Cyclone Insider Hour

It wasn't spectacular. It wasn't bad. It just...happened. That's the aftermath of Iowa State's 21-3 win over North Dakota in Saturday's season opener. Live from Jack Trice Stadium, the Register's Travis Hines and Tommy Birch dissect everything from the Cyclones' first performance of 2024.

Travis Hines and Tommy Birch preview Iowa State football's opener against North Dakota.

Cyclone Insider returns with the Des Moines Register’s Travis Hines and Tommy Birch talking all things Iowa State football ahead of the much-anticipated 2024 season.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss the Iowa State men's basketball team's draw in the NCAA Tournament while Tommy Birch joins to chat about the women's team's path.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines recaps Iowa State's quarterfinal win over Kansas State and look ahead to Friday night's matchup with Baylor.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss the final weeks of the basketball season, with Tommy Birch joining as well.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss Taylor Mouser's promotion to offensive coordinator for Iowa State football as well as preview the men's basketball team's week of games.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss Iowa State men's basketball's push to the top of the Big 12 standings, and they also chat about Brock Purdy's Super Bowl performance.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines talk Iowa State's win over Kansas State and its weekend battle with Kansas.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss Iowa State's Liberty Bowl to Memphis and look ahead to the 2024 season.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss potential opt-outs for the Liberty Bowl, and the lates with Cyclone hoops.

Another Cy-Hawk showdown, another blowout win for the home team. Buoyed by strong nights from Keshon Gilbert, Robert Jones and Tre King, Iowa State cruised by Iowa inside a sold-out Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones are riding high in December and should cruise into Big 12 play with four more easy games upcoming. The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines dissect what they saw Thursday night.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines of the Des Moines Register discuss Iowa State's Liberty Bowl matchup with Memphis, plus preview this week's Cy-Hawk games.

We're through one month of Iowa State hoops, and the Cyclones are 5-2 with a game Friday at DePaul. Plus, Matt Campbell's squad is readying for a bowl announcement Sunday. The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss both.

The Cyclones have already accomplished more than many people thought by reaching bowl eligibility. Now, can Iowa State get greedy? A chance to disrupt the College Football Playoff picture with a massive upset awaits Saturday night in Jack Trice Stadium. The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis discuss whether or not Iowa State can pull a Texas stunner.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss Iowa State's win over BYU, and what comes next for the Cyclones now that they've achieved bowl eligibility. The pair also talk hoops.

All the elements were there for a huge Iowa State win, but leaky defense on the backend gave Kansas a huge late TD to cement a rare road victory over the Cyclones. With this chance to reach bowl eligibility now gone, Iowa State must find one more win against either BYU, Texas or Kansas State. The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines sift through the aftermath at Jack Trice Stadium.

At the beginning of the season, not many would've pegged Iowa State-Kansas as an important Big 12 affair slotted for primetime. But that's exactly what will happen Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium, as the Cyclones look to emerge from a cluttered group atop the conference. The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss the game ahead, plus some basketball talk.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss the five-way tie atop the Big 12, with Iowa State among the leaders after their surge to start Big 12 play.

Backed by a balanced offensive attack that had Baylor chasing from the start, Iowa State delivered its second straight road win in as many games with a 30-18 victory over the Bears. Coupled with Oklahoma’s loss at Kansas, the Cyclones will enter the regular season’s final month tied atop the Big 12 standings. Live from Waco, The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss what this win means.

Not many expected the Cyclones to be 4-3 after the bye week, but here Iowa State is in position to reach a bowl game with a strong closing push. That begins Saturday at Baylor, which is already 1-4 at home this season amid severe struggles. This appears to be the most winnable game remaining on the Cyclones' schedule. The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss the matchup and more.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines analyze Iowa State's 3-1 start to the Big 12, plus chat Big 12 basketball media days.

A complete effort from Iowa State resulted in the Cyclones’ first road win of the season. Matt Campbell’s squad dismantled Cincinnati in its first meeting with the new Big 12 foe, leaning on Rocco Becht, Jayden Higgins and the Iowa State defense to bring this one home. The Register's Travis Hines and Randy Peterson discuss from Nippert Stadium.

After another conference home victory last week against TCU, Iowa State will head back out on the road searching for its first win away from Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones' last visit to the state of Ohio didn't go well; same for their last Big 12 road venture. Can Matt Campbell's squad take one step closer to a bowl game Saturday afternoon at Cincinnati? The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss that, plus some basketball talk.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss Iowa State football's win over TCU and their road trip to Cincinnati. The pair also talk basketball with media days upon us.

A memorable night in Ames saw Iowa State honor Jack Trice, then topple TCU with a quality showing. The Cyclones defense bounced back in a huge way with four turnovers, while freshman Abu Sama sparked the ground game with a long TD run. The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines break down what it all means.

