When the Red Wolves first met Rocco Becht, starting quarterback for the Iowa State Cyclones, he was a 6’1″ sophomore thought to be a talented signal caller in need of more polishing. In 2024, he managed a bruising campaign against Arkansas State, throwing for an efficient 200 yards that yielded just one pick but also two touchdowns (he’d also run one in). The Cyclones chalked up a breezy 52-7 victory at the Red Wolves’ expense. A year later, Becht is wiser and polished having already thrown for nearly 600 yards and six touchdowns in three games played, which has included country-strong victories over #17 Kansas State and in-state rival Iowa. Between those wins, a 55-7 pounding of South Dakota.

Some of Becht’s original collaborators for its win over Arkansas State will appear in Jonesboro on Saturday. Benjamin Brahmer, the massive 6’7″ Cyclones tight end, led all Iowa State receivers with 73 bone-busting yards. Carson Hansen, Iowa State’s 6’2″ 220 running back, pounded a pair of touchdowns in the end zone. Is Arkansas State any more prepared to counter this opponents today?

Lessons from Arkansas

The Razorbacks are a different team than the Cyclones. Arkansas counts on offensive volume with its mobile quarterback and speedy skill players. Iowa State keeps the game manageable and the score low with “bend-don’t-break” defense and grinding, clock-killing drives. However, both teams will bear the P4 size and speed that has long plagued Arkansas State, which allowed the Razorbacks offense to exploit the edges last Saturday.

Somehow, the Red Wolves will need to play quicker and bigger. Historically, A-State has been abused by big, pass catching tight ends, and Brahmer has already converted 13 catches into three touchdowns. His partner, the 6’6″ Gabe Burkle (four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown against South Dakota), is second on the team with 143 yards. Becht will keep the hands of these behemoths filled with pigskin. After all, the Razorbacks found success by finding 6’5″ 260 tight end Jaden Platt last week.

However, Iowa State is a team that runs the rock, averaging nearly 4 yards per run. Of the team’s five rushing touchdowns, two have been delivered by QBs. But the heavy lifting is primarily done by Hansen and 5’11 210 junior Abu Sama III – the two backs have combined for 249 hardscrabble yards. Arkansas State’s defense allowed 321 rushing yards to Arkansas on Saturday. If the Red Wolves are going to stop Hansen and Sama, they need to beat them to the edge.

How the Red Wolves Can Take the Wind out of the Cyclones

Through three games, Iowa State has only acquired four sacks and a modest three interceptions. The defensive line allows about 3.7 yards per rush, which isn’t exactly shutdown. The secondary allows 5.8 yards per attempt (nearly ten per completion) and is paced by preseason BIG12 first team defender Jeremiah Cooper (the only Cyclone on either the offense or defense first teams). For a team that has limited its three opponents to just 14 points per game, it’s not immediately clear where the defense is succeeding.

The proof is on the scoreboard. The Cyclones play D, and Jaylen Raynor had a tough time cracking it last year when he threw for just 68 yards and two picks. However, the two players wh had most success last season against Iowa State return in 2025 – running back Devin Spencer (9 carries, 52 yards) and wide receiver Hunter Summers (two catches, 37 yards, one TD). Perhaps the rest of the time can interview those two for tips.

It is possible to throw the ball on Iowa State. The Red Wolves big tight ends – the Tyler Towers – might be popular targets. Tyler Little (6’5″ 210) and Tyler Fortenberry (6’6″ 220) didn’t record a reception against Arkansas last week, but they may find more opportunity against Iowa State’s slightly smaller defensive backs.

But what the Red Wolves really need are two things: 1) effective running from Spencer and Keyon Clay, and 2) some edge help on defense. Once again, freshman linebacker Nigel Nelson led the team in total tackles last week, but the defense may need more help from its linebackers serving as edge rushers. That may result in more inside runs, but Cody Sigler and Chris Boti have proven to be effective interior trenchmen. Against Arkansas, the defensive line batted down at least three passes from the Razorbacks quarterback.

Free Rock n’ Rucker

Starting wide receiver Corey Rucker managed only three catches for twenty yards on Saturday versus Arkansas as he was often the target of double coverage. OC Keith Heckendorf needs to establish the Raynor-to-Rucker connection early and find a means for getting his talented pass catcher open.

What may help is opposing defensive coordinators putting more men on speedy wide wideout Chauncy Cobb, who not only gutted out 4 catches for 50 yards against Arkansas, but returned a kick-off for a touchdown as well. In this young season, Cobb has established himself as Raynor’s go to guy, not Rucker. Perhaps Rucker finds a secret gear against Iowa State.

Cyclone to Watch: Kyle Konrardy, kicker

Thus far, Iowa State’s sharpest offensive weapon is Becht or Hansen. Redshirt freshman kicker Kyle Konrardy has been nailing 3-pointers from all over the gridiron this season, including the 54-yard game winner last week. Don’t let Iowa State get anywhere near field goal distance.

Injury Update

Starting running back Ja’Quez Cross is still gone for the season. Safety Brandon Griel took a very hard hit against the Razorbacks on Saturday, but coach Butch Jones says he’s good to go, as well as Tyler Little and Hunter Summers, who absorbed dings as well.

Final Analysis

Despite putting only 14 points on the board against Arkansas, the Red Wolves missed gettable opportunities to more than double that output last Saturday. Offense, as ugly as it looked at times, isn’t the primary concern for Arkansas State.

The Red Wolves defense allowed four touchdowns on four consecutive Arkansas possessions, the most crippling the very first possession, when the Hogs found the end zone on just two plays. It’s fair to say that new defensive coordinator Griff McCarley and his squad of newcomers are still “getting it together.” Unfortunately, the get together needs to happen by Saturday, at home, against the highest ranked football opponent to ever darken Centennial Bank Stadium’s doors.

IMAGE: AI Monstrosity