Iowa State at The Voice of College Football

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Iowa State at The Voice of College Football episodes

October 28Oklahoma State Preview | Times are Tough | Iowa State Cyclones LIVE #88
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.

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1 hr 9 min
October 25IOWA STATE - Arizona Postgame LIVE
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.”

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21 min
October 21Preview vs Arizona | Iowa State Cyclones LIVE 87
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.

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1 hr 21 min
October 14BYU Recap | Incoming Bye Week | Iowa State Cyclones LIVE #86
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.

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52 min
October 11IOWA STATE - BYU Postgame LIVE
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.

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27 min
October 07West Virginia Game Recap | Preview vs BYU | Iowa State Cyclones LIVE #85
West Virginia recap
Iowa State beat West Virginia. The second half was back and forth. The hosts’ take: the side of the ball they were worried about played well; the side they thought they could count on is the one creating the headache.
Iowa State had chances to pull away in the first half. Missed tackles and explosive plays kept West Virginia in it.

Big plays came from Michael Hawkins and Cam Cook refusing to go down. Levi’s view: Utah and West Virginia are unusually shifty, misdirection-heavy attacks. He does not expect another opponent like that the rest of the way.

Outside a late-third / early-fourth stretch where West Virginia scored on three straight possessions, the defense bottled up the run and was a couple of plays from a three-score game. Levi is not worried about the defense long term. Tackling issues look schematic, not structural.
Clip window: 00:42–01:49 (which side of the ball actually showed up) and 09:10–09:57 (defense closer than the box score).
Defense: schematic matchup vs. BYU
BYU is a north-south, power-spread team. Less speed, less misdirection than West Virginia or Utah. Hosts compare the prep to Iowa: get downhill, be physical, out-execute. That is a better fit for this defense than chasing lateral runners.
Bear Bachmeier is big and physical, not shifty. Wrap-up matters more than pursuit angles. Sullivan Schlemgen should be fast and physical enough if he stays sound. Carson Willick has to do the same.

Linebacker pursuit angles against West Virginia were bad. Against Bachmeier, the run comes at you instead of around you, so the angles should be simpler. Linebackers are the key to stopping the run.
Clip window: 01:50–03:05 and 14:26–15:13.
Injuries and depth
Safety is not Levi’s main concern. Alton (Toledo transfer, active college INT leader coming in) never played, so projecting the defense with him is guesswork. Ball-hawk profile is the assumption.
Drew Sergis has been good when healthy. Expected out this weekend; hope is Arizona in a couple of weeks.

Brody Miller has been solid. Duran Goodman had a big hit vs. West Virginia. Michael Harper is getting more snaps.

Jaheim Singletary is on the way back. When he returns, the question is Seth Johnson: stay at corner/nickel or slide to safety on some snaps.

Other names in the mix: Malcolm Jones, true freshman Bradley Esser, Traver Don (with Caden Crawford out). Hosts like the developing depth but would rather not be playing true freshmen this early.

Hope after the bye: Sergis, Singletary, and Benny fully healthy. Defense is getting banged up quickly.
Clip window: 03:28–06:50.
BYU scouting (4-0, ranked; wins over Arizona and TCU)
Saturday at TCU: 17-10 in the rain, especially the second half. Bachmeier 11-of-24. Hosts are not sold on the offense. Defense is the strength. Offense is unremarkable. BYU runs it about 75 percent of the time.
Missing LJ Martin (reigning Big 12 player of the year, doubtful) is a big deal. Parker Kingston is gone from last year’s passing game.

Glasker confusion on the show: Isaiah Glasker is the linebacker (doubtful, per Kalani Sitake’s Monday report, along with Martin). Legend Glasker is the receiver and cousin, leading the team with 14 catches for 280 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Kyler Casper is next with 11. Both average two or three catches a game. Legend was not listed as out in the report they checked.

Bachmeier is second on the team in carries behind Martin and had 15 against TCU. Options, screens, and designed QB runs are the offense. He got Iowa State through the air last year and is not a super accurate passer. Take away the scramble and the offense falls apart.

Season: a couple of forced picks on defense. Bachmeier has one interception. No fumbles yet. Iowa State likes the peanut punch.
Clip window: 10:16–14:24 and 49:02–49:44.
Film notes (BYU vs. TCU)
Defense
Repeated stunts for sacks. Two down linemen crash, a third wraps. TCU’s tackle lost the end who fell into coverage and walked free. Hosts call it the ideal stunt and expect BYU to bring it Friday. Hope is Iowa State’s line picks it up better, and Jalen Raynor gets out if it leaks. Risk: Raynor gets antsy and leaves a clean pocket.

