Headlines Weekly Awards
10.05.2026 | Football
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State running back Aiden Flora was named the AP National Player of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. The Cyclone offensive line was also tabbed as the Big 12's Offensive Line of the Week.
Running behind an offensive line unit that continues to improve each week, Flora had the best game of his career in Iowa State's thrilling 45-42 win over West Virginia Saturday. He was responsible for five total touchdowns in the game, the most nationally by any running back in a game this season.
The redshirt-sophomore rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns and threw for a pair of touchdowns to become the ninth FBS player, and first Big 12 player, since 1996 with two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and 200 yards rushing in a game. He is the first non-quarterback to do so.
Flora is responsible for the two best rushing performances in the Big 12 this season (212 vs. WVU, 194 vs. BGSU) and is one of two FBS players with two games of 190-plus yards rushing this season.
Flora's 63-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the longest of his career. He now has three rushing touchdowns of 40-plus yards this season (63, 61, 42) and is responsible for five scoring plays of 40-plus yards (46-yard TD pass, 66-yard punt return).
The Adel, Iowa native relived his high school quarterback glory days as he threw for 48 yards and two touchdowns to become just the second running back in Big 12 history with two touchdown passes in a game (Rex Burkhead, Nebraska, 2010). Flora's 46-yard touchdown pass to Cody Jackson was the first TD pass by a Cyclone running back since 2009 and the first by an ISU non-QB since 2021. He later connected with his high school teammate, Vince Benetti, for a 2-yard touchdown pass.
Flora averaged 9.6 yards per rush against the Mountaineers and is averaging 8.1 yards per carry on the season, the third-best mark nationally and best in the Big 12. Flora has 594 rushing yards on the season, which ranks seventh nationally and second in the Big 12.
Overall, the offensive line unit paved the way for ISU's 265-yard rushing performance against West Virginia, Iowa State's 22nd-straight game with 100-plus rushing yards. That streak is the longest in the Big 12 and sixth-longest in FBS. Iowa State is averaging 197.4 rushing yards per game this season.
The Cyclones are back in action Friday at BYU. Kickoff is set for 9:15 p.m. (CT) on ESPN.
FLORA'S 2026 WEEKLY HONORS
Week 3
- Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
- Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week
Week 5
- AP National Player of the Week
- Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
- Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week
Players Mentioned
Monday, October 05
Saturday, October 03
Saturday, October 03
Thursday, October 01
