Iowa State at The Voice of College Football

Episode Notes: Oklahoma State Preview | Times are Tough | Iowa State Cyclones LIVE #88 Hosts: Carter Hanson & Levi Stevenson (IowaStateVOCFB) Focus: Post-Arizona loss reflection, injury/depth realities, OSU preview, QB room, and film notes. Intro & Post-Arizona Mood (00:00:32 – ~03:50) Hosts acknowledge a tough weekend. Levi notes low motivation for the usual film review after the loss (“by far the worst film we’ve put up in a full game this year”). Carter compares it to last year’s Cincinnati and Colorado games—different kinds of disappointment. Key distinction drawn: last year felt like games they “should have” won; this year the blowout + inability to get healthy creates a heavier sense that more of the same may be coming. Progress is hard to measure when playing so many players who should still be getting practice reps rather than full-speed game reps. Effort is not the issue; roster reality and a harder-than-expected schedule are. Arizona Game Takeaways (~03:50 – ~19:30) Arizona’s aggression, stunts, and blitzing were a bad matchup given Iowa State’s current roster health and inability to punish the backend. Once Arizona stopped respecting the pass, they could pin their ears back. Moberly played the second half; Jimmy confirmed Jalen is starting again. Arizona is the fifth ranked opponent Iowa State will have faced this season (with OSU). Competitive showings came earlier in the year with more of the expected roster available. Current injuries (especially receivers: Dom Overby, Evan Boyd, Carter Paps) and depth issues have been decisive. O-line has been relatively healthy (except Caden Moss); Makai Satt started at left/right guard instead of DeAndre Carter and graded in the 50s–60s range (fine, not great). Most of the line graded “fine.” Biggest injured group impact: receivers. Overby was showing flashes before the injury. Bright spots: Tackling grades improved overall (Brady Hummel led at 83.4; Seth Johnson strong in run defense; several others 75+). Arizona’s 38 points attributed more to Iowa State’s offense failing to stay on the field (Arizona 73 plays, Iowa State 58) than pure defensive collapse. Defense made second-half adjustments. Jimmy’s message from the presser: no one is coming to save the team; this is the moment to show toughness and culture. Staff is identifying who is bought in vs. who is not (with portal implications). Oklahoma State Preview & Path Forward (~19:30 – ~25:00; returns later) Keys for Iowa State: Run the ball effectively, generate extended drives, eat clock, and win time of possession. OSU’s defense is not Arizona’s level (gives up yardage and points). Must finish red-zone trips with touchdowns, not field goals—cannot trade field goals for touchdowns against this offense. OSU context: Explosive offense led by Mestermaker (Heisman-caliber season; potential top-3/top-5 pick if he declares). Running game with Caleb Hawkins also solid. Limited blitzing relative to some teams. OSU has only allowed eight sacks on the year. Motivation angle for Jimmy Rogers: North Texas smoked Washington State last year (helped by WSU turnovers). OSU is vulnerable if Iowa State can control the clock and avoid giving up explosives, but the firepower makes it difficult. QB Room, Roster, and Future Outlook (~25:00 – ~39:00+) Triple option / more Peppers run discussion: Not practical mid-season. Requires extensive practice reps, a true dual-threat QB threat, and is vulnerable to blitzing teams. Flora has high-school option background but is not a quarterback; extra hits on him are undesirable. Limited special sets have been used, but no full package. Jalen Rayner evaluation: Not “bad” in the Zeb Nolan sense (not turning the ball over repeatedly). Inconsistent and not elevating the offense. Makes some nice throws (e.g., the reviewed sideline catch to Omari Hayes) but overall limited dynamism. Fans are impatient looking ahead to 2027; staff is still focused on maximizing this season (aiming for a strong finish, potentially 7–8 wins if things break right). Higher floor than alternatives in their view when the run game is functional. Other notes: Aiden Flora needs more production/versatility for NFL projection. Hudson Curlin has arm talent on high-school tape but footwork and processing are unknowns. Draft projections generally limited for the current roster outside of longer-term names (possible future picks like Braden Alls, David Coffey, etc.). Listener Questions & Other Topics Basketball season starting earlier and fan-base focus: Hosts push back that a better football record would keep people engaged; current injuries/record make the flip easier for some. Both hosts still primarily locked into football through the season. Hypothetical