Double-mug: both linebackers in the A gaps, wide D-line (two-tech / three-tech, five-techs outside), show blitz, drop two of the four. Safeties were deep, so a six-man rush was unlikely. On the clip, both ends dropped and TCU’s QB threw it away to an open receiver. Levi’s read: bad throw or a wet ball, not dominant defense. He has a concept in the upcoming six-pack built for that look.

Bachmeier’s TD was a scramble on third-and-9, not a designed run. TCU’s interior defender vacated the middle. Iowa State cannot do that. Plan: rush four, spy with Willick or Schlemgen, robber until Bachmeier takes off.
Offense
Speed option / quick pitch with good receiver blocking. TCU’s linebackers were shifted weak. Iowa State would likely align strong: Willick on the hash, Schlemgen in the C-gap, crashing the back with Willick trailing the QB.

Tunnel screen off a fake receiver screen got blown up. Center and guard both went after the same linebacker (Hudson Hooper). Free runner in the QB’s face.

Designed QB run: Bachmeier is a tank. Leg tackles will not finish him. Gang tackling required. Do not get caught watching window dressing.
Clip windows: stunt 15:39–17:23; option 17:32–20:21; double-mug 20:26–24:03; scramble TD 41:16–43:46; second stunt 44:09–45:40; tunnel screen 46:04–47:38; QB run 47:44–48:55.
Tangent: athletic director and the future of the department
Listener question on what the new AD has to do versus Jamie Pollard. Levi’s answer: different job. Pollard navigated realignment, the facilities arms race, and the start of NIL. The new AD is mostly a fundraiser. Olympic sports get kept afloat, not invested in like revenue sports.
BYU model: Sitake reports to the university president, not the AD. Football has functionally split off so dollars raised for football stay in football. Levi would not be shocked if Iowa State, Alabama, or Georgia reach something similar in 10–15 years. A GM already handles roster, NIL, and rev-share. Wrestling already acts semi-autonomous on NIL.

Baseball north of the Mason-Dixon line is not competitive nationally. Iowa State is not bringing baseball back. Women’s wrestling replaced gymnastics; it was not a net add. He does not expect another sport added.

Conferences are not going back to geography unless TV money is flattened across brackets. SEC and Big Ten will not agree. Long rant on ego spending versus results. He flags it as not a political show and moves on.
Clip window if you want the AD bit only: 24:08–26:56. The conference rant runs through about 41:00.
West Virginia oddity: the freeze snap
Carson Willick came up to blitz, jumped, and got back onside before the snap. West Virginia’s line is coached to freeze on a potential offside because a defensive touch makes it a penalty. College allows a defender to recover onside if the ball is not snapped; the NFL does not (encroachment). Hawkins chucked it expecting the flag. David Coffey got beat on the rep. Bad rep, otherwise a solid day. Late potential pick was overturned. Levi thought the call on the field (interception) should have stood. It did not matter.
Clip window: 57:00–1:00:43.
Keys to the game
Levi
Tackling. Wrap up. Give up the extra yard instead of the extra ten. No free yards.

Avoid procedure penalties and negative plays. False starts, offsides, illegal procedure. Provo on a Friday night is a bad place to get behind the chains. Holding happens; self-inflicted pre-snap flags do not have to.

Jalen plays clean. No dumb turnovers. Take the five-yard scramble if it is there. Let Aiden Flora make the hero plays. Do not trade a risky throw for an eight-minute Bachmeier drive. Continue the rhythm he found after the interception vs. West Virginia. That pick was worse on the broadcast than on tape. Cody Jackson was open; the defender made a play.
Carter
Offensive line keeps the recent level in pass pro and run blocking against BYU’s stunts and pressure, even with Isaiah Glasker doubtful.

Return game. Shaky BYU offense should produce three-and-outs. Flora on punts, Camp or Cody Jackson if they kick away. Field position mattered at Kinnick.

Receivers. Dom Overby was great. Cody Jackson’s coming-out party. Catch the ball and get yards after the catch again.
Also: Vince Manetti is doing what you can ask of a former walk-on defensive end at tight end. Meaningful snaps, two or three touchdowns. Route running is not great. He dropped a chest pass vs. West Virginia. Fine blocker with some penalty calls. Prefer a fullback (AJ Peterson, Ryland Barnes) in pure run looks, but that tips the play.
Score predictions and betting
Line opened BYU -14.5, down to -10.5. Third straight game the number moved 3–4 points toward Iowa State. Total opened 50, down to 46.5.

Levi (from Down the Pipe): Iowa State 34, BYU 30. Enough explosives and possessions that it is not a 15-minute grind.

Carter: BYU 27, Iowa State 20. Thinks Iowa State covers but Provo, a short week, and a top-10 opponent make the win hard. Says he will be ecstatic to be wrong. Kyle Konrathy’s thin-air line gets a mention.
Show notes
Levi’s six-pack (offense, defense, special teams, guys to watch) was nearly done and planned for upload the night of the show, Discord and CF Premium.

