RECAP: Iowa State football dominates BYU, cruises to 45-13 win and bowl eligibility

The Iowa State football team earned a huge win on Saturday to clinch bowl eligibility for the first time since 2021.

Matt Campbell and Co. took down BYU 45-13. The result of the game was never really in doubt, with the Cyclones (6-4, 5-2 Big 12) going up 10-0 before the game was even five minutes old. The win also keeps Iowa State firmly alive in the Big 12 title race. A far cry from where this team was following a loss to Ohio early in the season. The Cougars (5-5, 2-5 Big 12) will have an uphill battle for bowl eligibility with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to close out the schedule.

Re-live all the action you may have missed from a late night/early morning in Provo, Utah here with our live blog.

FINAL: Iowa State 45, BYU 13

Check out our instant stories from tonight's game

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4Q/5:10 Iowa State gets a pick from a true freshman

Jamison Patton, an Ankeny grad, gets an interception. Patton's high school QB, JJ Kohl, takes over for Rocco Becht on offense now.

We are also at the 'commentators talking about their Uber driver' portion of the evening. So that's how exciting this game is.

Iowa State up 45-13

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Iowa State 45, BYU 13

Cyclones have the ball at their own 29 yard line to start the final 15 minutes of action.

3Q/5:36 Abu Sama strikes again

Is this the Iowa HS state title game or a Big 12 football game? Doesn't seem to make a difference to Sama. He gets his second score of the night, this one from 59 yards out. Gets to the left edge and speeds away from the defense.

Sama scored five touchdowns a season ago for Southeast Polk in the state title game against Valley.

Iowa State up 45-13.

3Q/8:27 Iowa State answers right back

The Cyclones don't waste much time answering BYU's touchdown with one of their own. On third-and-1 Rocco Becht finds Jaylin Noel in the flat and the wideout speeds away down the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown.

Iowa State up 38-13 after the PAT.

3Q/10:05 BYU gets back on the board

The Cougars use a trick play on fourth-and-short to keep the drive alive. Then a few plays later they break out another one. Parker Kingston, a wide receiver, took a jet sweep out toward the left sideline, stopped and then tossed a pass to tight end Isaac Rex from 26 yards out.

Cougars couldn't convert on a 2-point conversion, so it's a 31-13 Iowa State lead now.

3Q/15:00 Back underway in Provo

Iowa State starts with the ball in the second half.

HALFTIME: Iowa State 31, BYU 7

2Q/1:29 Abu Sama has arrived

The true freshman out of Southeast Polk reverses field, shakes about 100 BYU defenders out of their shoes and scampers into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown.

It's now 31-7 for Iowa State. Cyclones get the ball to start the second half too.

2Q/8:02 Iowa State finds the end zone again

Cartevious Norton hits paydirt from 11 yards out to cap an 11-play 80-yard scoring drive. Rocco Becht looked darn good on that drive and converted on a couple big third downs to keep it alive.

Iowa State up 24-7 now.

2Q/Brendan Black down for Iowa State

The true freshman right guard was down on the field following a first-down pickup. He's the first true freshman offensive lineman to start for ISU since 2018.

Travis Hines, who is on-site in Provo, says he walked off under his own power, though.

2Q/13:29 Iowa State forces a punt

The Iowa State defense holds... and may have gotten away with a pretty blatant facemask... to force a BYU punt.

Cyclones will take over from the 20 after BYU's punt sails into the end zone. Cyclones looking to go up three scores.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Iowa State 17, BYU 7

BYU has the ball near midfield with first-and-10 when we start the second frame.

1Q/1:03 Iowa State strikes back with Eli Sanders TD

The Cyclones increased their lead back to 10 points thanks to an Eli Sanders touchdown scamper from four yards out. That drive lasted 4:49 and went nine plays for 72 yards.

Cyclones up 17-7.

1Q/8:47 BYU answers with a quick TD

The Cougars held on to the ball tight this time and marched down the field for a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a Jake Retzlaff five-yard strike to Jojo Phillips.

Iowa State up 10-7 now. This one could get wacky.

1Q/11:34 Iowa State settles for the field goal

It's a 10-0 lead for Iowa State less than four minutes into the game after a Chase Contreraz 31-yard field goal, but that drive might feel a bit disappointing. Getting the ball gifted to you in the red zone and only turning it into three points isn't ideal.

However, it's already a two-score game, so tough to be upset about anything that's happened so far if you're the Cyclones.

1Q/13:24 Nightmare for BYU

Iowa State recovers a fumble on the kickoff following their opening drive score.

ISU is already in the red zone again.

1Q/13:32 Iowa State strikes quick

Once the Cyclones got a turnover, it took them just three plays to find paydirt. Jaylin Noel hauled in a pass from Rocco Becht and took it to the house from four yards out.

Iowa State up 7-0 very early. Couldn't ask for a much better start than that.

Still no broadcast but some big developments

Cyclones get an interception on the first play of the game.

9:25 Iowa State wins toss

The Cyclones defer their choice to the second half. So BYU's offense will start with the ball once we kick off

9:23 Bit of a delay on Provo

There's been a bit of a delay and the broadcast has yet to begin. But our reporters on site tell us we have about two minutes until kickoff.

9:00 Kickoff is coming up

We're about 15 minutes away from the scheduled kickoff. Do you know where you're watching the game from?

Check out how to tune in by clicking here.

More: When does Iowa State football play today? Time, stream, TV for Cyclones at BYU

8:00 Jeremiah Cooper is warming up

The dynamic DB missed last week's game. But he's out in Provo and is warming up, according to our beat writer Travis Hines.

7:45 Best view in college football?

Our Iowa State columnist, Randy Peterson, and Iowa State beat writer, Travis Hines, are live in Provo to bring you all the latest from the game. Travis tweeted out this photo shortly after arriving at the press box at BYU.

This has to be one of the best views in college sports, right?

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Recap: Iowa State football clinches bowl game with rout of BYU