After holding their own for a quarter and change last week against Oklahoma, the Cyclones get a more manageable task this week at home versus TCU. The Horned Frogs certainly look more vulnerable than they did last season en route to the national championship game. But can Iowa State string together enough success to secure its second Big 12 victory of the year? The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss what they believe to be the one truth and two questions Iowa State's loss to Oklahoma over the weekend exposed. The pair also chats about former Cyclone Brock Purdy's continued excellence with the 49ers.

A decent start fizzled quickly for Iowa State Saturday night in Norman. After pulling within a point midway through the second quarter, Oklahoma scored the game’s final 29 points for a runaway victory. While the Cyclones were heavy underdogs in this one, the defensive effort was far from the standard Iowa State has developed in recent seasons. The Register's Travis Hines and Randy Peterson sort through the aftermath.

Given how bleak Iowa State football looked coming home from Ohio, the Cyclones have at least restored some temporary optimism after toppling Oklahoma State last weekend. Now, the challenge intensifies. Oklahoma looks a little different under Brent Venables, but the dominance is all the same. The Cyclones will be several-touchdown underdogs, just as they were in 2017 before delivering a massive upset in Norman. The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines dive into Saturday's intense Big 12 matchup.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss Iowa State' pass-heavy win over Oklahoma State and if it will continue this weekend in Norman against Oklahoma.

It was far from a flawless performance, but Iowa State found a passing rhythm and held on defensively for a needed 34-27 win over Oklahoma State. Rocco Becht threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns to give the Cyclones a two-TD lead, before the defense finished things off with a late interception. Could this be a stabilizing victory as Iowa State pushes further into Big 12 play? The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss.

As embarrassing as Iowa State's 10-7 loss at Ohio last week was, it probably wasn't even the most jarring result in the conference. That went to Oklahoma State, which suffered a 33-7 home defeat to South Alabama in a game it spent $300,000 to make happen. Who comes out on top Saturday in Ames? The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss Iowa State's feeble offensive production early this season and chat about what fixes may be in store to help put points on the board and salvage the season. Plus, they look ahead to Saturday's game against a similarly struggling Oklahoma State.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss Iowa State's 10-7 loss Saturday at Ohio in which the offense once again struggled and the Cyclone offensive line was 'embarrassing,' according to Matt Campbell.

After a mentally draining Cy-Hawk loss, Iowa State hits the road for a peculiar trip to MAC foe Ohio. The Cyclones are favored but not by much, which poses the question: Is this a trickier road trip than it would normally appear? The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines look back at Iowa State's loss to Iowa and ahead to the Cyclones' game Saturday at Ohio.

Even amid all the offensive futility, Iowa State still had a reasonable opportunity to tie the game in the final minutes. Can young Cyclones like Rocco Becht, Abu Sama and many others find positives from this game while dealing with frustration head on? The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines look ahead to Iowa State's Cy-Hawk matchup with Iowa on Saturday after last weekend's 30-9 victory over Northern Iowa.

For all the question marks surrounding the Cyclones after a tumultuous offseason, Iowa State delivered an emphatic season-opening win over Northern Iowa. Matt Campbell's squad was expected to lean on its defense this year even before key offensive pieces became suspended, and that provided true against the Panthers. The Register's Randy Peterson and Travis Hines break it all down from Jack Trice Stadium.

We're 48 hours out from Iowa State football's 2023 season opener against Northern Iowa, and we....still don't really know who these Cyclones are. The gambling suspensions have taken a huge hit on Matt Campbell's squad that was already coming off a rough 2022 campaign. The questions start under center between J.J. Kohl and Rocco Becht, but there are plenty more than need answering. The Register's Travis Hines and Randy Peterson are here to do their best at that.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss what should be expected from Iowa State football in 2023.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss Iowa State inching nearer to the start of the 2023 football season.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss how Iowa State adjusts with the news that five returning starters from the 2022 have been charged in the state's gambling probe. The pair also talk the Cyclones' hopes for an improved special teams.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss the second wave of criminal complaints against Iowa State football players as part of the DCI's gambling probe.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines discuss the Big 12's additions of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah as the Pac-12 seemingly unravels amid realignment. The two also chat about Iowa State football.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines chat from Iowa State football media day, where the program is dealing with the continued fallout from the gambling investigation that delivered a criminal complaint Tuesday against returning starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers.

A major bombshell in the sports-betting investigation affecting Iowa State and Iowa dropped this week, with Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers right in the middle of it. All told, three current Iowa State athletes and one former one have been charged in the probe that's spanned several months. Three of those names, including Dekkers, are or were Iowa State football players who are accused of betting on their own games.

Randy Peterson and Travis Hines dig into Colorado's decision to rejoin the Big 12 and what could be ahead for both the Pac-12 and Big 12. Plus, the pair preview a Iowa State football media day that will likely be dominated by the gambling probe.