Carter plans a postgame Friday night. Network note: Instant Iowa State moves to Saturday morning, so CF postgame goes straight into post-postgame, basketball-style. Carter may shorten his show so people can jump over.

Matias and Austin plan an in-game live stream, Barstool-style. Possible repeat for UCF if it works.

Next scheduled Iowa State Live: Tuesday, unless viewers join the Friday postgame.

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1 hr 9 min
October 04IOWA STATE - West Virginia Postgame LIVE
Iowa State Live with the Voice of College Football — instant reaction to Iowa State 45, West Virginia 42. Homecoming at Jack Trice. Host Carter Hanson, with Austin joining around the 7:45 mark. Jimmy Rogers’ first Big 12 win. Combined offense: Iowa State 577 yards, West Virginia 518.
Final: Iowa State 45, West Virginia 42 (7–7, 14–7, 7–14, 17–14). ISU 3–2 (1–1 Big 12). WVU 3–2 (0–2).
Open / tone (0:32–2:05)
Carter calls it a game “on crack.” Offense was the best of the year. Defense made him want to pull his hair out. West Virginia’s run game is one of the hardest schemes to prep for — two backs with the ball about 90 percent of the time.
Clip: 0:46–1:11 — “This game was just on crack… I wanted to pull my hair out so much only from the defense.”
Aiden Flora (2:17–3:38, revisited 18:21–19:13, 26:22–28:07, 29:33–30:40, 40:18–44:28)
Five total touchdowns. Career-high 22 carries, 212 yards, three rushing TDs, plus two halfback-pass TDs. Walk-on his first two years; Rogers put him on scholarship to keep him.
46-yard halfback pass to Cody Jackson (2nd quarter, 11:04). Fake bubble; three defenders crashed the screen; Jackson leaked out wide open.

Goal-line toss to Vince Benetti with about nine seconds left in the half. Carter’s point: if Benetti isn’t open, throw it away and still kick. Either way they score. Made it 21–14 at the break.

24-yard TD run early in the third to make it 28–14.

63-yard TD run (4th, 6:08) to retake a 38–35 lead. Carter walks the blocking: three pullers, Benetti seal, Dom Overby on the DB, Flora threads the needle.

Go-ahead 2-yard run with 1:57 left after a hold on Benetti put the ball at the 2. Fifth score. Six-OL package on the drive; Gavin Proudfoot as the sixth lineman.
Patience on the ground, not much as a receiver. Fifth-string last year. Austin: Lions-style RB passes, but only sustainable because the toss already has to be respected.
Clips: 2:54–3:27 (both throw TDs and the clock logic); 26:33–27:37 (Jackson screen fake breakdown); 29:48–30:10 (nine seconds, TD or FG); 33:53–34:44 (63-yard run blocking); 43:40–44:24 (go-ahead, six-OL).
Other Iowa State skill (2:20–5:00, 15:10–17:30, 21:43–22:20)
Cody Jackson: coming-out party. 46-yard score, YAC, blocking, wide-open sideline catch after Raynor pumped and stepped up.

River Peppers: change of pace, including a 15-yard run off the right side. Took some Cam Head carries. Austin compares him to a younger, thinner Flora; camp GPS had him top-three in speed. Battle-back from the Colorado flat drop.

Dom Overby: juggling first-down catch and a jump ball that set up the Omari Hayes score. Austin: “Dom Overby or Allen Lazard?”

Omari Hayes: 20-yard TD from Jaylen Raynor (1st, 2:31) after the Tyler Moberly red-zone sequence (penalties on Fortenberry and Masai King; Fortenberry drop). Hayes also got hit on mesh concepts early.

Ty Claiborne: solid first-half catches, no drops noted.

Arnold Barnes: Austin wants more volume. Needs four to six carries to get going; two or three isn’t enough.

