BASIC: No. 9 Iowa State hosts UCF

AMES, Iowa – No. 9 Iowa State looks to be off to its best start in school history when it hosts UCF in the teams' first meeting Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium. The last 7-0 start for the Cyclones came in 1938, while ISU is also attempting to go 4-0 in conference play for the first time in program history.

WHO: No. 9 Iowa State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) vs. UCF (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)

Where: MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium (61,500) – Ames, Iowa

When: Saturday, October 19, 2024 – 6:30 p.m. CT

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The links

REGARD: FS1

PxP: Trent Rush; Analyst: Spencer Tillman

HEAR: Cyclone Radio Network – University app, TuneIn Radio or radio partner

PxP: John Walters; Analyst: Eric Heft; Supporting Actor: Ryan Harklau

LIVE STATISTICS
IOWA STATE GAME NOTES

GAME PROGRAM
FOOTBALL YEARBOOK 2024
MEDIA CENTER

WITHIN THE SERIES

First meeting

In total: 0-0

Home: 0-0

Street: 0-0

Campbell vs. UCF: 0-0

Last meeting: –

GAME ACTIONS
Jack Trice Stadium will be rocking on Saturday night. Be sure to stay in your seats at halftime of the drone show!

50 SEASONS AT JACK TRICE STADIUM
Iowa State is in its 50th year^Th season at Jack Trice Stadium. Learn more about the history of the stadium by clicking here.

NOTE NUMBERS

3 – Jontez Williams has an interception in three-consecutive games. He leads the Big 12 and ranks 6th nationally in total interceptions (3).

5 – Cooper Ebel has either led or co-led ISU in three of the last four games. He has a TFL five-Straight games.

11 – Rocco Becht has 11 Pass plays of more than 50 yards since last season, which is the second-most in the country.

26 – The Cyclone defense has 26 Interceptions since 2023, second most nationally during that period. Individually, Jeremiah Cooper has seven of them, which is the third highest in the country as of 2023.

Winning on the edge
trainer Matt Campbell He constantly preaches about winning on the sidelines and taking care of the details. Well, this season the Cyclones did all the little things right.

• PENALTIES: Iowa State is one of the least penalized teams in the country. The Cyclones are ranked No. 2 nationally and lead the Big 12 in fewest penalty yards per game (27.7).
• TURNOVERS: ISU has a turnover margin of +9, which puts it at the top of the Big 12 and 4th nationally. Looking at point deductions after turnovers, Iowa State outscores its opponents 55-3.
• SPECIAL TEAMS: The Cyclones have been solid on special teams this season. Iowa State won at Iowa by a game-winning field goal and blocked two punts, one of which was returned for a touchdown. ISU is one of 10 teams in the country with two blocked punts this season.
• NEGATIVE PLAYS: Iowa State has largely avoided big negative plays on offense this season. ISU ranks second in the Big 12 and is No. 10 nationally in sacks allowed (5).

SECOND HALF STOPPER
Since the start of the 2021 season, ISU has allowed just 353 points in the second half of its 44 games, an average of 8.0 points. This season, ISU is allowing just 4.3 points and 121 yards in the second half of games.

The Cyclones have allowed just 13 points in the fourth quarter of games, a single touchdown in a blowout win over Arkansas State and a late TD at West Virginia.

JAY SQUARED

Jaylin Noel And Jayden Higgins form one of the best receiving duos in the country. Iowa State is one of three schools nationwide, along with Ohio State and Washington, with two receivers over 500 yards on the season.

Noel has recorded a reception in 38 straight games, the fourth-longest active streak in the nation, while Higgins has scored a touchdown in seven of the last eight games and 11 of 19 as a Cyclone.

MORE KEY STORIES

• Matt Campbell will take place at ISU from October 21st to 11th. The Cyclones are looking to have a perfect October for the second year in a row and the fourth time under his leadership.
• The Cyclones are bowl eligible for the seventh time in nine seasons under Campbell.
• With a win against West Virginia this past weekend, the Cyclones improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1938. It was ISU's sixth straight Big 12 road win, and the Cyclones are now 11-3 in their last 14 games, including 7-1 in road games.
• Iowa State's defense, led by Jon Heacockleads the Big 12 and ranks fifth nationally allowing just 11 points per game. The pass defense was stout, managing just 145.7 yards per game (fifth nationally). Overall, ISU allows just 285.3 yards of total offense, No. 15 nationally and tops in the Big 12.
• Six different Cyclones have combined for 10 interceptions, ranking among the top five in the country. Since the start of the 2023 season, ISU has recorded 26 interceptions in 19 games, which is the second-most interceptions in the nation during that span.
• Rocco Becht had one of the best games of his career at West Virginia, completing 18 of 26 passes with a touchdown. He has a TD pass in 10 consecutive games, tied for the third-longest streak in school history.

CYCAST WITH THE CYCLONE RADIO CREW
John Walters, Eric Heft and Ryan Harklau watch Iowa State's home game against UCF. The podcast is presented by Van Wall Equipment.

To listen, CLICK HERE.

WEEKLY MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Matt Campbell, Jon Heacock, Rocco Becht, Jayden Higgins, JR Singleton And Beau Freyler met with the media on Tuesday. Check out their interviews below.