Iowa State football fell to No. 8 BYU 24-10 on Friday, October 8th, in Provo, Utah. The Cyclones have struggled to gain momentum, and several statical differences highlighted that challenge they faced against the undefeated Cougars.

Here are the top numbers that stood out from the loss. 

The biggest difference in Friday's game was the total offense. BYU finished with 506 yards compared to the Cyclones' 200. The Cougars averaged 8.3 yards per play, while the Cyclones only averaged 3.6. 

BYU orchestrated explosive plays that create separation on the scoreboard. Iowa State struggled to find the same rhythm, limiting its opportunities to mount a comeback.

Cyclone quarterback Jaylen Raynor completed 16 of 29 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown. He connected with Christian Greenlaw for a one-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to cut BYU's lead to 21-10 and give Iowa State some life with plenty of time left, but that was the only positive for the passing game, which simply didn't muster anything. 

No matter how good the Cougars are defensively, throwing under 100 yards is just not going to cut it for Iowa State moving forward. Even an average passing game would've gave it a chance to pull the upset. 

Running back Aiden Flora provided one of Iowa State's most encouraging statistical performances.  He rushed for 86 yards on 17 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt.

Flora has helped the Cyclones finish with 102 rushing yards. Although the Cyclones struggled overall, their ground game surpassed 100 yards for the 23rd consecutive game.

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier was one of the biggest difference-makers in this one. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns, while also killing Iowa State on the ground - finishing with 109 yards on just nine carries.  

The quarterback's 438 all-purpose yards showcased how difficult he was to contain. His 75-yard touchdown pass to Lend Glasker in the third quarter extended the lead to 21-3 and was essentially the nail in the Cyclones' coffin considering their struggle to move the football. 

Iowa State converted just two of 13 third down attempts, compared with BYU's four conversions only 10 attempts. The Cyclones also recorded 14 first downs, four fewer than the Cougars' 18. 

Ultimately, the numbers has explained why Iowa State struggled to compete. The Cyclones  showed flashes on the ground, but BYU's explosive offense and advantage in total production proved too much to overcome. 

Moving forward, Iowa State will need to develop a more consistent offense and improve its third-down efficiency to compete in these games. Now it's time to move on and correct the mistakes during a much-needed bye week. 

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