TUCSON, ARIZONA — Iowa State surrendered a 71-yard touchdown pass on Arizona’s second offensive play and never recovered Saturday, October 24, falling 39-3 as the No. 25 Wildcats shut down the Cyclones’ running game and controlled the game.
The loss dropped Iowa State to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12. Arizona improved to 6-1 and 3-1 before a crowd of 45,477 at Casino Del Sol Stadium.
The defeat followed Iowa State’s 24-10 loss at No. 8 BYU in Provo, leaving the Cyclones with consecutive road losses to ranked opponents and just 13 combined points across those two games.
The 36-point margin was Iowa State’s largest defeat since a 62-14 loss to No. 4 TCU in 2022. It also marked the Cyclones’ first single-digit scoring performance since a 10-7 loss at Ohio in 2023.
Arizona takes control immediately
Arizona needed just 31 seconds to strike. Noah Fifita connected with Isaiah Mizell for a 71-yard touchdown, and Henry Gabalis passed to Tyler Powell for a two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.
The Wildcats followed with a methodical 13-play, 80-yard drive that consumed nearly seven minutes. Quincy Craig finished it with a six-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 15-0 with 5:50 remaining in the first quarter.
Iowa State answered with its only scoring drive. Kyle Konrardy’s 40-yard field goal capped a seven-play, 53-yard possession and cut the deficit to 15-3 with 1:06 left in the quarter.
Arizona kept pulling away. Michael Salgado-Medina drilled a 53-yard field goal early in the second quarter, and Kedrick Reescano’s five-yard touchdown run finished a 15-play, 80-yard march for a 25-3 halftime lead.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. Arizona added two fourth-quarter touchdowns, with Fifita finding Gabalis for a 40-yard score before backup quarterback Sawyer Anderson scored on a four-yard run.
Cyclones’ rushing streak ends
Iowa State managed just 221 total yards against Arizona’s 477 and finished with 52 rushing yards on 31 attempts.
That ended a streak of 23 consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards — the longest active streak in the Big 12 and fifth-longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision entering the game.
Aiden Flora led the Cyclones with 36 yards on 12 carries. Connor Moberly added 20 net rushing yards on 10 attempts.
Starting quarterback Jaylen Raynor completed eight of 10 passes for 106 yards but lost a fumble. His career-best streak of eight consecutive games with a touchdown pass ended.
Moberly completed seven of 17 passes for 63 yards, setting career highs for completions, attempts and passing yards. Arizona recorded four sacks for 31 yards in losses.
Vince Benetti led Iowa State’s receivers with a career-high three catches for 42 yards, including a career-long 32-yard reception. Ty Claiborne and Flora also caught three passes apiece.
The Cyclones converted just three of 14 third-down attempts and one of three fourth-down tries. Arizona held the ball for 34:26 and converted seven of 14 third downs.
Fifita and Mizell lead Wildcats
Fifita completed 27 of 34 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Mizell caught all eight passes thrown his way for 134 yards and the opening touchdown.
Craig led Arizona’s ground attack with 51 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Reescano added 41 yards and a score on eight attempts.
Arizona finished with 24 first downs to Iowa State’s 14.
Schlimgen posts career-high 15 tackles
Sullivan Schlimgen led Iowa State’s defense with a career-high 15 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack. It was his fourth consecutive game with double-digit tackles and the first 15-tackle performance by a Cyclone since Beau Freyler in 2023.
Carson Willich also reached a career high with 10 tackles. Beau Goodwin, Brady Hummel and Seth Johnson each finished with six.
Konrardy’s field goal provided one of Iowa State’s few offensive highlights. It was his 44th career make, tying him for fourth in school history, and moved him past Jamie Kohl into fourth place with 219 career kicking points.
The kick also extended Iowa State’s school-record streak without being shut out to 196 games, dating to 2010.
Oklahoma State visits next
Iowa State returns to Jack Trice Stadium to host Oklahoma State on Saturday, October 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central, according to the Cyclones’ official schedule.