Iowa State tops Baylor 43-21 with Becht's 277 yards

In Ames, Iowa, Rocco Becht led the No. 16 Iowa State Cyclones to a decisive 43-21 victory over the Baylor Bears on Saturday night. The Cyclones, now 5-0 and 2-0 in the Big 12, overcame an early deficit and another setback in the third quarter, marking their best start since 1980. Becht completed 16 of 25 passes for 277 yards, throwing two touchdown passes to Benjamin Brahmer and Jayden Higgins, who has now caught a touchdown in seven consecutive games. Iowa State's rushing attack was bolstered by Jaylon Jackson, who rushed for 107 yards and scored his first two touchdowns since transferring from Eastern Michigan. The Cyclones amassed a total of 542 yards on offense, showcasing a balanced and effective offensive strategy. In contrast, Baylor, now 2-4 and 0-3 in the conference, struggled to maintain momentum after starting strong with two long touchdown drives. Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns but faced challenges as the game progressed, with the Bears managing only 63 yards on their final four possessions, which included an interception and three consecutive three-and-outs. This loss marks Baylor's third straight defeat, raising concerns about their performance in the Big 12. With this victory, Iowa State is expected to rise in the rankings following losses by several teams ahead of them. Both teams will look to improve in their upcoming games, with Baylor visiting Texas Tech and Iowa State heading to West Virginia next Saturday.