Jaylen Raynor: 19-of-27, 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT (season high in yards). Halftime about 10-of-15, 100 yards, a TD, no turnovers. Rough first two drives (happy feet, indecision), then pocket presence and base. Killer INT in the third — tried to squeeze it over a linebacker/DL, ball tipped and picked, momentum flipped. Austin thought they were headed for 42–21 before that pick. Moberly almost entered if the turnovers continued. Under center only about 12–15 snaps; mostly gun.
Clips: 4:05–4:36 (Jackson); 16:10–16:35 (Overby / Lazard); 17:08–17:30 (Raynor pocket presence); 15:32–15:43 (“that pick, man, that was a killer”).
Offensive line (19:23–21:38, 34:47–35:04, 45:49–46:08)
Best unit on the field. Pass pro and run game both. DeAndre Carter stepped in clean. Gavin Proudfoot (No. 45/46) in six-OL stretches — more extensive than earlier this year. Depth named: Colin Amick, Gavin Brocious (started six to eight games at Michigan State last year, can’t crack the two-deep). Braden Smith took a shot to the face on a near-pick; Trevor Bendell came in at center. Carter likes the positional flexibility for November. Carter Pabst (hurt last game) and Caden Moss both out for the year — Moss a real OL loss.
Clip: 19:26–19:32 (“DeAndre Carter, man. Wow.”) and 34:47–34:53 (“Offensive line kicked ass.”)
Defense (5:00–11:20, 23:00–23:30, 24:37–26:00, 28:44–29:30, 35:11–43:18)
Theme is missed tackles and bad angles, not a total absence of pressure. D-line got stops in the backfield; pressure often didn’t finish. Linebackers and DBs were the weak point.
Willie Breland beaten on WVU’s first score: Hawkins to Cyrus Traugh, 33 yards (1st, 6:53). LB matched on a receiver, turned around immediately.

Sullivan Schlimgen 12 tackles. Willick seven. Both, plus Breland, took bad angles on Hawkins out of the pocket.

Malakai Tayasi strip-sack. Austin: only real pressure home.

Benny Ngoyi had a pick go through his hands that led to a WVU score.

David Coffey near-INT late; control questionable. Broadcast down-and-distance confusion after a prior first-down run.

Seth Johnson slipped and got beat over the top on the Hawkins-to-DJ Epps 47-yard TD (4th, 5:04) that made it 42–38. Sold out for the run all day, then got cooked over the top.

Cam Cook 8-yard TD (4th) and another Cook score off pullers. Hawkins 8-yard TD run when the strong-side tackle and guard pulled, Willick missed, Schlimgen got blocked.

Keon Washington: not supposed to be a 60-snap pure coverage guy; Jaheim about a week from full health. Carter credits Washington with the late strip. Official recap: Schlimgen jarred it loose from Epps, Seth Johnson recovered with about 40 seconds left. Flora then ran for 11 to ice it. AP credited Beni Ngoyi with the force/recovery — show and box-score accounts don’t fully match.
Clips: 8:10–8:20 (dipping heads, over-pursuing); 9:11–9:33 (one-dimensional until you sell out, then the pass kills you); 42:38–43:10 (Johnson on a knee, four guys containing the run, nobody over the top).
West Virginia (6:03–7:30, 9:06–9:33, 12:38–14:00, 37:52–38:04)
Hawkins: 20 carries, 149 yards, 2 rush TDs; 11-of-23, 228 yards, 2 pass TDs. Cam Cook: 20 carries, 142 yards, scores. Carter hadn’t seen either live before and calls both crazy. WVU defense “a new level of bad.” ISU scored more on them than Oklahoma State did. Pre-game with Jacob Prophet (WVU VOCFB; not Mountaineer Paul): DBs coming back from injury, expected a spark, didn’t get one. Austin: slightly above-average Big 12 team at best — if they did this, BYU is a problem.
Austin segment (7:45–24:15)
Almost a heartbreaker. Offense finally looked right; defense keeps repeating the same mistakes. Early mesh looked like a Tom Manning offense; Hayes got hit for short gains. Creativity (QB power fake / pop pass with Moberly) is something they can steal on fourth-and-1 later. Close-game composure matters — they played Iowa tight and won a shootout here. Rogers will adjust week to week instead of banging his head on a wall. On3 had them 2–10; they’re already at three wins. .500 in the Big 12 feels realistic. Penn State lost; Iowa–Ohio State on in the background.
Looking ahead (46:20–50:27)
Next: at No. 10 BYU, Friday, 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, then at Arizona. BYU is smash-mouth (Bear Bachmeier a purer passer, less elusive than Hawkins), not another WVU/Utah lateral-quickness test. Carter watched part of BYU–Arizona and wasn’t fully sold. A win in Provo would be a shock. BYU was at TCU at 6 p.m. the same night. Carter and Levi back Tuesday for the recap/preview. Postgame live timing after the Friday night kick still TBD.

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52 min
September 30Utah Recap | West Virginia Preview | Iowa State Cyclones LIVE #84
Iowa State Live #84 — Utah Recap | West Virginia Preview
IowaStateVOCFB | Hosts: Carter Hanson & Levi Stevenson
Tuesday night episode after Iowa State’s loss to Utah (Cyclones 2-2).
Intro (0:00–1:20)
Carter welcomes viewers; Levi joins.

Iowa State is 2-2. Carter missed the second half Saturday; both agree the second half was better than the first.

