AMES — Iowa State clawed its way back from a 21-point halftime deficit, but No. 15 Utah had the final answer Saturday, September 26, handing the Cyclones a 31-17 loss in their Big 12 football opener at Jack Trice Stadium.
Jaylen Raynor’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Overby pulled Iowa State within 24-17 with 10:48 remaining. The Cyclones forced a punt and got the ball back with a chance to tie, but their offense stalled, and Utah responded with the touchdown drive that settled the game.
The loss dropped Iowa State to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers. Utah improved to 4-0 and 1-0 before a crowd of 52,150.
One week after Iowa State overwhelmed Bowling Green 55-7 behind Aiden Flora’s big rushing performance, the Cyclones found themselves chasing an opponent that struck almost immediately.
Utah lands the early blows
Wayshawn Parker needed just one offensive play to put the Utes ahead, breaking loose for a 54-yard touchdown run with only 16 seconds gone.
Utah added a 90-yard touchdown drive later in the opening quarter, capped by Devon Dampier’s 24-yard scoring pass to Braden Pegan. Dillon Curtis followed with a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter, building a 17-0 lead.
Iowa State finally answered with Kyle Konrardy’s 47-yard field goal after a 13-play possession, but Utah quickly restored control. Parker finished a 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run, sending the Cyclones into halftime trailing 24-3.
The Utes scored twice in the first quarter, doubling the seven first-quarter points Iowa State had allowed across its first three games combined.
Cyclones fight back into contention
Iowa State made a game of it after the break.
Raynor capped a 12-play, 82-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 24-10.
The Cyclones then put together another lengthy scoring march, traveling 81 yards in 11 plays. Raynor found Overby for the receiver’s first touchdown of the season, cutting Utah’s lead to seven and giving Iowa State a realistic shot at completing the comeback.
The defense forced a punt, but Iowa State’s next possession went backward. After getting the ball at their own 27 with 8:50 remaining, the Cyclones punted from their 23.
Utah seized the opening.
The Utes drove 61 yards in seven plays and burned 4:28 off the clock. Dampier finished the possession with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Parker with 2:58 left, pushing the margin back to 14.
Jackson Bennee intercepted Raynor on Iowa State’s next offensive play, further draining the Cyclones’ comeback hopes.
Parker powers Utah past Cyclone defense
Parker finished with 174 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, averaging 9.7 yards per attempt. He also caught five passes for 65 yards and a touchdown, producing 239 yards from scrimmage and three scores.
Utah rushed for 205 yards, ending Iowa State’s five-game streak of holding opponents below 100 yards on the ground. That streak had been tied for the longest in the country.
Dampier completed 18 of 27 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Utah outgained Iowa State 411-316.
Raynor finished 21-of-40 passing for a season-high 205 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He added 27 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Flora led Iowa State with 54 rushing yards and caught a career-high five passes for 53 yards. Omari Hayes also made five catches, finishing with a team-high 55 receiving yards. Overby caught three passes for 42 yards.
Sullivan Schlimgen led the Cyclone defense with a career-high 12 tackles. Duhron Goodman added a career-best nine, Brody Miller recorded a career-high eight, and Carson Willich collected his first career sack.
Konrardy’s field goal kept him perfect on five attempts from inside 50 yards this season and helped move him past 200 career kicking points.
West Virginia next for Homecoming
Iowa State stays in Ames to host West Virginia on Saturday, October 3, for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Central, with coverage on TNT, truTV and HBO Max.
That game continues the home stretch outlined when Iowa State released its 2026 football schedule, giving the Cyclones an immediate opportunity to even their conference record.
Utah has an open date October 3 before hosting Kansas on Saturday, October 10, at Rice-Eccles Stadium. A kickoff time was not listed on Utah’s schedule.