Oct 3, 2026 · 25 min
Iowa State survives a shootout as Flora breaks out
CF POSTGAME: Iowa State beats West Virginia
The win keeps Iowa State moving forward, but its defensive lapses face a sharper test on the road at BYU.
- 1Aiden Flora’s five-touchdown breakout gave Iowa State’s dramatic victory its defining performance.
- 2Jalen Raynor’s strong second half suggested the quarterback may be finding a productive rhythm.
- 3Missed tackles and poor pursuit angles nearly erased the win and remain urgent problems before BYU.
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Aiden Flora’s five-touchdown performance gives Iowa State a star-making storyline amid a dramatic 45–42 victory.
The brief
Lea Nelson and Brent Blum relive Iowa State’s emotional 45–42 victory over West Virginia, a chaotic comeback that tested the Cyclones’ resilience and made the finish matter as much as the result.
Aiden Flora’s five-touchdown breakout becomes the game’s defining story, while Jalen Raynor’s strong second half offers a separate reason to believe Iowa State’s offense is settling into rhythm.
The win came with a warning: missed tackles and poor pursuit angles let West Virginia’s elusive runners stay dangerous, leaving Iowa State’s defense far from fixed.
A late interception and fumble recovery prevented a demoralizing West Virginia touchdown and preserved Iowa State’s first Big 12 win under Jimmy Rogers.
The conversation turns to BYU, where Iowa State must clean up its tackling and pursuit while building on Raynor’s second-half progress and Flora’s emergence.
Featuring
Lea NelsonListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.