Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes over Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins (34) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa.
Ben Hutchens
AMES -- The history of Cy-Hawk is one-sided. Cyclone fans who interact with Hawkeye fans have probably already been reminded of some of the statistics this week.
In the 71 previous matchups between Iowa and Iowa State dating back to 1894, the Cyclones are 24-47. ISU's longest winning streak is five games from 1998-02 while Iowa's is 15 from 1983-97. Even in the Matt Campbell era, the winningest stretch of ISU football, the Cyclones are 2-6 against Iowa.
You know who doesn't care about any of those previous results? The players who will be wearing ISU helmets on Saturday against Iowa (11 a.m. FOX).
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"I've said this before, I don't even know if 18-22 year olds know what happened yesterday," coach Matt Campbell said. "I think there is great things with tradition and uniqueness and rivalries and those sorts of things are awesome but again, I think, the focus has to be on the present."
Junior Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht grew up in Florida as a West Virginia fan. He admitted Wednesday that, as a kid, he didn't know anything about Iowa State or Iowa football.
The players on ISU's roster don't carry the burden of Cy-Hawk's one-sided history. The only thing they know is to believe in Becht and the things he's done for them lately.
With 34 seconds remaining in last year's Cy-Hawk, Becht led the Cyclones 42 yards to set up a game-winning field goal. That was the first of four game-winning drives Becht led last season. ISU's 5-1 record in one-score games powered the team's first 11-win season.
Becht led another clutch fourth-quarter drive in ISU's opener against Kansas State, throwing for a third and fourth down conversion on the final drive to clinch a 24-21 win.
Under Becht, ISU has flipped its close game narrative. In 2022, the Cyclones were 1-6 in one-score games. Since Becht took over as starter in 2023, ISU's record in one-score games is 8-4.
Campbell was asked about that turnaround and provided context that the 2022 team was recoiling from the loss of several players to the NFL. But Campbell credited the turnaround to the Becht and the belief in him
"I think that Rocco's emergence offensively in terms of his confidence and our ability to build an offense around him," Campbell said. "Coach (Taylor Mouser) has done a great job. We've had great coaches though, they're all great coaches along the way. I just think it's been the execution of our players and the belief in what we're trying to do and what we're trying to accomplish."
Tight end Gabe Burkle caught the third-down conversion late in the win against Kansas State. He has been a believer in Becht before Becht even became the starter.
"He's been confident forever here," Burkle said. "He's been an amazing QB even my freshman year when we were both on scout team, we had a blast on scout team doing the things like that. He's gotten better. But his confidence, he's always been a super confident person and he's always prepared the same, like a pro, so I think it's just showing more this year."
Burkle said that Becht will talk to the offense before he leads them onto the field to go tie or win a game. The message is always positive, affirming that the things the team has done in practice will get them the outcome they want.
"I think it's just confidence and trust in myself that I can go out there and make a play," Becht said. "I think I remember saying this last year against UCF, there's never a doubt where we go out there and I don't think the offense can score."
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Ben Hutchens is an Iowa State University beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at [email protected].
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