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Iowa State shuts out Houston to improve to 4-0

Iowa State shuts out Houston to improve to 4-0

Matt Campbell is now the all-time wins leader at Iowa State. The Cyclones improved to 4-0 with a win at Houston.Iowa State at Houston football score updates, highlights and moreHere’s how the Cyclones won Saturday night.Jarrod Hufford injuredIowa State’s starting center went down on the field with just over 2:00 to go. He was able to walk back to the sideline under his own power.Jeremiah Cooper picks off fourth down passAfter a JR Singleton strip-sack pushed Houston back for fourth-and-long, Jeremiah Cooper intercepted a desperation pass. ISU has it in Houston territory with just over 4:00 to play.Abu Sama breaks 77-yard touchdownAbu. Sama.The Southeast Polk graduate disappeared into a pack before somehow emerging on the other side unscathed and sprinting into the end zone. It goes into the books as a 77-yard touchdown.Iowa State has complete control with 5:39 to play.Iowa State scoring drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:59Jontez Williams picks off Donovan SmithThat might seal it.Houston was in the middle of its best drive of the night and had the ball at the ISU 24, but Donovan Smith tried a shot to the end zone and was picked off by Jontez Williams for a touchback. That’s also Williams’ first career interception.Iowa State takes over at its own 20-yard line, leading 13-0 with 6:38 to go.Kyle Konrardy extends Iowa State lead with field goalIowa State couldn’t fully take advantage of the strong field position, but the Cyclone offense did enough to get into field goal range. Kyle Konrardy drilled his 34-yard field goal attempt to make it 13-0.Houston has 11:39 left in the game to make a comeback.Iowa State scoring drive: 7 plays, 16 yards, 4:01End of third quarter: Iowa State 10, Houston 0Houston’s offense can’t find any rhythm against Iowa State’s defense.Iowa State now has the ball inside the Houston 35 with a 10-point lead. It hasn’t been pretty for the Cyclones tonight, but they’re still in full control with 15 minutes to go.Malik Verdon forces fumbleSuddenly, Iowa State is in the driver’s seat.Malik Verdon punched out the ball, and Jacob Ellis fell on it in Houston territory. A penalty at the end of the play will give ISU great field position at the Houston 32.Former Cyclone Breece Hall showed his appreciation for the play.Jayden Higgins scores touchdown to extend ISU leadAfter his first touchdown was called back by a penalty, Jayden Higgins has put a touchdown on the board, for real this time.Rocco Becht delivered a great pass to Higgins’ outside shoulder in the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown to cap ISU’s best drive of the game.Iowa State scoring drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:31Houston’s Michael Batton injuredHouston’s leading tackler is limping off the field with the help of trainers.Jaylon Jackson breaks 50-yard runIowa State’s stagnant offense just got a huge boost.On first down at the Iowa State 34, Jaylon Jackson broke a run through the right side for 50 yards before he was shoved out of bounds inside the Houston red zone.It’s Iowa State’s longest rush of the season so far.Cyclone defense gets key stopIowa State’s defense is determined to win this game by itself.The Cyclones got a big stop after Houston crossed midfield. The ensuing Houston punt bounced into the end zone, so it’ll be ISU ball at the 20-yard line with 4:43 to go in the third quarter.Iowa State comes up empty after promising driveRocco Becht appeared to have a touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins, but a penalty for ineligible man downfield nullified the touchdown. A fumbled handoff and a sack pushed Iowa State back even farther, and Kyle Konrardy’s 42-yard field goal was pushed wide right.The Cyclone offense can’t seem to get it figured out.Halftime: Iowa State 3, Houston 0Iowa State’s defense in that first half? Very good.Iowa State’s offense? Not so much.The Cyclones do hold a lead and will receive the opening kickoff of the second half, but a very quiet half has kept Houston in this game.Iowa State holds a 143-119 lead in yardage, 9-4 edge in first downs and also leads in time of possession.Houston offense goes nowhere, punts backThe Cougars have no answer for Iowa State’s defense.Through five drives, Houston has just four first downs and 14 total passing yards. The run game has been effective in spurts, but not enough to sustain a full drive down the field.Iowa State has it at its own 13-yard line, leading 3-0, with 6:08 remaining in the first half.Iowa State punts it backA field position battle has unfolded.Iowa State had the start to a promising drive, but a third down conversion on a pass to Jaylin Noel was overturned after replay found the ball hit the ground.Cougars offense goes three-and-outFour drives, four punts.Houston appeared to have something cooking on that drive after a long run by Zeon Chriss, but it was called back due to a block in the back penalty on Houston. An incomplete pass on third down ended the drive there.ISU has it at the 20 after the punt sailed into the end zone for a touchback.Houston goes back to Zeon Chriss at QBThe back-and-forth continues as expected for Houston. Chriss is back in at QB for Donovan Smith for drive No. 4.Cyclones go three-and-outIowa State’s offense hasn’t been able to sustain its momentum from the first drive. A short run followed by two incomplete passes stalled that possession.Tyler Perkins’ punt was fair caught, and a holding penalty against the Cougars’ return unit will pin their offense back a bit further. Houston will have it at its own 42-yard line with 13:00 left in the half.After starting 