Iowa State Defeats Cincinnati 34-17 in Week 12 Matchup
Iowa State dominated Cincinnati 34-17 in Week 12, with the Cyclones' defense delivering the decisive plays throughout the contest. The home team covered the 7-point spread behind a strong second-half performance, particularly in the third and fourth quarters when they outscored the Bearcats 24-7.
Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby led his team with 66 passing yards and added a 41-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, while Joe Royer caught 8 passes for the visitors. Despite those efforts, the Bearcats managed just 17 points across four quarters.
Iowa State's ground game proved effective, with Abu Sama III rushing for 52 yards and scoring a touchdown. The Cyclones' defense created crucial stops, including a key fourth-quarter play that swung momentum decisively in their favor. Additional big runs from Rocco Becht and Stevo Klotz helped Iowa State control the tempo and field position.
The game stayed competitive early, with both teams scoring 7 points in the first quarter, but Iowa State pulled away decisively after halftime. The final score fell under the 52.5-point over-under, with the Cyclones securing a convincing conference victory at home.
AI-generated recap · Sep 3, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cincinnati | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
 Iowa State | 7 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 34 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Cincinnati | Iowa State |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 10-18 | 24-35 |
| Pass Yards | 66 | 234 |
| Rush Yards | 287 | 152 |
| Total Yards | 353 | 386 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 3-11 | 7-16 |
| Penalties | 13-97 | 7-40 |
| Possession | 28:12 | 31:48 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Barry Jackson Jr. run for a loss of 5 yards to the CIN 20
Brendan Sorsby pass incomplete
Brendan Sorsby run for 14 yds to the CIN 34
Brendan Sorsby run for 7 yds to the CIN 41 for a 1ST down
Corey Kiner run for 2 yds to the CIN 43
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Tony Johnson for 23 yds to the ISU 34 for a 1ST down
Corey Kiner run for 4 yds to the ISU 30
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Xzavier Henderson for 12 yds to the ISU 18 for a 1ST down
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Evan Pryor for 6 yds to the ISU 12
Evan Pryor run for 12 yds for a TD (Nathan Hawks KICK)
Carson Hansen run for 4 yds to the ISU 29
Carson Hansen run for no gain to the ISU 29
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 10 yds to the ISU 39 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht run for no gain to the ISU 39
Connor Moberly run for 5 yds to the ISU 44
Rocco Becht sacked by Jared Bartlett for a loss of 4 yards to the ISU 40
Iowa State Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the ISU 35
Tyler Perkins punt for 44 yds
Cincinnati Penalty, Offensive Pass Interference (Francis Sherman) to the CIN 21
Corey Kiner run for 15 yds to the CIN 26
Corey Kiner run for 1 yd to the CIN 27
Corey Kiner run for a loss of 2 yards to the CIN 25
Cincinnati Penalty, False Start (Josh Minkins) to the CIN 20
Iowa State Penalty, Offsides (5 Yards) to the CIN 25
Mason Fletcher punt for 42 yds , Jaylin Noel returns for 28 yds to the CIN 39
Carson Hansen run for a loss of 1 yard to the CIN 40
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 32 yds to the CIN 8 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for a loss of 1 yard to the CIN 9
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
(02:02) BECHT, Rocco pass to the right incomplete intended for HIGGINS, Jayden thrown to the CIN0, clock 01:57. PENALTY CIN Pass Interference on YOUNG, Jordan enforced 7 yards to the CIN2 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Carson Hansen run for 2 yds for a TD (Kyle Konrardy KICK)
Iowa State Penalty, Delay Of Game (Gabe Burkle) to the CIN 8
Jace J. Gilbert kickoff for 61 yds , Logan Wilson return for 26 yds to the CIN 30