Matt Campbell-era playoff appearances in a 12- or 14-team field: Multiple teams (especially 2020, 2024) would have clear cases; others on the bubble depending on specific wins/losses. Film Notes on Oklahoma State (roughly 47:00 onward) Highlights of Mestermaker’s pocket presence, off-platform throws, RPOs that stress linebackers and nickel defenders, and creative pressure looks (limited overall blitz volume). OSU’s offense can punish soft fits or slow reactions. Iowa State’s nickel (Seth Johnson/Willie Breland area) will be stressed. Caleb Hawkins is a solid, bigger back with significant yardage. Receiver matchups (e.g., Wyatt Young) noted as ones to watch. Predictions & Close Score predictions: Carter ~42–27 OSU; Levi 41–28 OSU. Both emphasize the need for Iowa State to start hot, establish the run, and limit early explosives. Line had moved from 9.5 to 8.5 in OSU’s favor. Closing reminder to show up for the remaining games; culture and support still matter. Overall tone: Realistic about the current limitations (injuries, depth, schedule strength) while stressing remaining winnable games, the need for an identity, and the value of the toughness test the staff is applying right now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Iowa State vs. Arizona Postgame LIVE – Episode Notes Host: Carter Hanson | IowaStateVOCFB / Voice of College Football Final: Arizona 39, Iowa State 3 Opening / Overall Take Quick episode because this was one of the worst Iowa State performances in recent memory (last 3–4 years). First half was especially bad and set a miserable tone. “Worst performance of the season” and one to “sweep under the rug.” Arizona is a solid, consistent team (not a fluke or mid-tier surprise). They have been up and down but showed they can hang with good competition. Final score 39-3; Arizona “laid the wood” and set the tone immediately. First Half Breakdown Opening play sequence: Arizona hits a 71-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Mizell on essentially the first two plays. Iowa State spent the rest of the game chasing points. Defense generated zero stops in the first half. The closest thing (a potential stop) was wiped out by roughing the punter. Arizona’s missed field goal at the end of the half does not count as a real stop. One bright spot: a field-goal drive featuring a good throw and catch by Vince Bonetti. Closing play of the half: Rocco Rainer’s attempted pitch that went wrong. Carter says it “encapsulated” the entire first half. Offensive line pass protection was actually fine (Rainer had more time than expected). The issues were more about execution, decision-making, and overall consistency. Hard watch — Carter notes he was pouring a beer during the opening touchdown and was glad he missed part of it. Defense Best quarterback performance Iowa State has faced this year: Noah Fifita (27-of-34, ~79%). Extremely comfortable in the pocket. Defensive line did not generate enough consistent pressure. Run defense was reasonably controlled; tackling was better than in recent weeks. Secondary and linebackers got exposed. Arizona’s defense was creative (weird formations, stunts, blitzes) and kept Iowa State behind the chains / in third-and-long situations all night. Carter wants more creativity and pressure packages from the Iowa State front (noted some interesting 3-man looks that deserve film review). Arizona’s approach is something Iowa State can study both offensively (how to pick up stunts) and defensively (what works). Offense & Quarterback Situation Rainer was “okay” in the first half but not good enough. Key mistakes: the pitch/fumble (should have tucked it) and several questionable decisions on rollouts (taking negative plays instead of throwing the ball away). Small things that are starting to frustrate fans. Halftime: Jimmy Rogers indicated a quarterback change. Carter called this a “breath of fresh air.” Connor Moberly in the second half was a clear positive: more confident, made good plays, and used his legs effectively (tucked it and ran for first downs). Showed growth in a tough environment. Coaching staff gets credit for being willing to adjust on the fly. Other positives: taking shots downfield (Bonetti catch, Jamal Polite Jr. winning one-on-one on the sideline). Arizona’s defense is just solid and difficult — they force confusion and third-and-longs. Inconsistencies at quarterback made it even harder. Offensive line graded as fine overall (especially pass blocking); the bigger issue was generating consistent production on the ground or through the air given the QB situation. Arizona Notes Fifita’s pocket presence and efficiency stood out. Receiver depth showed: Isaiah Mizell (big early play that set the tone) and Brandon Phelps both productive. Trey