3-for-3 for 30 yards, Rocco Becht is now 4-for-9 for 33 yards.Houston stuffed, forced to punt againAnother Houston drive, another punt.Iowa State has it at its own 7-yard line with 14:02 left in the half.John Klosterman injuredLinebacker John Klosterman is slow to get up after a third-down play. He’ll be helped off the field by Iowa State’s trainers.End of the first quarter: Iowa State 3, Houston 0Iowa State holds a lead after a low-scoring first quarter. Houston has third-and-7 near midfield when the second quarter gets underway.Houston goes back to Donovan SmithPerhaps Houston is changing QBs every drive, or maybe first-year coach Willie Fritz is just waiting for one to earn the job. Either way, Smith is back in for the third drive of the game.Cyclones forced to puntIowa State opts to punt on fourth-and-4 from the Houston 45. It’ll go down as a net gain of just 25 yards after the ball bounced into the end zone for a touchback.Houston takes over at its own 20-yard line. Other than Sneed’s 37-yard scamper early in the first drive, the Cougars’ offense has been almost non-existent through two possessions.Zeon Chriss checks in at quarterback for HoustonAnd there’s the 2-QB system we expected.Zeon Chriss checks in at quarterback for Houston’s second drive. He took off down the right side for a nice 11-yard gain, but a third-down run went backward. Jaylin Noel’s fair catch will give Iowa State the ball at its own 26, leading 3-0 with 5:17 on the clock in the first quarter.Kyle Konrardy gives Iowa State the early leadA balanced attack led Iowa State down the field on the first drive.Rocco Becht hit each of his first three pass attempts for 30 yards. Three different rushers took carries, led by Jaylon Jackson going for 11 yards. But the drive stalled deep in Houston territory. Kyle Konrardy knocked in a 23-yard field goal to get ISU on the board.Iowa State scoring drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 5:25Houston breaks big run, but Cyclones get fourth down stopRunning back Stacy Sneed broke a 37-yard run to get into ISU territory. The Cyclone defense stood tall there, forcing a fourth-and-4 attempt that ended with a run short of the sticks.Iowa State takes over in a scoreless game at its own 30.Donovan Smith starts at QB for HoustonHouston used two quarterbacks last week, but it will be the usual starter, Donovan Smith, to begin Saturday’s game.Iowa State wins coin toss, defers to second halfThe Cyclone defense will see the field first. Iowa State opts to kick off to start the game and will receive the second half kick.How to watch Iowa State football at HoustonWhen: 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28Where: TDECU Stadium, Houston, TexasTV: Fox Sports 1Livestream: Fox Sports Live (cable subscription required)Online radio: The Varsity NetworkGameday forecast: Conditions for Iowa State’s game at HoustonIowa State at Houston football ticketsTickets are still available for Saturday’s game. Houston’s website lists tickets starting at $15 apiece.You can find more information here.Houston football record, scores, stats and more2024 marks Houston’s second season in the Big 12.The Cougars went 4-8 last year (and 2-7 in Big 12 play) and parted ways with head coach Dana Holgorsen. Replacing Holgorsen is Willie Fritz, who spent eight seasons turning Tulane into a contender in the American Athletic Conference. Tulane went 12-2 and 11-2 over Fritz’s last two seasons at the helm.This year, Houston is 1-3 and 0-1 in Big 12 play. The offense has struggled each game, scoring 7, 12, and 0 points in its three losses. Houston’s 13 points per game ranked 129th out of 134 FBS teams.Houston vs. Iowa State football series historyIowa State and Houston have never played each other, but Houston quarterback Donovan Smith is a familiar name for Cyclone fans.Smith played against Iowa State twice when he played at Texas Tech from 2021-22. He beat Brock Purdy and the Cyclones in 2021, throwing for 322 yards and three touchdowns in the 41-38 victory.Iowa State at Houston football betting odds, over/underIowa State is a 13.5-point favorite over Houston, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.The over/under is set at 43.5 points, reflecting Houston’s offensive struggles. Iowa State football recap: Cyclones crush Arkansas State Iowa State returned from its bye week to dominate Arkansas State, 52-7, last Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.Six different Cyclones reached the end zone a combined seven times, and most of the team’s starters were resting on the sidelines partway through the third quarter. Defensively, Arkansas State only mustered 182 total yards and committed four turnovers.The Cyclones are aiming for their first 4-0 start since 2000, when Dan McCarney’s team started 4-0 en route to a 9-3 season. The Cyclones have started 3-0 on five occasions since then but have lost their fourth game each time, most recently in 2022.Matt Campbell ties Dan McCarney for most wins at Iowa StateMatt Campbell tied Dan McCarney’s record last week for most career wins at Iowa State, and Saturday presents his first opportunity to take the record for his own.Campbell, now in his ninth year in Ames, owns a 56-48 record at Iowa State. McCarney took over an ISU program in despair in 1995 and revitalized the program, going 56-85 across 12 seasons.Algona teammates ready to continue playing together at Iowa StateTwo of the highest-rated football prospects in the state of Iowa are teammates at Algona. They’ll also be teammates next year at Iowa State.Meet Alex Manske and Jack Limbaugh, two future Cyclones who are starring in the high school ranks.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Matt Campbell is now the all-time wins leader at Iowa State.

