Iowa State fans are finally catching their breath. If you’re looking for the score of Iowa State football game from their most recent outing, the Cyclones wrapped up their 2025 regular season with a gritty 20-13 victory over Oklahoma State. They went into Stillwater on November 29 and basically ground out a win that felt like classic Matt Campbell football.
The game wasn't necessarily a masterpiece, but it secured an 8-4 finish for a team that has seen its fair share of highs and lows this year. Honestly, after that mid-season slump where they dropped four straight games, nobody was quite sure if they’d find their footing again. But they did.
How the Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State Game Went Down
It was a cold one in Stillwater. 11:00 AM kicks always feel a little sleepy, but Iowa State's defense showed up with a caffeine jolt. They held the Cowboys to just 13 points, which is no small feat at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Rocco Becht didn't have his most explosive day, but he was efficient enough. He finished the season with 2,584 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, and while the stats against the Pokes weren't eye-popping, his 8 rushing touchdowns on the year show how much more mobile he's become.
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The Key Moments in the 20-13 Win
- Defense wins championships (or at least 8 games): The Cyclones' 3-high safety look, a staple under Jon Heacock, absolutely frustrated the Cowboys' passing attack.
- Carson Hansen's workload: Hansen has been a revelation this season, finishing with 952 rushing yards. In the finale, his ability to move the chains late in the fourth quarter basically iced the game.
- The Turnover Battle: Iowa State played clean. They didn't beat themselves, which has been the "secret sauce" for every successful Campbell season.
Why the Score of Iowa State Football Game Matters for the Big 12 Standings
The Big 12 was a total gauntlet in 2025. Iowa State finished 5-4 in conference play, which landed them in 7th place. That sounds "middle of the pack," but when you look at how tight the top was—with Texas Tech and BYU both hitting 12 wins—being in that upper-middle tier is a solid accomplishment.
Think about where this team started. They opened the season in Dublin, Ireland, taking down Kansas State 24-21 in a thriller. Then they beat Iowa 16-13. They were sitting at 5-0 and ranked No. 14 in the country before the wheels sort of wobbled.
The Mid-Season Heartbreak
The reason everyone is so focused on the score of Iowa State football game lately is that the season nearly derailed in October.
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- Cincinnati: A 30-38 loss that exposed some secondary issues.
- Colorado: A tough 17-24 road loss in Boulder.
- BYU: A 27-41 shootout where the defense just couldn't get a stop.
- Arizona State: A 19-24 nail-biter.
Going from 5-0 to 5-4 is enough to make any fan base anxious. But the way they closed—beating TCU, Kansas, and finally Oklahoma State—shows a lot of "five-star culture" resilience.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Cyclones?
Now that the 8-4 regular season is in the books, the focus shifts to bowl season and the 2026 outlook. We know the 2026 schedule kicks off on September 5 against Southeast Missouri State, followed by the big Cy-Hawk game at Iowa on September 12.
If you're tracking the basketball team too, things are even more intense there. The No. 2 ranked men's team just suffered their first loss of the season, falling 84-63 to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. It seems Lawrence is still a house of horrors for the Clones, regardless of the sport.
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Actionable Takeaways for Fans
Keep an eye on the transfer portal. With the regular season over, Matt Campbell and his staff will be looking to shore up the offensive line. Also, Carson Hansen is only going to get better; he’s established himself as the clear RB1 heading into next year. If you're looking to attend a game in 2026, the home slate features some manageable early matchups before the Big 12 schedule turns into a dogfight again.
Check the final bowl assignments coming out soon. An 8-4 record likely lands Iowa State in a respectable December bowl, possibly the Pop-Tarts Bowl or the Alamo Bowl, depending on how the rest of the conference tie-ins shake out.