Even if the final score didn’t appear too jarring, BYU just handed Iowa State its first truly lopsided loss of the Jimmy Rogers era.
The Cougars defeated the Cyclones 24-10 Friday night in Provo, gaining 506 total yards to Iowa State’s 200 and controlling the contest from start to finish.
“Coach (Kalani) Sitake has a really well-rounded team,” Rogers told reporters postgame. “Awesome atmosphere to play in. We just didn’t play well in so many ways. Running the ball, stopping the run, and they were explosive. You can’t give up explosive plays against a team like that and expect to win football games, we just weren’t good enough at all.”
BYU’s defense dominated, allowing just 69 yards through the first three quarters and holding the Cyclones to 3.6 yards per play and a 2 of 13 mark on third down.
“Well, they’re really good up front. They move the front a bunch, creating communication issues up front with how they stem and move, and then the noise of it all here,” Rogers said of BYU.
“… When you give up a sack or you live behind the sticks on a delay of game against a great team, it’s going to kill you, and it killed us tonight. We couldn’t get anything going.”
Although BYU failed to convert on three different fourth down tries and left plenty of points on the board, Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier shredded Iowa State to the tune of 327 passing yards and 109 rushing yards, joining Taysom Hill and Steve Young as the only players in school history to post such numbers.
“When you get (Bachmeier) on the move, you’ve got to be able to tackle him,” Rogers said. “He had 109 yards rushing on nine attempts. We knew that he could use his legs. We expected him to run the ball, we just didn’t stop them.
“And credit to (BYU), they’re really good, but I think we’re better than what we just showed here, although I don’t think the score really reflects how this game played out in any way.”
In addition to the Cyclones’ on-field struggles, Rogers shared that Iowa State’s coaches lost connection on their headsets early in the second half, creating further adversity to navigate.
“We couldn’t hear from above. Then that’s kind of where it got sloppy, and we were going in and out. Then we started signaling, then we just started calling it from the sidelines,” Rogers said.
“… We’ve got to handle it on our own, and so as soon as it wasn’t working after two minutes, the coordinators started rushing down to the field, and we were able to get them down there, but they missed a good segment of the game.”
Iowa State now falls to 3-3 in Rogers’ first campaign with the program, failing to build off last week’s win over West Virginia and now facing a tough upcoming stretch at Arizona, home against ranked Oklahoma State and at Baylor.
“I’m kind of at a loss of words because I felt like we were going to come into (Provo) and be competitive in so many ways, and we really weren’t in so many ways,” Rogers said.
“Like I told the team, 3-3 is where we’re at. It doesn’t mean that that’s where we need to be, and so we need to grow and get better. We need to take this time for one to heal from a physical standpoint, and then we’ve got to be able to take the next step mentally.”
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BYU safety Faletau Satuala (11) knocks down a pass by Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) runs down the middle of the field as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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The ball bounces away after BYU Cougars safety Tommy Prassas (22) knocked it away from Iowa State tight end Tyler Fortenberry (19) as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) throws a pass to BYU Cougars tight end Walker Lyons (7) across the middle as they and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU Cougars offensive lineman Bruce Mitchell (63) calls out as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU cheerleaders and other performers dance before the fourth quarter as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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Iowa State Cyclones cornerback Tyrone Cotton (26) disrupts a pass as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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Iowa State safety Brody Miller (24) goes for a punch at the ball as BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) runs down the middle of the field as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU players and coaches celebrate a forth-down stop as they and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU players try to block an Iowa State field-goal attempt that ultimately misses as they play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU Cougars tight end Walker Lyons (7) tries to dodge Iowa State safety Eddie Lemos (19) as they play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU Cougars tight end Walker Lyons (7) celebrates after a catch and run as BYU plays Iowa State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake listens to a pair of officials after a no-call as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) looks for information from a referee as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU Cougars wide receiver Legend Glasker (1) looks back over his shoulder at Iowa State Cyclones safety Brody Miller (24) after making a catch as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU Cougars defensive end Anisi Purcell (94) celebrates as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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A side judge reaches for his flag as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU Cougars cornerback Jayven Williams (15) knocks the ball away from Iowa State running back Cameron Pettaway (0) as they play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU tight end Roger Saleapaga II (2) runs down field after making a juggling catch as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU cornerback Therrian Alexander (1) and BYU offensive lineman Strantz Mangisi (53) bring down Iowa State running back Aiden Flora (21) BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU wide receiver Kyler Kasper (3) scores a touchdown as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU running back Journee Tonga (20) and BYU tight end Keayen Nead (45) celebrate as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) smiles just before stepping into the huddle as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) battles as he is tackled by several Iowa State Cyclones as they and BYU play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU cornerback Therrian Alexander (1) knocks down a pass to Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Cody Jackson (2) as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU defensive lineman Tausili Akana (13) lifts Iowa State Cyclones running back Aiden Flora (21) into the air and throws him to the turf as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Akana was flagged on the play. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU linebacker Cade Uluave (4) celebrates a sack as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU wide receiver Legend Glasker (1) runs into the secondary as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) fakes a handoff to BYU running back Preston Rex (12) as BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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Fans greet players as BYU and Iowa State prepare to play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU running back Preston Rex (12) catches a kick during warmups as BYU and Iowa State prepare to play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) passes the ball during warmups as BYU and Iowa State prepare to play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 
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BYU students prepare to watch BYU and Iowa State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News