The Cyclones improved to 4-0 with a win at Houston.

Iowa State at Houston football score updates, highlights and more

Here’s how the Cyclones won Saturday night.

Jarrod Hufford injured

Iowa State’s starting center went down on the field with just over 2:00 to go. He was able to walk back to the sideline under his own power.

Jeremiah Cooper picks off fourth down pass

After a JR Singleton strip-sack pushed Houston back for fourth-and-long, Jeremiah Cooper intercepted a desperation pass. ISU has it in Houston territory with just over 4:00 to play.

Abu Sama breaks 77-yard touchdown

Abu. Sama.

The Southeast Polk graduate disappeared into a pack before somehow emerging on the other side unscathed and sprinting into the end zone. It goes into the books as a 77-yard touchdown.

Iowa State has complete control with 5:39 to play.

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Iowa State scoring drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:59

Jontez Williams picks off Donovan Smith

That might seal it.

Houston was in the middle of its best drive of the night and had the ball at the ISU 24, but Donovan Smith tried a shot to the end zone and was picked off by Jontez Williams for a touchback. That’s also Williams’ first career interception.

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Iowa State takes over at its own 20-yard line, leading 13-0 with 6:38 to go.

Kyle Konrardy extends Iowa State lead with field goal

Iowa State couldn’t fully take advantage of the strong field position, but the Cyclone offense did enough to get into field goal range. Kyle Konrardy drilled his 34-yard field goal attempt to make it 13-0.

Houston has 11:39 left in the game to make a comeback.

Iowa State scoring drive: 7 plays, 16 yards, 4:01

End of third quarter: Iowa State 10, Houston 0

Houston’s offense can’t find any rhythm against Iowa State’s defense.

Iowa State now has the ball inside the Houston 35 with a 10-point lead. It hasn’t been pretty for the Cyclones tonight, but they’re still in full control with 15 minutes to go.

Malik Verdon forces fumble

Suddenly, Iowa State is in the driver’s seat.

Malik Verdon punched out the ball, and Jacob Ellis fell on it in Houston territory. A penalty at the end of the play will give ISU great field position at the Houston 32.