Spivey is out for the year (news that caught Carter off guard during the game). Arizona is deep enough that it didn’t derail them. Balanced receiving corps; not heavily reliant on tight ends (similar to Iowa State). Arizona is a legitimate contender and could be in the playoff conversation if they keep playing at this level. Looking Ahead – Oklahoma State (Halloween, Home) Must move on quickly. No off week. Oklahoma State is hot and coming to Ames next Saturday. OK State just put up 57 points on Colorado. Drew Mestemaker is one of the best pure passers in the country (16 TDs, nearly 2,000 yards). Caleb Hawkins (North Texas transfer) adds a strong running threat. After Oklahoma State, the strength of schedule drops with four more manageable conference games. However, tonight’s performance puts even those games in question. How many more games can this team realistically win given the defensive and offensive showings? First year under Jimmy Rogers with limited prep time, resources, and experience. Hard to expect full success in year one (referenced competitive results at Washington State). This game showed the floor of the current program. Team has looked better and more confident overall than many expected coming into the year, but this was a significant setback. Closing / Programming Notes Link for “Collins” posted in the CF After Dark Discord and chat. Full film-based recap of the Arizona game + Oklahoma State preview with Levi planned for Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT (compromise time between 5 and 7). No callers. Episode ends with the usual sign-off and “Roll Clones.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Iowa State Cyclones LIVE 87 – Preview vs. Arizona Hosts: Carter Hanson & Levi Stevenson Show: Iowa State Live at the Voice of College Football (IowaStateVOCFB) Focus: Road game vs. No. 25 Arizona (5-1) coming off the bye; defensive schematic matchup, pressure/stunts, film, bowl path, and new AD Jared Benko. Opening & Bye Week Context ~00:00:31–00:01:30 Carter and Levi welcome listeners. Levi notes feeling re-energized after the bye but acknowledges it’s been a long season halfway through. Both are eager to move past the Utah and BYU losses and get back on the field. Arizona Overview ~00:01:30–00:04:00 Arizona is 5-1 and ranked No. 25 in the latest AP Poll. Sole loss was at BYU. Last game: beat West Virginia while scoring 52 points. Offense is clearly capable. QB Noah Fifita: elusive, mobile, accurate (73% completion, 16 TD / 4 INT). Not a pure dual-threat but hard to contain in space; classic experienced senior who limits mistakes. Receivers: Isaiah Mizell and Trace Bivey (primary target) highlighted; team spreads the ball around effectively (multiple players with 11–22 catches). Run game is solid but not the offense’s strength. Overall, a well-rounded, rock-solid team that does most things well without elite standouts—similar to past Matt Campbell Iowa State teams. Key Defensive Matchup: Pressure & Stunts ~00:04:00–00:11:00 Arizona brings pressure frequently (often 5–6 rushers) and uses creative fronts and stunts. This mirrors the BYU defensive line that gave Iowa State’s offensive line significant problems. ISU’s O-line has been solid outside the BYU game. The group can improve, but Arizona’s scheme is a direct test. Jalen Raynor must be quick with decisions and footwork; two-step drops can put rushers in his face immediately. Recommendation: lean into screens, jet screens, and quick outlets (Aiden Flora, Cam Pettaway, River Peppers, Omari Hayes) to counter the blitz rather than longer-developing concepts. Hayes stepping up with Dom Overby out for the year is noted as an opportunity. Arizona Run Game & Defensive Plan ~00:11:00–00:15:00 Arizona’s run game is inefficient. Lead back Kendrick Rusciano is averaging ~3.6 yards per carry; other backs have better averages on limited touches. Iowa State should prioritize shutting down the run early to force Arizona into the pass game, then generate pressure and negative plays. Fifita has been sacked 15 times. Under pressure his PFF grade drops sharply (elite ~92 when clean; ~57 under pressure). He handles the blitz reasonably well until it actually gets home. ISU can attack this with pressure and force him to throw on the move or over linemen given his size. Turning up the heat (e.g., a strong game from Bobby Terrell) is highlighted as a path to success. PFF & Offensive Line Notes ~00:16:00–00:23:00 Arizona’s pass-blocking grades are strong (O-line unit ~80+), but run-blocking grades are weaker and have declined as the season progressed. Game-by-game run-blocking numbers show inconsistency, with big runs often coming from explosive individual efforts rather than consistent blocking. Iowa State has a