It’s official: Iowa State will play for the Big 12 Conference championship

Several hours after putting the finishing touches on the first 10-win season in program history, the Iowa State football team can begin the process of packing for Dallas.

The Cyclones (10-2, 7-2) will take on Arizona State (10-2, 7-2) next Saturday from AT&T Stadium for the Big 12 Conference championship. The winner will receive a bid to the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Iowa State had to wait out a BYU victory over Houston, which ended early in the morning Iowa time Sunday. Had Houston upset BYU in a meeting of Cougars, Colorado would have punched a ticket to the title game. 

This will be the second time the Cyclones have played for the Big 12 title. The first was in 2020 when they lost to Oklahoma, 27-21. 

Led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht, Iowa State features an offense that has big-play potential. Wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel have both surpassed 1,000 yards, making them the first Cyclone duo to achieve that feat.

Becht has thrown for 3,021 yards with 20 touchdowns, adding 272 yards and seven scores with his legs. Higgins has 80 receptions for 1,068 with nine touchdowns while Noel has 67 for 1,013 and six TDs.

Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III have over 1,000 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.

The Sun Devils, led by Cam Skattebo, could be without the services of leading receiver Jordyn Tyson. He was injured in the win over Arizona with what is being reported as broken collarbone.

Skattebo has over 1,200 yards rushing while Sam Leavitt has over 2,100 yards passing on te season for head coach Kenny Dillingham, who has led a seven-win difference from last year.

Iowa State vs. Arizona State will kick off at 11 a.m. CT on ABC and Iowa State on SI will have complete coverage of the game.