Former Cyclone Breece Hall showed his appreciation for the play.

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Jayden Higgins scores touchdown to extend ISU lead

After his first touchdown was called back by a penalty, Jayden Higgins has put a touchdown on the board, for real this time.

Rocco Becht delivered a great pass to Higgins’ outside shoulder in the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown to cap ISU’s best drive of the game.

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Iowa State scoring drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:31

Houston’s Michael Batton injured

Houston’s leading tackler is limping off the field with the help of trainers.

Jaylon Jackson breaks 50-yard run

Iowa State’s stagnant offense just got a huge boost.

On first down at the Iowa State 34, Jaylon Jackson broke a run through the right side for 50 yards before he was shoved out of bounds inside the Houston red zone.

It’s Iowa State’s longest rush of the season so far.

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Cyclone defense gets key stop

Iowa State’s defense is determined to win this game by itself.

The Cyclones got a big stop after Houston crossed midfield. The ensuing Houston punt bounced into the end zone, so it’ll be ISU ball at the 20-yard line with 4:43 to go in the third quarter.

Iowa State comes up empty after promising drive

Rocco Becht appeared to have a touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins, but a penalty for ineligible man downfield nullified the touchdown. A fumbled handoff and a sack pushed Iowa State back even farther, and Kyle Konrardy’s 42-yard field goal was pushed wide right.

The Cyclone offense can’t seem to get it figured out.

Halftime: Iowa State 3, Houston 0

Iowa State’s defense in that first half? Very good.

Iowa State’s offense? Not so much.

The Cyclones do hold a lead and will receive the opening kickoff of the second half, but a very quiet half has kept Houston in this game.

Iowa State holds a 143-119 lead in yardage, 9-4 edge in first downs and also leads in time of possession.

Houston offense goes nowhere, punts back

The Cougars have no answer for Iowa State’s defense.

Through five drives, Houston has just four first downs and 14 total passing yards. The run game has been effective in spurts, but not enough to sustain a full drive down the field.

Iowa State has it at its own 13-yard line, leading 3-0, with 6:08 remaining in the first half.

Iowa State punts it back

A field position battle has unfolded.

Iowa State had the start to a promising drive, but a third down conversion on a pass to Jaylin Noel was overturned after replay found the ball hit the ground.

Cougars offense goes three-and-out

Four drives, four punts.

Houston appeared to have something cooking on that drive after a long run by Zeon Chriss, but it was called back due to a block in the back penalty on Houston. An incomplete pass on third down ended the drive there.

ISU has it at the 20 after the punt sailed into the end zone for a touchback.

Houston goes back to Zeon Chriss at QB

The back-and-forth continues as expected for Houston. Chriss is back in at QB for Donovan Smith for drive No. 4.

Cyclones go three-and-out

Iowa State’s offense hasn’t been able to sustain its momentum from the first drive. A short run followed by two incomplete passes stalled that possession.

Tyler Perkins’ punt was fair caught, and a holding penalty against the Cougars’ return unit will pin their offense back a bit further. Houston will have it at its own 42-yard line with 13:00 left in the half.

After starting 3-for-3 for 30 yards, Rocco Becht is now 4-for-9 for 33 yards.

Houston stuffed, forced to punt again

Another Houston drive, another punt.

Iowa State has it at its own 7-yard line with 14:02 left in the half.

John Klosterman injured

Linebacker John Klosterman is slow to get up after a third-down play. He’ll be helped off the field by Iowa State’s trainers.

End of the first quarter: Iowa State 3, Houston 0

Iowa State holds a lead after a low-scoring first quarter. Houston has third-and-7 near midfield when the second quarter gets underway.

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Houston goes back to Donovan Smith

Perhaps Houston is changing QBs every drive, or maybe first-year coach Willie Fritz is just waiting for one to earn the job. Either way, Smith is back in for the third drive of the game.

Cyclones forced to punt

Iowa State opts to punt on fourth-and-4 from the Houston 45. It’ll go down as a net gain of just 25 yards after the ball bounced into the end zone for a touchback.

Houston takes over at its own 20-yard line. Other than Sneed’s 37-yard scamper early in the first drive, the Cougars’ offense has been almost non-existent through two possessions.