chance to bottle up the run and make Arizona one-dimensional. Film Discussion (Washington State & Cincinnati) ~00:29:00–00:52:00 & later segments Hosts break down Arizona’s defensive alignments and pressure packages: Unusual fronts (nose over center with stand-up ends, overloaded sides, minimal down linemen). Frequent stunts and delayed pressure that create free runners if the offense doesn’t account for them. Examples of free rushers, missed hot routes, and quarterbacks failing to step up or find outlets. Counter: quick game, screens, and flats. When Arizona brings extra rushers, outlets are available. Washington State played them competitively for stretches; Cincinnati had tackling and alignment issues that Arizona exploited. Arizona is solid but beatable if Iowa State executes and avoids self-inflicted problems (penalties, falling behind the chains). Bowl Outlook & Remaining Schedule ~00:32:00–00:36:00 Bowl eligibility remains realistic but injury-dependent (especially secondary/linebackers). Remaining games include Oklahoma State, UCF, Baylor (road), Cincinnati, and Kansas State. Several are viewed as winnable if Iowa State generates turnovers and the offense manages the game. Singletary and Sergius status is a watch item for this week. Jalen Raynor Evaluation ~00:51:00–00:55:00 Staff is evaluating Raynor more on game management and limiting mistakes than raw completion percentage. Jimmy Rogers has acknowledged the need for better accuracy and decision-making but does not appear ready to bench him. Catastrophic turnovers would change the calculus; otherwise, the preference is for the safer manager while the run game carries the load. Screens and quick decisions are emphasized against Arizona’s pressure. New Athletic Director Jared Benko ~01:04:00–01:12:00 Iowa State hired Jared Benko (from Auburn, previously Georgia Southern). Background in NIL and fundraising is viewed as a strong fit. Hosts highlight his “play offense, not defense” approach to the current landscape of college athletics. Contrast with prior AD Jamie Pollard’s more conservative, book-balancing style. Broader context: sports success drives enrollment visibility (Flutie effect). President Cook’s recognition of this is seen as positive for competing in the Big 12. Rapid leadership change (Cook, Benko, Jimmy Rogers) is noted; results will determine long-term success, but early signs are encouraging relative to preseason expectations. Additional Notes Show logistics discussion (~00:27:00–00:29:00): possible move from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays; poll floated for viewer preference. Brief basketball aside on TJ Otzelberger, Creighton exhibition, and Northwestern game. Closing: postgame plans after the Arizona game. Bottom line from the episode: Arizona is a solid, well-coached, pressure-heavy team that presents real challenges, especially on the road. Iowa State’s path is to contain the run, generate consistent pressure on Fifita (whose performance drops under duress), and use quick/screen game to offset stunts and blitzes. Execution, penalties, and injury returns will largely decide whether the Cyclones can make it a competitive game and keep their bowl hopes intact. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Iowa State Cyclones LIVE #86: BYU Recap | Incoming Bye Week Hosts: Levi Stevenson & Carter Hanson (IowaStateVOCFB / Voice of College Football) Approx. runtime: ~52 minutes Context: Post-Friday night loss (Oct. 9, 2026) to No. 8 BYU 24-10 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Iowa State (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) enters its bye week before traveling to Arizona (Oct. 24). Overall Summary Carter and Levi break down a lopsided road loss driven by BYU’s superior coaching, experience, game-planning, and defensive pressure. Iowa State’s defensive injuries forced heavy reliance on young players, the offensive line had its worst game of the season, and the passing game never found consistent rhythm. The hosts view the bye week as critical for getting healthier (especially in the secondary) and evaluating the quarterback position, while emphasizing that remaining games (Arizona, Oklahoma State, etc.) are winnable if the team improves execution and health. The second half features detailed All-22 film review of key plays on both sides of the ball. Timestamped Episode Notes 00:00:31 – 02:35 | Intro, Personal Updates & Bye Week Context Carter welcomes listeners; notes the earlier start time and that it might stick if it works for both. Levi is exhausted from Iowa State content plus work. Discussion of the bye week: good for fans, players, and injury recovery. Hope for Jaheim (likely safety/DB) and Drew Sergis back after the bye. Preference for veterans over young guys who had mixed results last weekend. Some injuries won’t be fixed in one bye week; lots of work ahead. 