The West Virginia vs Iowa State matchup brought two teams into Jack Trice Stadium looking for their first Big 12 victory of the 2026 season. Both the Mountaineers and Cyclones entered the Week 5 contest after losing their conference openers.
Iowa State came into the game at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 play, while West Virginia was 3-1 overall and also 0-1 in conference action. The Cyclones were looking to respond after a 31-17 loss to Utah, while West Virginia was attempting to bounce back from a 41-24 defeat against Oklahoma State.
West Virginia strikes first
West Virginia wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Michael Hawkins Jr. connected with Cyrus Traugh on a 33-yard touchdown pass, giving the Mountaineers a 7-0 advantage with less than seven minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
Hawkins also showed his ability as a runner during the opening period, breaking loose for a 13-yard gain that moved West Virginia to midfield.
However, penalties eventually stalled the Mountaineers’ next possession, forcing them to punt after Iowa State’s defense pushed the offense backward.
Iowa State answers with a touchdown
The Cyclones responded with a long scoring drive to level the contest at 7-7.
Jaylen Raynor found Omari Hayes for a 20-yard touchdown, completing a 75-yard, nine-play drive. Despite three penalties costing Iowa State 25 yards during the possession, the Cyclones maintained their composure and finished the drive in the end zone.
The touchdown gave Iowa State an important response after West Virginia’s quick opening score.
Raynor leads the Iowa State offense
Jaylen Raynor was central to Iowa State’s offensive effort early in the game. He contributed with both his passing and rushing ability, including a nine-yard scramble during the Cyclones’ opening possession.
Iowa State initially struggled to sustain that drive, gaining only 11 yards on a run by Aiden Flora before Raynor’s scramble. Two incomplete passes ultimately forced Iowa State to punt.
The Cyclones later found their rhythm on the scoring drive, moving 75 yards before Raynor connected with Hayes for the tying touchdown.
Ryver Peppers returns
The game also marked an important moment for Iowa State running back Ryver Peppers. He received his first snap and touch since suffering a season-ending injury in October 2025 during Iowa State’s loss to Colorado.
His return adds another option to the Cyclones’ backfield as the team moves deeper into Big 12 play.
Iowa State enters the game with several absences
Iowa State’s availability report included several players listed as out. Wide receiver Carter Pabst, offensive lineman Caden Maas, defensive end Caden Crawford and defensive tackle Ka’Mori Moore were unavailable.
Cornerback Jaheim Singletary was listed as questionable earlier in the day.
Those absences put additional pressure on Iowa State’s depth as the Cyclones faced a West Virginia team that had already scored 52 points against UT Martin earlier in the season.
West Virginia vs Iowa State: Records and schedules
Iowa State opened the 2026 season with a 38-10 victory over Southeast Missouri before losing a close 16-13 game to Iowa. The Cyclones then produced a dominant 55-7 win over Bowling Green before falling to Utah.
West Virginia began the campaign with three consecutive victories. The Mountaineers defeated Coastal Carolina 31-24, UT Martin 52-7 and Virginia 38-27 before their loss to Oklahoma State.
Following the West Virginia vs Iowa State matchup, Iowa State is scheduled to travel to BYU on Oct. 9. West Virginia’s next game is at home against Arizona on Oct. 10.
What channel was West Virginia vs Iowa State on?
The game was scheduled for national television coverage on TNT. The broadcast team featured J.B. Long on play-by-play, Mike Golic Jr. as analyst and Jared Greenberg reporting from the sidelines.
The matchup took place at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Desmond Howard and the college football conversation
The Desmond Howard name is also part of the wider college football discussion surrounding Week 5. Howard, a former Michigan star and Heisman Trophy winner, has remained a prominent voice in college football coverage through his work as an analyst.
For fans following national college football storylines alongside games such as West Virginia vs Iowa State, Howard’s analysis is another source of discussion during the season.
What happened in West Virginia vs Iowa State?
West Virginia opened the scoring through a 33-yard touchdown pass from Michael Hawkins Jr. to Cyrus Traugh. Iowa State answered with a 20-yard touchdown connection from Jaylen Raynor to Omari Hayes.
That response brought the score to 7-7 in the first quarter and highlighted the back-and-forth nature of the matchup.
Both teams entered the contest searching for their first Big 12 win after conference-opening defeats, making the game an important early-season test as the 2026 Big 12 schedule continues.
Leave a Reply