PRIMER: Iowa State Hosts West Virginia on Homecoming

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State hosts West Virginia for Homecoming Saturday inside Jack Trice Stadium, the Cyclones' fourth home game in the first five weeks. Kickoff for ISU's 113th Homecoming game is set for 11 a.m. on TNT.

Who: Iowa State (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) vs. West Virginia (3-1, 0-1 Big 12)
Where: MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium (61,500) – Ames, Iowa
When: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 – 11 a.m. (CT)
PURCHASE TICKETS | PURCHASE PARKING

The Links
WATCH: TNT
PxP: J.B. Long; Analyst: Mike Golic Jr.; Reporter: Jared Greenberg
LISTEN: Cyclone Radio Network – Varsity App, TuneIn Radio or Radio Affiliates
PxP: John Walters; Analyst: Eric Heft; Sideline: Ryan Harklau
GAME NOTES: ISU // WVU
LIVE STATS
2026 CYCLONE FOOTBALL YEARBOOK
MEDIA CENTER

INSIDE THE SERIES
13th Meeting
Overall: 6-6
Home: 3-3
Road: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
Rogers vs. WVU: 0-0
Last Meeting: 10/12/2024 (ISU 28, WVU 16)

CYCLONES vs. MOUNTAINEERS
Iowa State and West Virginia meet for the 13th time with the series all knotted up at 6-6, including 3-3 at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones have won five of the last six meetings. This will be West Virginia's first trip to Ames since 2022.

ISU has won the last three meetings at home by an average of 23 points. The Cyclones have had a 100-yard rusher or receiver in each of the last three meetings in the series.

One of the most memorable games in the series for Iowa State fans came in 2018 when a young freshman quarterback by the name of Brock Purdy made his first career start for the Cyclones against the visiting No. 6 Mountaineers. Purdy, who ended his ISU career owning/sharing 32 school records and is now the starting QB for the San Francisco 49ers, threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns as ISU upset WVU, 30-14.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
There are several notable changes to Cyclone football gameday in and around Jack Trice Stadium this season.

Fans are encouraged to check their email for detailed information and check out Cyclones.com for all gameday policies and procedures.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
West Virginia and head coach Rich Rodriguez enter the matchup against the Cyclones with a 3-1 record. Though it is Rodriguez's ninth season in total leading the Mountaineers, he is in his first season back at the school since leaving following the 2007 season.

The Mountaineers rely on a run-heavy offense and have been one of the best in the country toting the rock so far this season. West Virginia ranks fourth nationally averaging 294.8 rush yards per game. Dual threat quarterback runs the high-tempo offense with great effectiveness. He has 609 passing yards (5 TD, 1 INT) and 425 rushing yards and an impressive nine rushing touchdowns, the second-most nationally this season. Running back Cam Cook already has 510 rush yards and three touchdowns this season.

Defensively, West Virginia is allowing 24.8 points and 144.3 rush yards per game this season. Linebacker Isaiah Patterson leads the defense with 30 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, this season.

STAT COMPARISON
ISU		WVU
30.8	Scoring (PPG)	36.3
180.5	Rushing Yards Per Game	294.8
5.0	Rushing Yards Per Carry	5.1
8	Rush TDs	13
164.8	Passing Yards Per Game	165.8
52-94-3	Comp-Att-Int	39-65-1
5	Passing TDs	6
345.3	Total Yards Per Game	460.5
2-1	Fumbles-Lost	3-2
19-195	Penalties-Yards	19-143

RUNNING THE BALL
Iowa State and offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl have made it a focus to run the ball even when the opponent knows they're running it. ISU's 722 rushing through four games are the eighth-most by any Cyclone team dating back to 1995.

The Cyclones have rushed for 100 yards in 21 consecutive games, the longest streak among Power-4 teams and sixth-longest active streak nationally.

Running back Aiden Flora is Iowa State's leading rusher with 382 yards and three rush TDs this season while quarterback Jaylen Raynor has scampered for 137 yards and three TDs.

Aiden Flora

OTHER NOTABLES

Last time out, Iowa State dropped a 31-17 result to No. 15 Utah in its Big 12 opener. The Utes raced out to a 24-3 halftime lead before the Cyclones were able to get within one score at 24-17 with 10:48 left following second-half touchdowns from Jaylen Raynor and Dominic Overby.
Running back Aiden Flora has 100-plus all-purpose yards in two-straight games. He totaled 296 all-purpose yards (196 rushing, 92 punt return, 10 receiving) against Bowling Green, the seventh-best single-game total in program history, and 107 (54 rushing, 53 passing) against Utah.
Iowa State is 100 percent in the red zone this season, scoring touchdowns on 8-of-12 possessions and field goals on the other four.
ISU has outscored opponents 47-16 in the second half of games, including 23-0 in the third quarter.
Raynor has thrown a TD pass in six-consecutive games, the longest stretch of his career.
ISU is allowing 272.5 yards of total offense per game, which ranks 26th nationally and fifth in the Big 12 Conference.
Cyclone opponents are converting just 28.3 percent of third-down opportunities, fourth-best among Big 12 teams.
Opponents have reached the ISU red zone just seven times, tied for third-fewest among Big 12 teams.
Linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen is second in the Big 12 averaging 8.8 tackles per game.
Carson Willich has a career-best 5.0 tackles for loss, including at least one in each game this season.

CYCAST WITH THE CYCLONE RADIO CREW
John Walters, Eric Heft and Ryan Harklau sit down to preview West Virginia ahead of this weekend's game.

To listen, CLICK HERE.

Cyclone Football Radio Crew - Ryan Harklau, John Walters, Eric Heft

WEEKLY MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Jimmy Rogers, Tyler Roehl, Austin Barrett, Dominic Overby, Willie Breland III and Max Baloun spoke with the media on Tuesday. Watch their interviews below.