Cincinnati Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the CIN 25
Corey Kiner run for 10 yds to the CIN 35
Cincinnati Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the CIN 30
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Corey Kiner for 4 yds to the CIN 34
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Joe Royer for 10 yds to the CIN 44 for a 1ST down
Brendan Sorsby run for 41 yds to the ISU 15 for a 1ST down
Cincinnati Penalty, False Start (Josh Minkins) to the ISU 20
Evan Pryor run for 3 yds to the ISU 17
Brendan Sorsby pass incomplete
Brendan Sorsby run for 6 yds to the ISU 11
Nathan Hawks 29 yd FG GOOD
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 16 yds to the ISU 41 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 6 yds to the ISU 47
Aiden Flora run for no gain to the ISU 47
Carson Hansen run for 1 yd to the ISU 48
Tyler Perkins punt for 52 yds for a touchback
Corey Kiner run for 4 yds to the CIN 24
Brendan Sorsby pass incomplete
Brendan Sorsby run for 3 yds to the CIN 27
Mason Fletcher punt for 24 yds, downed at the ISU 49
Abu Sama III run for a loss of 3 yards to the ISU 46
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
Rocco Becht pass complete to Stevo Klotz for 1 yd to the ISU 47
Jace J. Gilbert punt for 43 yds
Corey Kiner run for 3 yds to the CIN 13
Evan Pryor run for 6 yds to the CIN 19
Corey Kiner run for 2 yds to the CIN 21 for a 1ST down
Brendan Sorsby pass incomplete
Evan Pryor run for 1 yd to the CIN 22
Iowa State Penalty, Offsides (Tyler Onyedim) to the CIN 27
Cincinnati Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the CIN 22
Brendan Sorsby pass incomplete
Cincinnati Penalty, Delay Of Game (Mason Fletcher) to the CIN 17
Mason Fletcher punt for 48 yds, fair catch by Jaylin Noel at the ISU 35
Aiden Flora run for 15 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass complete to Stevo Klotz for 5 yds to the CIN 45
(02:05) SAMA, Abu rush up the middle for a gain of 1 yard to the CIN44 (GOLDAY, Jake;PEEK JR., Antwan), clock 02:01. PENALTY ISU Holding on TRAVIS, Jalen enforced 10 yards from the CIN45 to the ISU45 [NH]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 6 yds to the CIN 49
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
Jace J. Gilbert punt for 42 yds , Jamoi Mayes returns for 13 yds to the CIN 20
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Evan Pryor for a loss of 7 yards to the CIN 13
Brendan Sorsby run for 2 yds to the CIN 15
Brendan Sorsby run for 5 yds to the CIN 20
Mason Fletcher punt for 18 yds, downed at the CIN 38
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylon Jackson for no gain to the CIN 38
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 15 yds to the CIN 23 for a 1ST down
TEAM pass incomplete
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 5 yds to the CIN 18
Kyle Konrardy 37 yd FG GOOD
Brendan Sorsby run for a loss of 2 yards to the CIN 23
End of 2nd Quarter
Nathan Hawks kickoff for 62 yds , Jaylon Jackson return for 21 yds to the ISU 24
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
Abu Sama III run for 7 yds to the ISU 31
(14:04) BECHT, Rocco pass short to the right incomplete intended for HIGGINS, Jayden thrown to the ISU35, clock 14:00. PENALTY CIN Holding on CARROLL, Kalen enforced 10 yards from the ISU31 to the ISU41 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 4 yds to the ISU 45
Aiden Flora run for 1 yd to the ISU 46
Rocco Becht pass complete to Brett Eskildsen for 6 yds to the CIN 48 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for no gain to the CIN 48
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 3 yds to the CIN 45
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 19 yds to the CIN 26 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass complete to Stevo Klotz for 26 yds for a TD (Kyle Konrardy KICK)
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Tony Johnson for 5 yds to the CIN 30
Corey Kiner run for 13 yds to the CIN 43 for a 1ST down
Corey Kiner run for 12 yds to the ISU 45 for a 1ST down
Brendan Sorsby pass incomplete
Brendan Sorsby run for 11 yds to the ISU 34 for a 1ST down