02:35 – 03:00 | Post-Bye Schedule Outlook After the bye, Iowa State enters a stretch of “very capable, runnable games.” Need to come out strong. 02:53 – 06:05 | BYU Game Overview & Immediate Takeaways Final: BYU 24, Iowa State 10. Lots of mistakes and “fixables.” Kyle Conradi missed field goal (unexpected; ball looked wobbly — possible operation issue or mishit). Delay-of-game penalties more understandable after headsets went out. BYU is a very well-coached, experienced, high-chemistry team. Kalani Sitake is one of the top 2–3 coaches in the Big 12. BYU is “really old” / experienced and well-compensated (especially D-line with Tini Vasa and a Texas transfer DE). High-end players who should be mid-round+ NFL picks. Bear Bachmeier is underrated among Big 12 QBs; threw for ~350+ yards and showed why he’s a top national QB. Biggest takeaway for Levi: BYU is simply a really good, experienced team. 06:05 – 09:15 | Defensive Injuries, Game-Planning & Special Teams Film Note Defensive injuries have “really, really caught up” with Iowa State. BYU’s game plan and operations were excellent — they attacked the exact coverages and weaknesses they wanted. Hosts review the Conradi missed kick on All-22: snap looked fine; laces not perfectly straight but not a total disaster. Carter still has full faith in Conradi and is not worried. Young/true freshman snaps: Eddie Lemos and Bradley Esser played more than they should. Matthew McClain (true freshman) also played a bunch — some decent, some not; “playing too early.” These young secondary/LB guys need to grow up fast. 09:15 – 13:50 | Upcoming Games (Arizona & Oklahoma State) Iowa State has already played the best three teams on the schedule. Arizona is a capable passing team (Noah is good but turns the ball over). Similar attack style to BYU possible. Then Oklahoma State — best passing offense Iowa State will see, but one of the worst remaining defenses. Risk of a shootout. Remaining games are more winnable if the team gets healthier (especially if Drew Sergis returns and stays healthy). Depth chart is thin at safety/DB (All out, Sergis out; Micah Harper status unclear; Brody Miller is a corner). 13:50 – 28:40 | Quarterback Evaluation Discussion (Major Segment) Hosts suggest the next two weeks should include evaluating the QB position. Bye week is ideal to give Connor Moberly or Zane Flores (or Hudson Curlin) a real look. Jalen Rayner’s legs aren’t used enough to justify keeping him if he isn’t the best passer. If he’s the best passer, “we’re just kind of shit out of luck” and will likely look for a portal QB. Need easy throws, rhythm throws, and one-read concepts (as seen in the fourth quarter) rather than full progressions early. Rayner can be accurate on time when given simple reads. Whoever starts vs. Arizona should be the guy for the rest of the season — no mid-season switch later. If they stick with Rayner, they need to scheme easier decisions and get him in rhythm. If they switch to Moberly, that signals he’s the long-term guy (Rayner would likely transfer). Neither host has a strong preference because they haven’t seen enough of the backups throwing the ball in live situations. Trust the staff to evaluate. Not all on Rayner: OL (especially Braden Smith and Austin Barrett) graded very poorly on PFF; constant pressure, batted balls, etc. Interior OL did nothing to help. Rayner was running for his life at times. Still, Rayner has accuracy issues even on completions (screens behind receivers, balls behind on dagger concepts). He needs to be better. Hosts are surprised a switch hasn’t happened yet but do not anticipate one. 28:40 – 32:55 | Receivers, Run Game Context & Bye Week Priorities Down multiple receivers for the season (Evan Boyd, Dom Overby, and others). Current top group (Jamal Polite, Omari Hayes, Cody Jackson, Ty Claiborne) are smaller and less effective perimeter run-blockers. Boyd and Overby were valuable as bigger possession/run-blocking threats. Guys are still getting open; the issue is finding them consistently. Bye week priorities: get as healthy as possible, smooth out the passing game, and get young defensive players (Lemos, Esser, McClain, etc.) ready. Ty Claiborne is a good route-runner/hands guy but not a Chase Allen-level blocker. Brief aside on Chase Allen (good blocker, limited receiving stats, and the freshman-year car accident story with 103 stitches + mumps/viral meningitis). 