Completed Event: Football versus Iowa on September 6, 2025 , Win , 16, to, 13
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Iowa State University Athletics
Saturday, September 27
Ames, Iowa
6:00 PM
Iowa State
vs
Arizona
PRIMER: No. 14 Iowa State Hosts Arizona Under the Lights
09.24.2025 | Football
AMES, Iowa -Â No. 14 Iowa State hosts Arizona in its Big 12 home opener Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium, where the Cyclones are 24-8 in their last 32 conference games. Saturday's game will be a "White Out" with fans urged to wear white.
Who: No. 14 Iowa State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) vs. Arizona (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Where: MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium (61,500) – Ames, Iowa
When: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 – 6 p.m. CT
PURCHASE TICKETSÂ |Â PURCHASE PARKING
The Links
WATCH: ESPN
PxP: Dave Flemming; Analyst: Brock Osweiler; Sideline: Stormy Buonantony
LISTEN: Cyclone Radio Network – Varsity App, TuneIn Radio or Radio Affiliates
PxP:Â John Walters; Analyst: Eric Heft; Sideline: Ryan Harklau
GAME NOTES:Â ISUÂ //Â UA
LIVE STATS
2025Â FOOTBALL YEARBOOK
MEDIA CENTER
INSIDE THE SERIES
Seventh Meeting
Overall:Â 1-4-1
Home:Â 0-1
Road:Â 1-3-1
Neutral:Â 0-0
Campbell vs. UA:Â 0-1
Last Meeting:Â 9/21/1968Â (ISU 12, UAÂ 21)
CYCLONES vs. WILDCATS
The Cyclones and Wildcats are set to meet for just the seventh time ever and for the first time since 1968. This also marks the first meeting between the teams as members of the Big 12 Conference. The only meeting of the series played in Ames was a 21-12 Arizona win in the 1968 meeting.
ON THIS DAY:Â On Sept. 27, 1958, Iowa State defeated Arizona, 14-0 in Tucson for its only win in six meetings against the Wildcats as Clay Stapleton's team pitched one of three Cyclone shutouts that season.
QB MATCHUP
Saturday's game will pit two outstanding quarterbacks against each other in ISU's Rocco Becht and Arizona's Noah Fifita. Both were freshman in 2022 before bursting onto the scene in 2023 when Becht was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and Fifita was tabbed Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
| QB COMPARISON | ||
| Becht | 2025 Stats | Fifita |
| 860 | Passing Yards | 712 |
| 65-100-1 | Comp-Att-Int | 46-78-0 |
| 65% | Comp. Percentage | 59% |
| 7 | Passing TDs | 6 |
| 158.3 | Efficiency Rating | 161.0 |
| 48 | Rush Yards | 37 |
| 2 | Rush TDs | 3 |
Becht has a TD pass in a school-record 22-straight games, the longest active streak in the FBS, and is just the third QB in school history to pass for 7,000 career yards. He has led the Cyclones to 22 wins in his career, including seven in which they were tied or trailed in the fourth quarter.
The Wesley Chapel, Florida native has tossed seven touchdowns with just one interception this season, which came on a drop and ended his string of 141-straight passes without an INT. He is completing a career-best 65 percent of his passes and has connected with 12 different players this season, including 24 completions to tight ends Benjamin Brahmer (14) and Gabe Burkle (10).
CYCLONES ARE 4-0
Iowa State has started 4-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. The Cyclones are one of 16 teams that are 4-0 this season, while just seven teams have started perfect through four games in each of the last two seasons as of Sept. 20. A win Saturday would make ISU 5-0 for just the sixth time in program history.
ISU looks to get to 2-0 in Big 12 play for the third time under Matt Campbell and just the fourth time in the league's 30 seasons.
PLAYING IT CLOSE
Head coach Matt Campbell preaches details and that is a big reason for the Cyclones' recent success in close games. Iowa State is 3-0 in one-score games this season after winning five one-score games a season ago.
In 2024, the Cyclones ranked in the top-20 nationally in turnover margin (18th, +9) and penalty yards per game (1st, 28.0). Through four games this season, ISU is +2 in turnover margin and has committed just 12 penalties (3.0 per game, fourth nationally).
In crunch time, Becht has led seven career game-winning drives, tied for the most among active FBS quarterbacks. In the fourth quarter of games this season, Becht is 16-for-23 passing for 202 yards. He is also 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) passing on fourth down in his career.
Defensively, since the start of the 2021 season, ISU has allowed just 477 points in the second half of its 56 games, an average of 8.5 points. Iowa State has allowed only 23 points (5.75 average) in the second half of its four games in 2025.
The Cyclone defense allowed just six fourth quarter offensive touchdowns in 2024, tied for the fewest among Big 12 programs. This season, ISU has allowed only two fourth-quarter TDs in the first four games.
IN THE RED ZONE
ISU has topped 90 percent in the red zone in five of the first nine seasons under Matt Campbell while opponents have only been above 90 percent in the red zone twice in his tenure.
This season, ISU has started 14-for-19 with four of the possessions ending on Cyclone kneel downs in the red zone at conclusion of the game, including two at the opponent one-yard line.
KEY STORYLINES
- Iowa State, which has trailed just 0:28 this season through four games, sits at No. 14 in this week's AP poll and is inside the Top 15 for the second-straight season.
- Iowa State went 4-0 in home night games in 2024 and has won nine-straight games under the lights.
- Since the start of the 2024 season, ISU owns an .833 winning percentage (15-3), among the nation's Top 10 in that time.
- ISU is looking to start 5-0 for the second-straight season and ninth time in program history. The Cyclones have won eight of their last 10 Big 12 Conference regular season games.
- Iowa State is 5-0 in its first regular season games against Big 12 newcomers that joined the league in 2023 and 2024, defeating Cincinnati, BYU, Houston, UCF and Utah in the initial showdown.
- Running back Carson Hansen recorded his first career 100-yard game at Arkansas State after rushing for 116 yards.
- Wide receiver Xavier Townsend had his most productive game as a Cyclone against the Red Wolves. He finished with three receptions for 92 yards, including a 44-yard catch in the fourth quarter.
- Marcus Neal Jr. leads the Cyclones and ranks eighth in the Big 12 with 29 tackles this season. His 29 tackles through four games are the most by a Cyclone since current Baltimore Ravens' linebacker Jake Hummel had 30 stops in 2021's first four contests.
- Tre Bell has made several key plays on special teams this season and made his presence felt on defense when came down with a diving interception, his first as a Cyclone, in the fourth quarter against Arkansas State.
- The Cyclones had 3.0 sacks against Arkansas State, one each by Ikenna Ezeogu and Jace J. Gilbert, and a split by Alijah Carnell and Cam Smith.
- ISU's 45.27 net punting average is ranked 15th nationally. The Cyclones were 70th last year with a 38.72 net average.
WHITE OUT
Fans are encouraged to wear white to Saturday's game.
GAMEDAY TIMELINE
CYCAST WITH THE CYCLONE RADIO CREW
John Walters, Eric Heft and Ryan Harklau sit down to preview Arizona ahead of this weekend's game. The podcast is presented by Van Wall Equipment.
To listen, CLICK HERE.
WEEKLY MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, Taylor Mouser, Tyler Moore, Xavier Townsend, Kooper Ebel and Tre Bell met with the media on Tuesday. Watch their interviews below.
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballMarcus Neal 10_21_25 interview
Tuesday, October 21
Tre Bell 10_21_25 interview
Tuesday, October 21
Benjamin Brahmer 10_21_25 interview
Tuesday, October 21
Rocco Becht 10_21_25 presser
Tuesday, October 21
