AMES – Matt Campbell is in his ninth season as Iowa State’s head football coach. He has now tied Dan McCarney, who coached the team for 12 seasons, for the all-time lead in wins as head coach of the Cyclones.

Campbell’s 56th win for Iowa State came behind the best ground game attack of the season and another strong defensive performance as the No. 20 Cyclones walloped Arkansas State 52-7.

Campbell ties McCarney

For the 56th time as Iowa State head coach, Campbell won a game. Matt Campbell is in his ninth season as Iowa State’s head football coach. He has now tied Dan McCarney, who coached the team for 12 seasons, for the all-time lead in wins as head coach of the Cyclones at 56.

“To be able to be at one place with so many great people for as long as I have, I’m just grateful for that,” Campbell said. “We’ve had great coaches, we’ve had great players… I think that’s what’s made it really enjoyable to be here.”

Before the 2024 season began, Campbell averaged 6.6 wins per season. His highest season win total was nine, back in the 2020 season, which is tied for the most all-time wins in a single season at Iowa State.

Now, Campbell and the Cyclones are off to a rocket-fueled start and will enter Big 12 conference play undefeated. Campbell will get his opportunity to pass McCarney for the sole spot in first place against Houston next week on the road.

Confidence is running high among the team, especially after the dominant win over Arkansas State.

“We can’t look too far forward into it, but obviously we’re going to be pretty confident in ourselves,” sophomore tight end Benjamin Brahmer said.

Brahmer had his first big game of the season, with a team-leading 73 reception yards on three catches. Fellow tight end Tyler Moore also had a big day with a touchdown catch.

Running back room ignites

Through two games, Iowa State’s running numbers were not where they were expected to be. A bounce-back game against Arkansas State showed what the Cyclone running backs are capable of, especially sophomore Carson Hansen.

Hansen, Abu Sama III and Jaylon Jackson traded carries all game, but Hansen was the hot hand in the first half. He ripped off a 23-yard run in the first quarter that set himself up to score from one yard out. The touchdown would be his first touchdown of his career.

“It’s kind of a surreal feeling,” Hansen said. “You don’t know what to do on the first touchdown, because you’re like, ‘Wow, this is a dream come true.’”

On another goal-to-go opportunity in the third quarter, Hansen punched it in again.

Hansen finished his day with 58 yards on nine carries, followed by Jackson with 53 yards and Sama III with 30.

“For [Hansen] to finally be healthy, I think you’re starting to see a healthy and confident football player,” Campbell said. “We’re really proud of him and it’s exciting to watch him continue to grow forward. I think he’ll be a key piece of our football team.”

With carries being spread around the three main backs in the first three quarters, freshman Dylan Lee had his time to shine in the fourth quarter.

Lee, like Hansen, scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard rush. After running the ball eight times, Lee ended his day with 26 yards.

Right at the end, freshman Aiden Flora was put in the game and had six carries for 27 yards. Just like Hansen and Lee, Flora found the endzone for his first career touchdown.

“There’s a lot of guys that ran the football well today,” Campbell said. “There’s a lot of competition consistently back there.”

In all, the running backs combined for 194 yards and four touchdowns, with three scoring their first career touchdowns.

“You see them work hard every single day and you see it pay off,” Hansen said about Lee and Flora scoring their first touchdowns. “You’re just so excited for them and their families as well.”

Secondary shuts down Raynor, McClain

It is no secret that the Iowa State secondary is one of, if not the strongest unit for the Cyclones. Against a quarterback like Jaylen Raynor, the room was in for a big day.

Raynor has struggled with his efficiency through the air and had his worst performance of the season against Iowa State. He was 5-for-16 passing for 68 yards and threw two interceptions.

“To be able to make some plays on the ball and turn the football over is really big,” Campbell said. “That’s something that we continue to stress.”

The first of his two picks was snagged by defensive back Jeremiah Cooper, which led to a field goal from kicker Kyle Konrardy. It was Cooper’s first pick of the season and Konrardy’s first field goal made at Jack Trice Stadium.

Raynor’s second pick was to defensive back Malik Verdon, the third of his career. Verdon ran the ball to the red zone and set up a one-play drive for the offense on a 16-yard touchdown to wide receiver Jayden Higgins.

“I was roaming in the middle of the field,” Verdon said. “Ball ended up coming my way.”

Eventually, Raynor was subbed out for former Central Florida quarterback Timmy McClain. McClain also struggled to move the ball through the air, but did throw a late touchdown that ended Iowa State’s chance at a shutout.

McClain mostly tried to run the ball, but was held to seven yards on 11 attempts. Throwing, he was 4-for-7 for 50 yards and a score.

None of the Red Wolves’ pass catchers had more than three catches. The leading receiver was freshman Hunter Summers, who had two catches for 37 yards and the lone Arkansas State touchdown.

Senior defensive back Beau Freyler led the way in tackles for Iowa State along with sophomore linebacker Kooper Ebel. Both had six total tackles.

The second-year captain, Freyler, was everywhere he needed to be in order to get stops throughout the day, as was the entire secondary.