32:55 – 50:40 | Film Breakdown (All-22 Review) Hosts go through specific plays: BYU D-line stunts creating free rushers; Rayner’s nice evasion and first-down scramble (mobility upside). Sack on a play where Austin Barrett had a poor rep (disguised coverage/blitz). Read-option keeper by Bear Bachmeier — Montrez Smith lacked eye discipline; Sullivan Schlimgen did his job. Two fourth-down stops (Benny coverage on a great throw; Bradley Esser stop). Hosts note some BYU fourth-down calls were questionable (prefer QB power with Bachmeier). Iowa State is excellent when it can get downhill vs. the run; struggles laterally/perimeter (why BYU lived on the edges, sweeps, screens). Long developing play where flats actions pulled defenders and a tight end leaked out (Brody Miller). Offensive success late: quick concepts, spacing routes, one/two-read throws to Claiborne, Fortenberry, etc. Elite throw/catch to Jamal Polite. Carson Willick excellent when he can get downhill (textbook wrap-up). Tyrone Cotton open-field tackle. Fourth-and-2 “miracle” conversion involving Flora (good block by Rayner). Elite seal block by A.J. Peterson on a run. Overall: some positive individual plays, but BYU’s scheme and execution were superior. BYU is a playoff team (especially if LJ Martin returns). 50:40 – 52:05 | Wrap-Up BYU is really good and will likely make the playoff and win games. Next episode: Tuesday, preparing for Arizona and any bye-week news. Sign-off: “Go Clones.” Key Takeaways BYU’s coaching, experience, and scheme were the difference. Iowa State’s injuries and OL/QB issues prevented competitiveness. Bye week is essential for health (secondary especially) and scheme adjustments, particularly simplifying the passing game. QB situation is the biggest open question — stick with Rayner and scheme for him, or use the bye to evaluate Moberly/Flores and commit to one starter vs. Arizona. Remaining schedule is manageable, but young defenders and the passing game must improve quickly. Individual bright spots (Rayner mobility moments, Willick downhill play, some late offensive concepts, Peterson blocking) exist amid the struggles. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Iowa State Live | BYU Postgame | Host: Carter Hanson (IowaStateVOCFB) | Voice of College Football Final Score: No. 8 BYU 24, Iowa State 10 Date: Friday, October 9, 2026 | LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah Records: Iowa State 3-3 (1-2 Big 12) | BYU 5-0 (3-0 Big 12) Duration: ~26 minutes Key Box Score Notes (aligned with show discussion): Bear Bachmeier (BYU): 22/30, 329 yards, 2 TD; 9 carries, 109 yards (career-best rushing). Jaylen Raynor (ISU): 16/29, 98 yards, 1 TD. Aiden Flora (ISU): 17 carries, 86 yards. Iowa State total offense: 200 yards (lowest in years); BYU: 506. Christian Greenlaw: 1-yard TD reception (first catch/TD as a Cyclone). Overall Summary Carter Hanson opens with immediate postgame reaction after a tough road loss in Provo. He notes few expected an Iowa State upset against a top-10 BYU team that proved why it is ranked No. 8. BYU’s defense dominated, while Iowa State’s offense struggled for most of the night (especially early). Field position and two failed BYU fourth-down conversions (including one in the red zone on a dropped pass) kept the final score from being more lopsided. Defense “stepped up when it needed to” but was worn down. Overall tone is frustrated but realistic: “sweep it under the rug” and move on to Arizona after an off week. Offense, particularly the quarterback position and offensive line, needs significant improvement. Timestamped Episode Notes 0:33–2:39 | Opening Reaction Tough game; BYU proved it belongs in the top 10. Defense dominated; much of it came down to field position. Iowa State avoided turnovers (positive). BYU’s offense looked excellent. Iowa State bailed out by two failed BYU fourth downs (one red zone, one near midfield) that led to an Iowa State field goal. Offense was a hard watch, especially the first half and most of the second. Running game was not there. Aiden Flora finished with a solid line (17 carries, 86 yards). Jaylen Raynor “was just not on point” as he needed to be. Link shared for call-ins (also posted in Discord / CF After Dark). 3:05–5:35 | Defense & First-Half Recap Not a complete tackling failure, but the failed fourth downs (especially the red-zone dropped pass) prevented a bigger deficit. Iowa State played reasonably well on both sides for most of the first half until a late second-quarter third-down failure and subsequent punt. BYU then hit a 63-yard play to the backup tight end that set up a touchdown just before the half — the moment the game shifted. Tough environment; BYU is good for a reason. Bachmeier was excellent: near a career high in passing, 22/30 completion, and 109 rushing yards on limited carries. He picked the defense apart as a dual-threat. Iowa State’s offense “played okay” but not good enough to win. 5:42–7:50 | Offensive Struggles Raynor’s completion percentage was abysmal in the first half and remained a hard watch in the second. Three delay-of-game penalties (including one right after a touchdown on a two-point conversion attempt) were “unacceptable.” Communication issues noted, but still needs to be cleaned up. Wide receivers looked fine when they had chances (caught the balls they needed to). Positive mentions: Omari Hayes (good catches, including a first-down conversion) and Ty Claiborne (early catches). Offense only started putting things together late in the second half; Greenlaw TD was a bright spot but somewhat bailed out. Carter raises the idea of evaluating the quarterback decision moving forward heading into Arizona. 