Iowa State’s 2023 football season was a roller coaster. It started with a disappointing in-state rivalry loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes, surrendering the Cy-Hawk trophy, as well as a controversial loss to non-Power 5 Ohio thanks in part to a missed field goal that appeared to be good. However, the squad recovered and finished 4th in a tough Big 12, ahead of schools like Kansas State and Kansas. The Cyclones narrowly lost to Kansas, beat Kansas State, and hung around against #7-ranked Texas. They also had a decisive road win at Baylor that, at the time, put them in a five-way tie for first at the top of the Big 12. Here’s what we can learn from that win.
The Iowa State Offense Is Inconsistent
Iowa State entered its game against Baylor with a 4–1 record in conference play, thanks largely to a defense that we will get to shortly. However, the offense has taken a bit longer to find its legs. Redshirt freshman Rocco Becht took most of the quarterbacking duties in 2023 after attempting just 15 passes as a redshirt in 2022. He heated up down the stretch, but this game showed how enigmatic the offense can be. Against a bad Baylor squad that featured one of the worst defenses in college football, Becht had a mediocre showing, completing just over 60% of his passes and throwing a bad interception.
Despite that, the offense showed why it has promise and how it hung 42 on Kansas State just a few weeks later, a defense that was among the best in the country. The Cyclones accounted for 400 yards of total offense and left points on the board thanks to multiple first-half turnovers. They did so behind a strong rushing attack that included 90 yards from Eli Sanders on just 14 carries and two touchdowns from Cartevious Norton, a pair of performances surely noted by fans following this live NCAA football score. The offense had work to do to become a true contender, but showed signs of life in this game, which ultimately ended with Iowa State beating Baylor 30–18.
The Iowa State Defense Is Stifling
The offense is a bit inconsistent; the Iowa State defense is anything but. The defense gave up just 21 points per game, 35th best in the nation, and showed why against Baylor. The Cyclones surrendered just over 300 total yards of offense and created two turnovers. Further, the 18 points given up don’t tell the full story. Baylor’s only touchdown in the first half came after a Becht interception in what would have likely been a scoreless first half.
The defense was dominant in that first half, forcing two three-and-outs, another punt, a fumble, and an interception in the first half. They struggled a bit in the second half, giving up back-to-back touchdown drives late in the 3rd quarter and into the 4th quarter, but only after Iowa State had busted the lead open at 27–6. The two touchdowns came during garbage time and the defense got back on track after the two touchdowns, forcing turnovers on downs the final two drives of the game. It was another impressive showing from the young team.
The Cyclones Are An Elite Road Team
The biggest thing we learned from this game, and what was to come, is that this Cyclones team was starting to learn how to win on the road. After losing their first two road games, this win was the second of a four-game road winning streak that included a 42–35 win over #19 Kansas State in the last week of the regular season. Most of these wins weren’t close either, beating Cincinnati 30–10 and BYU 45–13. The win against Baylor put them in a five-way tie atop the Big 12.
While teams like Baylor, Cincinnati, and BYU were at the bottom of the conference, these wins did show maturity in the group to be able to take care of business against inferior competition. That maturity showed in their peak win of the season at Kansas State. It’s also an excellent win to take into a 2024 season that will come with more expectations.
Where Can Iowa State Improve?
Of course, the success on the road is somewhat masked by losses at home to Kansas and Texas. They will need to improve at home going into next season. However, even those losses were encouraging, as the Cyclones rallied from a 21–3 second-half deficit against the Jayhawks to make it a one-possession game in the final five minutes of the game. They also fought tough against a Texas team that went to the College Football Playoff. The Cyclones had the ball down 17–9 late in the 3rd quarter with a chance to tie the game before a Becht interception doomed Iowa State. With Oklahoma and Texas leaving the Big 12, an improved Cyclones team could improve next season in the conference.
What Was The Biggest Takeaway From The Baylor Win?
Ultimately, the win against Baylor showed that Iowa State is able to take care of business on the road. While Baylor isn’t an impressive win, it often shows more about a team and how they play against bad opponents, especially on the road. In this instance, the Cyclones answered the call.
