Top Cyclones To Watch Against Cincinnati

Saturday's matchup against Cincinnati (11 a.m, TNT) is a chance for Iowa State football to get back on track and find some much needed leverage as conference play comes to a close. Ahead of kickoff, here are some of the players we think could make a difference. 

The run game is where Iowa State has outmatched a number of opponents this season, and that success starts with the likes of Aiden Flora. In home games specifically, Flora's impact is in full effect. 

Last time out inside of Jack Trice Stadium, Flora rushed for 221 yards and two scores, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. And it hasn't just been a one-off, either. 

Flora has been consistent in the ground game at home, rushing for a similar 212 yards and three scores against the Mountaineers. If he gets going early on in this one, expect a ground attack that the Bearcats have trouble slowing down. 

We probably haven't given enough attention to the Iowa State receiving core this season, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's gone unnoticed. When the play call isn't for Flora in the ground game, Cyclones' quarterback Jaylen Raynor knows how to throw the deep ball. 

As of late, it's fallen into the hands of Jamal Polite Jr., arguably the top wide receiver on the team. Polite has topped 150 yards on separate occasions, most recently with six catches and 171 yards against the Oklahoma State on Halloween. 

Expect the Cincinnati defense to have trouble locking either man down in the secondary, or preventing the deep ball if there are any connections made early on in this one. 

The Iowa State passing defense hasn't exactly been perfect this season, but that's not out of the ordinary in the Big 12. Enter safety Drew Surges, a junior from Chicago, Illinois whose been responsible for a number of stops so far this season. 

Surges forced a fumble in the season-opener against Southeast Missouri State, but has been rather quiet as of late. Last time out against Baylor, he logged three tackles, two of which were solo. 

The Cyclone linebackers are another story. Both Sullivan Schlimgen and Carson Willich lead the position in tackles, each combining for 138 total tackles and three sacks. Defensive end Isaac Terrell hasn't had any issues breaking through in the trenches, either. Terrell leads the team in sacks, eyeing another couple this weekend against the Bearcats. 

And the Bearcats offensive line is rather middle of the pack in the conference, potentially a step up from the looks the Cyclone defense saw last weekend at Baylor.