Live updates, score: Iowa State vs. Cincinnati in Big 12 football game

The Iowa State football team is in desperate need of a win.

After working to the top of the Big 12 following seven consecutive wins to begin the year, the Cyclones now sit at 7-2 as they host Cincinnati Saturday night in Ames, Iowa. The odds are in favor of Matt Campbell and ISU, as they are 7-point favorites vs. the Bearcats.

Follow our live updates, in-game analysis and big-play highlights from the Iowa State vs. Cincinnati matchup:

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Field goal Cincinnati: The Bearcats march down into ISU’s red zone but the Cyclone defense comes up, forcing a successful field goal of 29 yards by Nathan Hawks to make it 10-7 Cincinnati. Sorsby had a big 41-yard run on an option play but penalties – the Bearcats have been flagged six times already – have been an issue. Something to watch as the game moves forward is the playing surface. Both teams have had trouble with slipping, as the field appears to be getting ripped up quite a bit. 

A very fast played first quarter, as Cincinnati had 113 yards of total offense and recorded five first downs to 47 yards and two by the Cyclones. The Bearcats had the ball for almost 10 minutes, as Sorsby was 6-for-7 for 55 yards.

End of first quarter: Iowa State 7, Cincinnati 7

Iowa State Touchdown! Carson Hansen took advantage of a Cincinnati flag to get the Cyclones on the board from two yards out, making it 7-7 with 1:53 left in the first. After a 28-yard punt return by Jaylin Noel set Iowa State up in Bearcat territory, Rocco Becht found Gabe Burkle on a 32-yard strike. Cincinnati’s Jordan Young was flagged for pass interference in the end zone, resulting in first-and-goal from the 2. 

Iowa State gives backup QB a run: Connor Moberly, who this time last year was leading Southeast Polk to another Iowa state football championship, got his first action since late in September. Moberly came on to handle a designed quarterback run, picking up five yards. The first Iowa State possession, though, stalled out after a sack by Jared Bartlett.

Touchdown Cincinnati: The Bearcats get on the board first with an old-school option play. Brendan Sorsby, the talented dual-threat QB for Cincinnati, led the Bearcats down the field for a 7-0 lead with 9:56 left. He picked up 14 yards on third-and-14, and the offense stayed on the field to pick up the first-down by Sorsby again. Following a big pass play from Sorsby to Tony Johnson for 23 yards, Evan Pryor would take an option pitch from Sorsby and go in untouched. Sorsby had 62 yards of total offense on the drive.

Iowa State wins the toss and elects to defer to the second half. Cincinatti will start with the ball.

The Iowa State vs. Cincinnati game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. CT. The weather in Ames is currently in the 50s with the temperature expected to drop throughout the night. There are steady winds out of the South with high humidity but no expected rainfall. 

Some good news for Cyclone fans, as Tim Brando and Devin Gardner, on the call for FOX, are 2-0 while covering Iowa State this season. Gardner is a former Michigan quarterback.

* Scouting the opponent: Get to know QB Brendan Sorsby

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* What Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield had to say about Cyclones

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* Pair of ISU verbals compete in state football semifinals in Iowa