8:00–10:49 | Play Calling, Offensive Line & Environment Play calling looked conservative at times (especially third-and-long screens). Not nitpicking scheme heavily, but questions some of Raynor’s decision-making. Screens on third-and-long were mostly ineffective except one to Hayes (yards after catch). Offensive line was manhandled at points; improved in the second half and helped establish the run on the touchdown drive. Pass protection was okay but Raynor felt pressure more than ideal (some pocket bails led to sacks; some successful escapes). First game outside the state of Iowa — tough environment expected. Hoped for a harder fight. Overall a really hard game to watch. 10:56–13:51 | BYU Dominance & Outlook Reiterates call-in links (including CF After Dark Discord). BYU offense looked solid. Defense got bailed out on the failed fourth downs. Score is somewhat deceiving if you only look at the box score (Bachmeier 300+ passing, team 175+ rushing) — it should have been more of a blowout. Iowa State defense stepped up when needed but was worn down; offense did them no favors. “Depressing… sweep this under the rug and move on” to Arizona. Offense needs to figure things out at quarterback; offensive line needs to get better. BYU’s defensive line/linebackers may be the best the Cyclones see all year — constant pressure in the backfield (stunts, blitzes). 14:23–17:27 | Player Shout-Outs & Team Notes Not a game most expected to win. Offense and defense have looked more solid overall this season than some expected early on. Bachmeier is one of the top QBs in the Big 12 and showed it (dual-threat hurt Iowa State; big plays). Shout-out to punter Jonah Dupont (good punts, including one that pinned Bachmeier near the 1 and nearly forced a safety; also a BYU muff). “Real MVP.” Shout-out to Christian Greenlaw (first catch and first TD as a Cyclone — 1-yard score). Outside those two, hard watch. 17:33–20:54 | Arizona Preparation Offensive line must improve. BYU’s front and linebackers are creative with blitzes/stunts. Next game (Arizona, after an off week) is very winnable. Arizona played BYU close at home earlier and has handled non-conference opponents + beaten Cincinnati (though Cincinnati’s form is hard to read). Hope the offensive line continues to get tuned up. Strong suggestion to experiment at quarterback — give Connor Moy a drive or two (or alternate drives) to see what he can do. Need more creativity in the run game as well. River Peppers saw limited action (noted as a mild disappointment after good West Virginia performance). Cannot have Raynor at ~6–16 for ~98 yards at the half (or low first-half production) or running screens constantly. Deep ball was not there. Offense must improve. 21:01–26:22 | Injuries, Final Thoughts & Sign-Off Off week next weekend before Arizona — good chance to prepare. Dominic Overby injury is not ideal (clutching knee on a punt return; Rogers indicated he was out immediately — potentially serious, await MRI/injury report). “Something new every week” on the injury front. Receiving corps still has talent (Jamal Polite Jr. nearly had a TD, Hayes and Claiborne had catches). DPI call on a deep shot to Polite Jr. out of the half was a positive. Play-calling notes: tough spot, but many third-and-long screens (one worked via Hayes breaking tackles). No call-ins. Encourages viewers to hop to Cyclone Fanatic postgame (Levi, Matias, Dylan, Austin, David). Tuesday show with Levi moves to 5:00 p.m. (earlier due to a meeting). Link will be in Discord. Sign-off: another episode of Iowa State Live. Tune in Tuesday; hop to Cyclone Fanatic in the meantime. Key Takeaways BYU’s defense and Bachmeier’s dual-threat performance controlled the game. Iowa State’s offense was the clear issue (protection, accuracy, decision-making, situational penalties). Defense kept it from being worse. Special teams bright spots (Dupont, Greenlaw). Moving forward: OL improvement + potential QB experimentation needed before a winnable Arizona matchup. Injury watch on Overby. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.