Trending
AMES – Jack Trice Stadium has been a welcome sight this season for the Iowa State football team.
The Cyclones hope to keep that trend going this Saturday when they host Cincinnati. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. with the game airing live on TNT.
Iowa State (4-5 overall, 2-4 in Big 12 Conference) is 4-1 at home this year, with the lone loss coming to No. 2 Utah. They are winless on the road, as is their opponent, the Bearcats (5-4, 2-4).
"It sucks to lose," Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers said. "But some of the most enjoyable things are coming out on the other side of that. Pushing through the hard times with people that are willing to put in the same effort you are to become the team that you wanna be."
Aiden Flora continues to have an all-league season, rushing for 1,119 yards and nine touchdowns. Jaylen Raynor is up to 1,672 passing yards with 12 scores, as Jamal Polite, Jr. has 321 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.
"He's fast," Rogers said of Flora. "Some of those corners that he was turning the other day, I thought they all had angles on him, he just runs right by them. He's a dynamic playmaker.
"Kid works his butt off. He's been given an opportunity and he's making the most of this platform right now."
Cincinnati can become bowl-eligible with a win after consecutive losses to Houston and Utah. They are just 1-4 over the last five, with the lone victory coming over Texas Tech.
JC French IV leads the offense for the Bearcats with 1,990 passing yards and 15 touchdowns against just three interceptions. JV Gibson has over 500 receiving yards and Cole Tabb sits at 812 rushing yards and 10 TDs.
"They do a good job of utilizing space," Rogers said. "They quarterback's a dynamic player. I think he's been really good this season. I think the Tabb kid is really good. They got several wide receivers that can really stretch the field.
"It's gonna be come one-on-one matchups, and we're gonna have to win those."