Zeon Chriss checks in at quarterback for Houston

And there’s the 2-QB system we expected.

Zeon Chriss checks in at quarterback for Houston’s second drive. He took off down the right side for a nice 11-yard gain, but a third-down run went backward. Jaylin Noel’s fair catch will give Iowa State the ball at its own 26, leading 3-0 with 5:17 on the clock in the first quarter.

Kyle Konrardy gives Iowa State the early lead

A balanced attack led Iowa State down the field on the first drive.

Rocco Becht hit each of his first three pass attempts for 30 yards. Three different rushers took carries, led by Jaylon Jackson going for 11 yards. But the drive stalled deep in Houston territory. Kyle Konrardy knocked in a 23-yard field goal to get ISU on the board.

Iowa State scoring drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 5:25

Houston breaks big run, but Cyclones get fourth down stop

Running back Stacy Sneed broke a 37-yard run to get into ISU territory. The Cyclone defense stood tall there, forcing a fourth-and-4 attempt that ended with a run short of the sticks.

Iowa State takes over in a scoreless game at its own 30.

Donovan Smith starts at QB for Houston

Houston used two quarterbacks last week, but it will be the usual starter, Donovan Smith, to begin Saturday’s game.

Iowa State wins coin toss, defers to second half

The Cyclone defense will see the field first. Iowa State opts to kick off to start the game and will receive the second half kick.

How to watch Iowa State football at Houston

When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

Where: TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

TV: Fox Sports 1

Livestream: Fox Sports Live (cable subscription required)

Online radio: The Varsity Network

Gameday forecast: Conditions for Iowa State’s game at Houston

Iowa State at Houston football tickets

Tickets are still available for Saturday’s game. Houston’s website lists tickets starting at $15 apiece.

You can find more information here.

Houston football record, scores, stats and more

2024 marks Houston’s second season in the Big 12.

The Cougars went 4-8 last year (and 2-7 in Big 12 play) and parted ways with head coach Dana Holgorsen. Replacing Holgorsen is Willie Fritz, who spent eight seasons turning Tulane into a contender in the American Athletic Conference. Tulane went 12-2 and 11-2 over Fritz’s last two seasons at the helm.

This year, Houston is 1-3 and 0-1 in Big 12 play. The offense has struggled each game, scoring 7, 12, and 0 points in its three losses. Houston’s 13 points per game ranked 129th out of 134 FBS teams.

Houston vs. Iowa State football series history

Iowa State and Houston have never played each other, but Houston quarterback Donovan Smith is a familiar name for Cyclone fans.

Smith played against Iowa State twice when he played at Texas Tech from 2021-22. He beat Brock Purdy and the Cyclones in 2021, throwing for 322 yards and three touchdowns in the 41-38 victory.

Iowa State at Houston football betting odds, over/under

Iowa State is a 13.5-point favorite over Houston, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

The over/under is set at 43.5 points, reflecting Houston’s offensive struggles.

Iowa State football recap: Cyclones crush Arkansas State

Iowa State returned from its bye week to dominate Arkansas State, 52-7, last Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.

Six different Cyclones reached the end zone a combined seven times, and most of the team’s starters were resting on the sidelines partway through the third quarter. Defensively, Arkansas State only mustered 182 total yards and committed four turnovers.

The Cyclones are aiming for their first 4-0 start since 2000, when Dan McCarney’s team started 4-0 en route to a 9-3 season. The Cyclones have started 3-0 on five occasions since then but have lost their fourth game each time, most recently in 2022.

Matt Campbell ties Dan McCarney for most wins at Iowa State

Matt Campbell tied Dan McCarney’s record last week for most career wins at Iowa State, and Saturday presents his first opportunity to take the record for his own.

Campbell, now in his ninth year in Ames, owns a 56-48 record at Iowa State. McCarney took over an ISU program in despair in 1995 and revitalized the program, going 56-85 across 12 seasons.

Algona teammates ready to continue playing together at Iowa State

Two of the highest-rated football prospects in the state of Iowa are teammates at Algona. They’ll also be teammates next year at Iowa State.

Meet Alex Manske and Jack Limbaugh, two future Cyclones who are starring in the high school ranks.