AP Photo – Iowa State defensive lineman JR Singleton (58) and wide receiver Jaylin Noel hoist the trophy after winning the PopTarts Bowl football game against Miami on Saturday in Orlando, Florida.
ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s been a turnaround season for Iowa State. And, fittingly, that’s how the Cyclones ended.
Game MVP Rocco Becht scored from 4 yards out with 56 seconds left and No. 18 Iowa State defeated No. 15 Miami 42-41 in the Poptarts Bowl on Saturday, capping the best season in school history. .
Becht had 270 passing yards and three touchdowns at Iowa State (11-2), the program’s first season to win at least nine games in a year, entering its 133rd season of Cyclone football. There was no.
“When you look at this team, it really has been that way all year long,” coach Matt Campbell said.
The win marks the fourth time in 2024 that Iowa State has earned a winning point with less than two minutes remaining. In that game, the Cyclones rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to earn their 11th win, with Miami quarterback Cam Ward watching over a record first half. Carson Hansen rushed for two touchdowns for Iowa State. .
And as MVP, Becht had the honor of choosing which flavor of Pop-Tart to sacrifice inside the giant toaster.
“There’s only one,” Becht said. “Cinnamon roll”
Ward completed three touchdown passes in his final college game, while Damian Martinez rushed for a career-high 179 yards for Miami (10-3), which missed its sixth consecutive bowl game. The season ended with three losses out of four games. We lost by a total of 10 points.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal said, “It’s disappointing that we couldn’t get the win.” “They’ve always fought, they’ve always competed, and this was no different. … It hurts. It hurts so much when you don’t win. But there’s a lot to build on.”
Martinez and Mark Fletcher Jr. rushed for points for Miami, which was looking for its first 11-win season since 2003. For the Hurricanes, Elijah Arroyo, Jojo Trader and JaColby George had TD catches.
Iowa State’s 15-play, 84-yard drive resulted in the winning score.
“It’s a great team win,” Hansen said. “And it was amazing to see the confetti fall.”
The first half was wild. Miami fumbled the ball away on the first snap of the game. The next eight drives all ended in touchdowns, with neither team able to stop the other.
Both teams combined for 625 yards (358 for Miami, 267 for Iowa State) and 59 points by halftime, with Miami holding a 31-28 lead. The only punt was by Iowa State’s Tyler Perkins midway through the second quarter. He was cheered when he entered the field during a table tennis match in the first half, and the teams exchanged touchdowns uneventfully.
Ward completed 12 of 19 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns in the first half before being replaced by Emory Williams to start the second half. Fletcher’s 1-yard run midway through the third quarter gave Miami a 38-28 lead, but the Hurricanes scored just three points on their final three drives.
“It’s really fitting to end the season this way,” Campbell said. “That really speaks to the character of this team. It’s hard to find teams still in college football, but there is one in Ames, Iowa.”
takeout
Iowa State: The Cyclones had touchdown drives of 22, 75, 65 and 75 yards on their first four possessions for a total of 237 yards. He gained one touchdown and 110 yards on his next five possessions, including one where he took a knee to end the first half.
Miami: The Hurricanes are 50-0 since the start of 2000 when scoring at least 38 points and gaining at least 500 yards. The Hurricanes are now 50-2, and their winning streak ended with a loss to Syracuse that cost Miami a spot in the College Football Playoff, and the Hurricanes lost on Saturday despite gaining 41 points and 524 yards.
Impact of public opinion polls
If Miami remains in the AP Top 25, 2024 will be the first season since 2017 when the Hurricanes appeared in all polls. This is the second time since 2000 that Iowa State has finished the season ranked.
Academic background
Andy Borregales’ field goal with 9:40 left gave Miami a 41-35 lead, giving him 11 points (5 PATs, 2 field goals) and 404 career points. This set a new school record for Miami, one place ahead of Michael Badgley.
to the next
Iowa State opens the 2025 season on Aug. 23 against Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland.
18th Iowa State University 42, 15th University of Miami 41
Iowa Street 21 7 7 7 — 42
Miami 14 17 7 3 — 41
1st quarter
ISU – 9 passes from Burkle Becht (Conraldi kick), 11:23.
MIA-Martinez 75 runs (Borregales kick), 11:10.
ISU-Hansen 30 runs (Conrady kick), 8 minutes 34 seconds.
MIA – George 4 pass from Ward (Borregales kick), 4:12.
ISU-Hansen 1 run (Conrady kick), 2:23.
2nd quarter
MIA – Trader 40 passes from Ward (Borregales kick), 13:33.
ISU-Hansen, 13 passes from Becht (Conraldi kick), 10 minutes, 43 seconds.
MIA – Arroyo, 33 pass from Ward (Borregales kick), 9:25.
MIA–FG Borregales 30, :16.
3rd quarter
MIA-Fletcher 1 run (Bolegares kick), 8:09.
ISU – 4 passes from Noel Becht (Conraldi kick), 2:20.
4th quarter
MIA-FG Borregales 21, 9:40.
ISU-Becht 1 run (Conrady kick), :56.
A–38,650.
team statistics
Is Mia
First down 24 24
Total net yards 415 524
Rush Yards 31-145 39-308
Passing 270 216
Comp-at-Into 22-36-0 17-33-1
Punt 3-37.3 1-44.0
Lost fumble 1-0 2-2
Penalty Yards 2-30 6-45
Possession time 27:41 32:19
personal statistics
Rushing – Iowa St., Hansen 16-82, Becht 8-23, Noel 2-16, Summer 3-13, Flora 1-12, (team) 1-(minus 1). Miami, Martinez 14-179, Fletcher 12-62, Lyle 9-34, Lofton 1-28, Ward 2-8, (Team) 1 win (-3).
Passing – Iowa Street, Becht 22-36-0-270. Miami Ward 12-19-0-190, E. Williams 5-14-1-26.
Reception – Iowa Street, Noel 8-117, Burkle 4-54, Green 3-20, Alston 2-52, Brown 2-12, Hansen 1-13, Flora 1-6, Klotz 1- (minus 4). Miami, Arroyo 4-64, Trader 3-61, George 2-24, Kirk 2-22, Joseph 2-17, Lofton 1-17, Fletcher 1-7, Martinez 1-6, Lyle 1 win-(minus 2).
Missed Field Goal – None.
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