Iowa State football aims to build more late-season momentum vs Kansas

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AMES — Iowa State football finally recaptured that winning feeling in a gutsy 20-17 road win at TCU on Nov. 8, a contest in which the Cyclones trailed 17-6 early in the fourth quarter.

Victory eluded them until Aiden Flora's late-game punt-return touchdown dealt the decisive blow to end a four-game losing skid. After a restful bye week, Iowa State will have an opportunity Nov. 22 to rediscover the thrill of victory at home in its final game at Jack Trice Stadium of the 2025 season.

The Cyclones haven't won at home in more than a month, previously defeating Arizona in lopsided fashion on Sept. 27 to cap off a 5-0 start.

Plenty has changed since then for Iowa State, which has fallen to 6-4, but the team is looking to give its seniors one last victory at Jack Trice Stadium and go on to finish the season on a high note.

"I know the fans needed it, but we as a team really needed to get our momentum back," Iowa State defensive end Tamatoa McDonough said of the Cyclones' win over TCU. "I feel like we know what type of team we are and that kind of helps us play with that type of confidence.

"It's a little bit sad. I love this team, love playing football, so it's hard for it to end, but it's been a wild ride. I'm excited to end the season strong with my guys and — ideally — bring nine wins to Ames. It's very emotional."

The Cyclones are set to host Kansas on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT (FS1). The Jayhawks (5-5, 3-4 Big 12 Conference) are also coming off of a bye week and have lost three of their last four games, including a 24-20 loss to Arizona in their previous outing.

It'll be a reunion and a return trip to Ames for Kansas defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald. McDonald was the cornerbacks coach and co-defensive coordinator for the Jayhawks in 2024, his first season in Kansas after a stint in the NFL as a defensive backs coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.

McDonald previously worked with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell when he was at Toledo from 2012-15. McDonald followed Campbell to Ames and served as a pass game coordinator and cornerbacks and safeties coach for the Cyclones from 2016-20.

"Great teacher, great mentor," Campbell said of McDonald. "Left here obviously got a great opportunity in the National Football League, was part of some of those really good Eagle teams. You can just tell, he's done a really great job in terms of coaching, developing his players and whether it's been the DBs or globally, he's just always had an incredible mind for the game of football. Schematically, he has always been a guy that has always been able to put his guys in a great position to be successful."

For Iowa State, it'll be a matter of rejuvenating its passing offense. Rocco Becht completed 9-of-24 passes against TCU for a career-low 111 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Becht has been dealing with undisclosed ailments, and he and the Cyclones' receivers haven't been on the same page.

The run game has been a bright spot, as the Cyclones have rushed for 150 or more yards in each of their last five games.

"Obviously, the run game, the scheme, physicality, nastiness, all that is good, but for us in the pass game, there's a lot left to be desired," Cyclones offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said. "How can we get into a rhythm? How can we get the first completion? How can we create momentum as an offense to get the pass game going? Things like that."

Kansas in the middle of the pack of the Big 12, averaging 30.2 points per game (8th out of 16 teams) and allowing 25.2 points per game (10th out of 16). The Jayhawks have the third-worst run defense in the conference, allowing 169.5 yards per game.

Kansas' offense mostly hinges on multi-year starting senior quarterback Jalon Daniels. Daniels boasts the second-highest passer rating in the Big 12, behind only Texas Tech's Behren Morton. Daniels has completed 65.1% of passes for 2,190 yards, 21 touchdowns and three interceptions. A scrambling threat, he also has 345 yards and three touchdowns on 102 carries.

Alabama transfer Emmanuel Henderson Jr. has made an instant impact at receiver, leading the team in receptions (41), receiving yards (638) and touchdowns (five).

Defensively, the Jayhawks have plenty of experienced players and depth on the defensive line. They excel at generating pressure, posting the sixth-most sacks (24) and the fifth-most forced fumbles in the Big 12 (eight).

"They're probably, by position group, maybe the most talented team in this conference," Campbell said. "You look at the amount of experience that has played."

Kansas has won each of the last three meetings against Iowa State. The Cyclones recently broke a losing skid and will look to do the same in their series with the Jayhawks. They're on the hunt for their first win over the Jayhawks since 2021.

"You see it on film, they play extremely hard, so you got to respect that," senior offensive lineman Tyler Miller said. "They play extremely hard, so you got to respect that. It's a great team up front and behind them, so it'll be a good one."

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football aims to build late-season momentum vs Kansas

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