Utah is one of the best teams Iowa State will see all year (alongside BYU). The loss should age better if Utah stays elite.
Utah Recap — Big Picture (1:20–6:00)
Utah’s run game “tore” Iowa State. Wayshawn Parker specifically.

Utah played clean: few turnovers (one tough chance for Sullivan Schlimgen), limited penalties, good scheme and blocking.

Tight end No. 99 (big, ~5-10/320, runs well) was an excellent lead blocker who sealed ends/LBs and sprung runs.

Devin Dampier showed why experience matters — NFL-level TD throw, useful size as a runner. Both Utah QBs ran well.

Jimmy Pollard quote from media availability: the team “makes you want to pull your hair out and we can all be bald together.” Hosts love it.

Most issues look coachable rather than “Utah is just unstoppable.”
Defense vs. Utah (3:30–9:30, 37:00+)
First half tackling and pursuit angles were poor. Carson Willick had a rough day on angles/tackling. Seth Johnson also struggled. Sullivan Schlimgen led the team in tackles (~12) but missed several wraps.

Jace Gilbert made some good plays but drew a “really dumb” roughing-the-passer flag.

Pattern: Iowa State would get Utah into second-and-long, then take a penalty, miss a tackle, or lose assignment.

Seth Johnson as CB: teams are motioning their fastest receiver onto him and sending go/post routes. He got beat by Tony Diaz (Iowa) and again vs. Utah (recovered when the throw was behind). Hosts suggest evaluating him more as a safety or adding high help.

Third/fourth-quarter 35-yard completion to the 1 looked like LB/DB miscommunication.

Second half improved: better tackling, more pocket pressure, some bad throws forced.

Donovan Fitzmaurice solid (PFF ~64 overall). Jace Gilbert and others seeing more snaps; Caden Crawford injured.

Eye discipline improved in the second half — key for West Virginia.
Offense vs. Utah (9:30–14:00, 31:00+)
Skill players (positive)
Aiden Flora: confirmed as a true lead back.

Omari Hayes: one of the best route-runners since David Hutchinson; open constantly (~85% of routes), especially on short cuts/crosses rather than verticals.

Dom Overby: best game of the year — converted a first down with a stretch, then scored on a good route. Levi had called the Utah game a “put up or shut up” week after quiet earlier games.

Jamal Polite: one drop (should have been caught; late hands on a drag), otherwise fine for a true freshman.

Cody Jackson got involved. Carter Papps appears done for a while (ankle then knee).

With Hayes/Polite/Overby, the receiving group is good enough if they get the ball.
OL
Pass protection generally good. Run blocking inconsistent — some push, a lot of “not good.”

Left side (Jake Taylor, Caden Moss) anchoring well. Cy King good. Braden Smith mixed (PFF: 77 SEMO, 58 Iowa, 87 BGSU, 61 Utah; 58 run / 66 pass vs. Utah). DeAndre Carter taking more snaps at RG over Barrett/Bendell.

Opponents are starting to “pop” a DE into contain on kick-out/cross-formation runs, which messes up assignments. Seen vs. Iowa, BGSU, and Utah. Something to watch vs. WVU.
Quarterback — Jalen Rainer (the main topic, ~13:00–29:00)
“Terrible” / “bad” Saturday. Missed ~10 throws, including the first completion to Flora (should have been a big gain or score) and a wide-open Hayes crossing route (missed by 10–15 feet).

Utah stacked the box 7–8; Iowa State couldn’t punish it through the air.

Late pick on a behind throw with the game already basically over.

Not using his mobility — his actual strength (elusive in space, not a burner). Looks like he’s trying to be a pocket passer he’s not. Multiple times he had 10 yards of green and still threw a duck.

Stats called out:
aDOT falling (18.2 SEMO → 12.4 Iowa → 6.2 BGSU → 9.5 Utah). Often throwing at or short of the sticks.

Adjusted completion % stuck ~61% (65% vs. BGSU with drops).

4 batted balls vs. Utah. Sidearm throws called out.

PFF: 47.9 passing grade with no play-action; 67.7 with PA; 66.5 on screens, 52.5 without. Standard dropback with no screen/PA is a bad play call for him right now.

Accurate on designed timing routes (hitches, slants, drags, screens, Flora in the flat) when he knows exactly where the ball is going. Breaks down on progressions, off-timing, or first read covered.

Decision-making and field vision poor — “in his own head,” lacking confidence in throws/scheme/teammates. Mechanics secondary to that.

Hosts want it to work with Rainer (athleticism upside, ~40th consecutive start) but he has to justify the job. If he isn’t markedly better vs. a weak WVU defense, they need to look at Moberly or Flores. They’d like Moberly to get at least one drive.

