Arkansas State falls short of upsetting Iowa State
Despite hanging in the game through all four quarters, Arkansas State fell to No. 14 Iowa State at home, 24-16.
Arkansas State faced one of the tallest tasks in program history on Saturday. Iowa State came to town as the highest ranked team to play at Centennial Bank Stadium. They almost became the highest ranked team to lose there.
Iowa State could smell blood in the water on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Rocco Becht took the snap, and aired one out for Brett Eskildsen. The pass fell incomplete, but it was a precursor for what was to come.
The big play was the Achilles heel for the Arkansas State defense early on. In the first half, they gave up five plays of over 20 yards. Three of those plays went for over 30.
After a Kyle Konrardy field goal gave the Cyclones an early 3-0 lead, Iowa State got the ball back and quickly drove down the field. Within three plays, they picked up two gains of over 30 yards to get down inside the ten. After an Ethan Hassler sack, Becht scrambled for a ten-yard touchdown. Konrardy would miss the PAT, meaning Iowa State led 9-0.
Becht started the game 0/3 passing, but went 4/6 for 69 yards over the remainder of the first quarter.
On the ensuing Arkansas State drive, the Red Wolves started to move the ball well. Jaylen Raynor connected with Corey Rucker for a 26-yard gain to set up a 44-yard field goal for Clune Van Andel. He drilled the ball through the uprights, making the score 9-3 in favor of the Cyclones.
Arkansas State found a lifeline soon after. The defense held Iowa State to a field goal attempt. Konrardy jogged on, and shanked the 48-yard kick wide. Iowa State’s kicker is usually reliable. Coming into the game, he had made every PAT, and was 6/7 on field goal tries. He missed one of each before being removed due to injury.
After the miss, Arkansas State went three and out… until another miscue from Iowa State kept the drive alive. As Jackson Waller booted the ball away, Drew Surges crashed into the Red Wolves’ punter. Waller dove to the ground, but popped up when he saw a flag fly in. The SMU transfer pumped his fist in celebration.
Raynor stared as Arkansas State capitalized. The quarterback used his legs to pick up multiple key first downs, including one on a broken play. Deep in Iowa State territory, center Mason Meyers snapped the ball while Raynor was not looking. Raynor stayed composed. He picked the ball up, rolled right, and scrambled for a first down. Just a handful of plays later, he found the end-zone on a three-yard touchdown rush.
Raynor carried the ball five times on the drive, picking up 24 yards and a touchdown. After the PAT, Arkansas State had a 10-9 lead over the fourteenth-ranked team in the nation. The 17-play, 70-yard drive ate up over eight minutes of game time. The Red Wolves were 39 seconds away from taking a lead into halftime.
Becht had other plans. In 28 seconds, he marched his team down the field for a touchdown. Dominic Overby hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Becht. It extended the quarterback’s FBS-leading streak of games with a TD pass to 22.
Iowa State took a 17-10 lead into the locker room after converting a two-point conversion. What could have been a joyful locker room was now a disappointed one.
But Arkansas State refused to waver.
First Half Highlights‼️🔥 pic.twitter.com/laxFOG1Ah6
— Arkansas State Football (@AStateFB) September 13, 2025
After an opening drive field-goal for the Red Wolves, the teams traded punts. Running back Abu Sama’s 44-yard rush brought the Cyclones into Arkansas State territory. Becht’s third-down pass ricocheted around before settling into the hands of Avante Dickerson for an interception. The defense continued to bend, but it refused to break.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Red Wolves found themselves down 17-13. Before the game, head coach Butch Jones told ESPN that he wanted it to be a “four quarter game.”
With his team driving into Cyclone territory, Jones was getting his wish.
Raynor found his roommate, Chauncey Cobb, on an out route. Cobb made two Iowa State defenders miss, and jetted down to the seven yard line for a 35-yard gain. Back-to-back flags erased two Arkansas State touchdowns, setting up a third-and-goal from the 26 yard line.
Van Andel would drain his third field-goal of the game to bring the Red Wolves within one with just under 12 minutes to go.
With Iowa State reeling, Becht took another shot. He aired one out for Xavier Townsend, who made the catch on the left sideline for a 44-yard gain. The teams traded costly penalties, but a pass interference in the end zone from Trenton Alan Yowe led to a four-yard touchdown run from Sama.
After Chase Smith’s extra point, the Cyclones led, 24-16.
Raynor, who took what the defense gave him all afternoon, made one costly mistake. He lofted a deep pass intended for Hunter Summers. There was one problem – it looked like it was meant for Iowa State defensive back Tre Bell, who made a diving interception.
TRE BELL 👀@TreBell13
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/pOesJNgJoV
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) September 13, 2025
Arkansas State would get the ball back, but turned it over on downs. Iowa State drained the remaining clock, and held on for a hard-fought road victory.
Had the Red Wolves pulled off the upset, it would have been the biggest in program history, having only beaten two ranked teams previously. Those wins came in 2013 against Kent State, and in 2016 against Troy. Both teams were ranked No. 25.
Raynor was the top performer for Arkansas State. He looked poised for most of the game, and was dangerous through the air and on the ground with 318 all-purpose-yards.
Arkansas State will be back in action next weekend at Kennesaw State. The game will take place on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT.
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