Breaking Down Flora's Big Game: Awards, Stats, Notes & More

This story will be updated throughout the week with additional honors and recognitions (Last update: 10/6/2026 at 11 a.m.).

AMES, Iowa - The weekly awards continue to pile up for Iowa State running back Aiden Flora after he accounted for five touchdowns and rushed for 212 yards last weekend against West Virginia. On Tuesday, the Cyclone was named Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week, Paul Hornung Award National Player of the Week and Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week.

Flora was already named the AP National Player of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

FLORA'S 2026 WEEKLY HONORS

Week 3 (vs. Bowling Green)
- Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
- Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week

Week 5 (vs. West Virginia)
- AP National Player of the Week
- Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
- Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week
- Paul Hornung Award National Player of the Week
- Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week

Flora had the best game of his career last 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. His 212 rush yards against the Mountaineers are the sixth-most in a game by an FBS player 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).

Flora's Plays of 30-Plus Yards (Career)
Play Type	Yds.	Opponent (Year)
Punt Return*	79	TCU (2025)
Punt Return*	66	Bowling Green (2026)
Punt Return	66	South Dakota (2025)
Rush*	63	West Virginia (2026)
Rush*	61	Bowling Green (2026)
Punt Return	51	South Dakota (2025)
Pass*	46	West Virginia (2026)
Rush*	42	Bowling Green (2026)
Rush*	38	Kansas (2025)
Rush	38	Bowling Green (2026)
Punt Return	36	SEMO (2026)
Rush	34	Iowa (2026)
Kick Return	34	Kansas State (2025)
Reception	30	Utah (2026)

*Denotes scoring play.

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.

Flora's NCAA Stat Rankings
Statistic	National Rank	Value
All-Purpose Yards/Game	4	157.0
Punt Return Yards/Game	9	17.9
Rush Yards/Carry	3	8.1
Rush TDs	9	6
Rush Yards	7	594
Rush Yards/Game	7	118.8

OTHER FLORA NOTABLES

Flora joined the program as a walk-on in 2024 and was placed on scholarship prior to the 2026 season by head coach Jimmy Rogers.
One of the most versatile players in the country, Flora is the third player in Big 12 history, and the first since 2017, with a passing, rushing and punt return TD in the same season.
Three-straight games with 100-plus all-purpose yards.
Two career punt return TDs ... his four career punt returns of 50-plus yards are the most among active FBS players.
Averaging 157.0 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks No. 4 nationally and leads the Big 12.
Has 17 rushes of 10-plus yards this season, tied for the fifth-most nationally and the second-most in the Big 12.
Flora is the fifth Cyclone to receive a Walter Camp National Player of the Week Award (Todd Blythe, 2005; Jesse Smith, 2009; Jordan Harris, 2015; Joel Lanning, 2017).

big weekend for @FloraAiden 🔥 https://t.co/JxT3dSR0dm
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) October 5, 2026