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Joe Royer for a loss of 2 yards to the ISU 36
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Tony Johnson for 15 yds to the ISU 21 for a 1ST down
Brendan Sorsby run for 8 yds to the ISU 28 Brendan Sorsby fumbled, recovered by ISU Tyler Onyedim T. Onyedim return for 0 yds Cincinnati Penalty, Face mask (15 yards) (Deondre Buford) to the ISU 28
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 13 yds to the ISU 41 for a 1ST down
(06:15) BECHT, Rocco pass short to the left complete for 6 yards to HIGGINS, Jayden caught at the ISU46 and advanced to the ISU47 (ARNOLD, Ormanie), clock 06:10. PENALTY Before the snap, ISU Illegal Formation enforced 5 yards from the ISU41 to the ISU36. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Abu Sama III run for no gain to the ISU 36
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 6 yds to the ISU 42
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
Stevo Klotz run for 22 yds to the CIN 36 for a 1ST down
Iowa State Penalty, Delay Of Game (Rocco Becht) to the CIN 41
Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the CIN 40
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 6 yds to the CIN 34
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
Kyle Konrardy 52 yd FG GOOD
Corey Kiner run for 17 yds to the CIN 42 for a 1ST down
Brendan Sorsby run for 1 yd to the CIN 43
Corey Kiner run for 6 yds to the CIN 49
Brendan Sorsby run for a loss of 1 yard to the CIN 48
Cincinnati Penalty, False Start (John Williams) to the CIN 43
Mason Fletcher punt for 36 yds, fair catch by Jaylin Noel at the ISU 21
Carson Hansen run for 3 yds to the ISU 24
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 13 yds to the ISU 37 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for 3 yds to the ISU 40 Carson Hansen fumbled, recovered by CIN Josh Minkins J. Minkins return for 0 yds
Corey Kiner run for a loss of 1 yard to the ISU 41
Cincinnati Penalty, Offensive Holding (Francis Sherman) to the ISU 48
Evan Pryor run for 7 yds to the ISU 41
Brendan Sorsby run for 41 yds for a TD (Nathan Hawks KICK)
Nathan Hawks kickoff for 65 yds , Jaylon Jackson return for 32 yds to the ISU 32
Rocco Becht run for no gain to the ISU 32
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 9 yds to the ISU 41
Rocco Becht run for 2 yds to the ISU 43 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 2 yds to the ISU 45
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 10 yds to the CIN 45 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the CIN 44
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
Rocco Becht pass complete to Brett Eskildsen for 11 yds to the CIN 33 for a 1ST down
Jaylin Noel pass incomplete
Rocco Becht run for 3 yds to the CIN 30
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 7 yds to the CIN 23 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 5 yds to the CIN 18
Abu Sama III run for 3 yds to the CIN 15
Rocco Becht run for 15 yds for a TD (Kyle Konrardy KICK)
Brendan Sorsby pass complete to Evan Pryor for no gain to the CIN 25
(03:39) SORSBY, Brendan pass to the left incomplete intended for PRYOR, Evan thrown to the CIN25; QB hurried by ORANGE, Domonique, clock 03:35. PENALTY CIN Holding on BUFORD, Deondre enforced 10 yards from the CIN25 to the CIN15 [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Brendan Sorsby pass incomplete
Brendan Sorsby pass incomplete
Mason Fletcher punt for 56 yds, downed at the ISU 29
Jaylon Jackson run for a loss of 2 yards to the ISU 27
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 6 yds to the ISU 33
Rocco Becht run for 32 yds to the CIN 35 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 2 yds to the CIN 33
Abu Sama III run for no gain to the CIN 33
Abu Sama III run for 6 yds to the CIN 27
Abu Sama III run for 27 yds for a TD (Kyle Konrardy KICK)
Corey Kiner run for 16 yds to the CIN 41 for a 1ST down
Corey Kiner run for a loss of 1 yard to the CIN 40
Corey Kiner run for 16 yds to the ISU 44 for a 1ST down
Evan Pryor run for 2 yds to the ISU 42
Brendan Sorsby run for 5 yds to the ISU 37