Tyler Rohl not blamed — WRs are getting open; Rainer isn’t hitting the throws.
West Virginia Preview (36:00–46:30)
Heavy run team: 45–50 carries, ~300 rush yards, ~160 pass per game. Similar concepts to Utah (motion, eye candy, QB run, lead blockers, fast backs through holes). Cam Cook good; Michael Hawkins called the best running QB in CFB.

Iowa State must be better on eye discipline and tackling. Rain would be a problem.

Scheme debate: 4-2-5 more aggressive (more TFLs, but bigger runs if someone misses). 3-3-5 more contain/spill, safer against speed-option outside. Hosts lean toward being more aggressive — Iowa State has played “not to lose” too much; this is a winnable game.

WVU defense is not good. Iowa State should move the ball, eat clock, stay ahead. Falling behind would be a nightmare because WVU can just run and sit on the clock. Prefer long scoring drives or three-and-outs that still end in FG range.

Must-win feel heading into BYU. Pop-Tart Bowl talk is a long shot (need to win out / Big 12 title and miss playoff). Beat WVU first.
Jack Trice Field / Turf Debate (46:30–53:30)
Kickoff return TD partly because Kyle lost his footing (not an intentional squib). Adds fuel to turf talk.

Natural grass looks great Weeks 1–2, then late-September/October rain (record September rain + three straight home games) wrecks it. Upper Midwest weather is brutal on grass.

FIFA hybrid turf looked good because it was new + summer weather. Sewing more fiber helps durability but raises the “Ship of Theseus” question: how much fake grass before it’s just turf?

Field replaced before 2023 or 2024. Next replacement should include a real conversation about a reliable October/December (playoff) surface. Hosts aren’t demanding an immediate switch but Saturday was the first time they seriously considered it.
Close (53:30–end)
Levi planning a “six-pack” tape breakdown for Wednesday (bad reads, run-game counters).

Postgame show Saturday after the 11 a.m. WVU kick — Carter hosting, likely live ~2:30 p.m., link in Discord/YouTube.

“Go Clones.”

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55 min
September 16CyHawk Recap | Bowling Green Preview | Lipsey Back to Iowa State? | Iowa State Cyclones LIVE #83
Iowa State Live #83 — Cy-Hawk Recap | Bowling Green Preview | Lipsey Back?
Hosts: Carter Hanson & Levi Stevenson | IowaStateVOCFB
00:00–00:33 — Intro / Moving on from Cy-Hawk
Easy to move on after the Iowa loss. Levi mentally checked out after the third-and-1 false start (Mosi King) that set ISU back.

Pre-game expectation from media: lose by ~20. ISU leading / close into the fourth took some of the sting out.

Levi: Cy-Hawk has limited resume upside for Iowa State. A Big Ten win doesn’t move the committee needle the way a real conference win does. He’d take BYU on the road, Utah, or K-State over Iowa this year.

Timing matters: Iowa is Week 2; K-State is late-season confidence heading into bowls.

Cy-Hawk is stressful, not fun. Even walk-off wins (Kyle Conradi) are horrifying for 98% of the game. K-State games are close and actually enjoyable.
00:05–00:16 — Rivalry culture
Levi grew up in Eastern Iowa as an ISU fan — “vicious bullying” as a kid; that subset of the fanbase carries the most vitriol.

Rivalry should stay forever (organic, state identity, blue-collar vs white-collar). Personally he no longer enjoys Cy-Hawk week: sensory overload, personal insults instead of banter, burners saying things they wouldn’t say face-to-face.

Iowa fans: worst winners. Barstool kickoff beer-can incident, post-game nastiness after they “escaped.” Kirk Ferentz calling it “like a conference game” is their highest compliment.

Basketball contrast: ISU has owned the modern men’s series (Hoiberg era onward; last five; Hilton rarity for Iowa). Football is the toxic one.
00:16–00:25 — Saturday recap
Came out firing; first true environment test, not intimidated.

Defense: D-line and LBs impressive. Constant pressure. Run game dead — Iowa’s longest rush 9 yards. Moulton ~60 yards, most of it late; non-existent until mid-4th.

OL: Clear growth Week 1 → Week 2. Run game opened more; Arnold Barnes good carries. Petaway quieter.

Receivers: Concern going forward. Omari Hayes the exception — perfect slot, jet sweeps, options, YAC. Rainer “fine enough not to lose,” zero turnovers, but living in “don’t lose” mode. Fourth quarter needed “make a play to win.”

Difference down the stretch: Iowa’s experience / comfort in the system vs ISU still learning each other (example: Cade Moss steps on Jake Taylor’s foot, play blown up). Iowa can be aggressive because everyone has been there.

Field position flipped the game. First punt pinned inside the 5; ISU playbook shrinks inside own 10 (no Hayes reverse, play-action is a safety risk). “Fighting in a phone booth with Iowa’s back to the open door.”

Special teams: DuPont 70-yarder (“DuPunting is winning”) then immediately shanked the next one.
00:25–00:33 — Play-calling / Rainer’s legs
Jimmy Rogers: they didn’t run more boots because Iowa would have an answer — Cam Buffington as a dedicated QB spy a huge chunk of the game. Staff watched five years of tape.

Tyler Ruhle: run packages for Rainer exist and have not been opened. Trust the staff; they’ve seen more of him than the public. If legs were the best option right now, they’d use them more.

Pocket-passer vs dual-threat decision still hanging. Moberly: size/arm/mobility on tape, but limited real snaps; nothing yet that screams “QB of the future.” Hasn’t been asked to run an offense.
~00:33–00:45 — Tamin Lipsey (basketball)
Lipsey declared, went through the draft process, never signed a pro contract / Exhibit 10. Seeking an injunction (decision expected later this week / next week).

If the injunction lands, he is a Cyclone — period. He wouldn’t have filed unless the plan was “TJ needs me, I’m back.” Either Iowa State or nobody.

Court language referenced competing for minutes with other fifth-year guys (Algis Kuntz, Curtis Jones, etc.) — argument for a fifth year.

Money not the driver; he wants to play for Otzelberger.

If he returns and Killyan Toure is back by February: ISU could be historically good defensively — Lipsey + Toure as two of the best defensive guards in the country, plus Jaquan Johnson (MVC Defensive Player of the Year caliber), Leon Bond, Buchanan/Plata/Singleton stepping up.
00:45–01:14 — NIL / portal / salary structure rant
Portal + unlimited transfers + agents have tarnished the sport. G6/FCS upsets and NCAA Cinderellas are dying because talent floats to the top.

One free transfer is the clean rule everyone should like.

Public sentiment in a future CBA fight will likely side with schools/conferences on limits, not unlimited player movement.

Soccer-style transfer fees / buyouts + tiered standardized contracts floated as a workable model (Tier 1 stars, Tier 2 rotation, Tier 3). Hard to value across P4 vs mid-major.

NCAA is just throwing logs in front of the wheels at this point.

Side quests: baseball needs a cap and a floor (“A’s and Dodgers rule”); NHL cap keeps the league dynamic; NBA structure/supermaxes and regular-season product get roasted.
01:14–01:16 — Bowling Green preview
Not a real threat if ISU minds P’s and Q’s.

Score picks: Carter 38–10, Levi 31–3 (Levi baking in a garbage-time / backup-QB fumble short-field TD).

Rogers would lose his mind at a sloppy backup turnover. Monday practice would be ugly.

Question of how much of the playbook they open vs just running the ball and getting out.
01:16–01:29 — Big 12 respect / realignment spitball
Path back to national recognition: win a title — and not with BYU or Texas Tech (everyone already knows those two spend). A K-State / Utah / ISU-type run would sell depth.

2024 ASU (Leavitt, Skattebo) “should have beaten Texas” and would have had a real shot.

2026 dark horses besides Tech/BYU: Utah (run + defense; need Dampier as a reliable passer) and Kansas State (if Avery Johnson’s light finally comes on under Klein). Houston not bought in yet; Arizona a stretch.

Kick-out list: UCF first (contributed nothing), maybe Cincinnati, Utah if they don’t want to be here. Replacements dreamed: FSU, Clemson, Louisville, SMU, maybe Boise. Memphis no. Texas A&M would never leave the SEC.

UCF “sleeping giant” talk is dead; Orlando as a November trip is overrated vs Tucson / Texas schools / even Lubbock.
01:29–end — Housekeeping
Utah kickoff 2:30 — both like it (whiteout finishes in twilight).

Carter live after Saturday’s game from Ames.

Levi back next Tuesday: Bowling Green recap + Big 12 opener preview.

Roll Clones.

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1 hr 31 min
September 13IOWA STATE - Iowa Postgame LIVE
IowaStateVOCFB Instant Postgame LIVE
Iowa 16, Iowa State 13 — Cy-Hawk at Kinnick
Host: Carter Hanson | Caller: Austin
Saturday night, Sept. 12, 2026 | ~43 min
Final: Caden Buhr 42-yard FG with :15 left. Iowa 2-0, Iowa State 1-1.
ISU led 10-0 in Q2 and 13-10 after Kyle Konrardy’s 51-yarder in Q3. Iowa tied it 13-13 on a 32-yard Buhr FG at 6:22 of Q4, then won it.
Opening tone (0:36–3:05)
Carter: not the result they wanted, but also a success.
“This game was a success, but also a disappointment.”
Defense looked fantastic most of the night; late fourth quarter was the exception. First true road test for a rebuilt roster at a rocking Kinnick. Composure early was the headline. “I don’t see how you take this as a bad loss.” Sweep it, beat Bowling Green, then Utah at home for the Big 12 opener.
Offense / run game (3:13–8:00, 12:22–16:37)
Aiden Flora: 19 carries, 89 yards (34-yard long). “Stats don’t do this game justice.” Fought in the trenches.

Omari Hayes jet sweep ~15 yards that set up scoring. Hayes “looking great”; Carter wants him fed like Iowa feeds Tony Diaz.

Cameron Pettaway didn’t get as many touches as expected.

Second-half run game stalled; Carter thinks Iowa adjusted to ISU’s schemes.

Creative first-half play-calling from Tyler Roll on the TD drive (Vince Benetti 4-yard catch from Jaylen Raynor).

Need Flora/Pettaway in space, off-tackle, jet sweeps, screens — not just A-gap. “Flora is still getting there” as an interior back.

OL: good push early, faded late. Back-to-back holds on Benetti killed a drive. False starts piled up after a penalty-free first half.

Pass pro: no sacks allowed. Jake Taylor “NFL talent,” Messiah King, Caden Moss, Braden Smith, Barrett/Bendel all graded as solid. King used as floating/pulling guard.
Raynor: composed, mobile, spun out of pressure, good throws on the run. First half more confident; second half more tentative on run reads (hesitated, let LBs close). “Played good enough for us maybe to win.” Austin: similar to Rocco last year — checkdowns, don’t lose it. Some people already calling for Moberly; Austin and Carter are not.
Defense (4:47–7:22, 33:55–39:40)
Best unit of the night until gas tank emptied.
Bottled Iowa’s run: Kamari Moulton 15-57. Iowa 29-93 rushing as a team; longest rush 9 yards (Brown scramble).

LBs Sullivan Schlimgen and Cam Willich “amazing.” Bo Goodwin had a key stop on the final Iowa FG drive.

D-line: pressure, no sacks, hurried Hank Brown early.

Secondary: got beat over the top in the first half (Brown-to-Diaz deep ball). Tightened later; more underneath completions. David Coffey PBU on a TE at the sticks was a highlight. Seth Johnson vs. Diaz was the matchup they expected.

Iowa D “as advertised.” ISU offense had two really good drives (early second-half FG + the TD drive) and not much else.
Last Iowa drive: ISU “ran out of gas.” Only two FGs allowed in the second half, but inconsistent offense made it hard to answer.
Injuries / availability (21:43–26:13, 34:26)
Watch Monday/Tuesday reports:
WR Evan Boyd — knee/ankle after a Montgomery tackle. Chemistry with Raynor is the concern. Receiver room is deep (Hayes, Pabst, Claiborne, Polite, etc.).

DB Benny Ngoyi — hobbling; cramps mentioned, hope it’s nothing.

DL Jack Janikowski — banged up, returned.
If someone had to go down, WR is the deepest room.
Special teams / officiating / “what ifs” (26:31–31:00)
Punting: one shank, but also pinned Iowa inside the 5 and another at the 4. Not the reason they lost.

Weird punt play: Iowa tried to throw a blocker into the returner. Carter: illegal/funny, didn’t matter because ISU kicked the ball anyway.

Fake punt talk on 4th-and-short — Austin wanted a sneak/up-back run. Carter: only if you’re not backed up; blow-up risk is huge.

Iowa holder saved a high snap on the winner. “Unsung heroes.”

People were taking Iowa –30. No one expected this to be a one-score game to the last snap.
Austin: “If this game is in Ames, we probably win.” Carter agrees the environment was the separator.
Caller Austin (19:08–26:30)
Proud of the fight. 10-0 start nobody saw coming. “If I told myself before the game this is how it ends, I wouldn’t be too mad.”
Progress-checker game. First real road test, one-score to the final seconds.
Wants more designed rollouts/RPOs for Raynor’s legs in conference play.
Feed Hayes. Use Boyd’s size/blocking if he’s healthy.
Emotional win even if the scoreboard isn’t.
Carter: “The sky could not be more blue.” Optimism heading into Big 12.
Looking ahead (8:01–8:05, 39:50–43:03)
Next: Bowling Green, 11 a.m. CT at home. Get healthy, stay ahead of the chains, pile stats on skill guys.

Then Utah (home Big 12 opener). Utah’s QB is more mobile and they have more weapons than Iowa. Pass defense has to tighten.

Tuesday show with Levi: film + BG preview. Pass protection will be a talking point.
Sign-off (42:22): Carter Hanson, Iowa State Live / Voice of College Football. Iowa downs Iowa State on a FG with ~20 seconds left. Safe travels home.

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43 min

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