West Virginia Mountaineers at Iowa State Cyclones

Injuries noted

West Virginia Mountaineers: Emory Snyder (out) — Nickel listed out for the October 3 matchup in the October 1 conference report, published October 2. Condition unspecified.; Armoni Weaver-Bomar (out) — Wide receiver listed out for this matchup. Condition unspecified.; Andre Devine (out) — Running back listed out for this matchup. Condition unspecified.; Darius Wiley (out for season) — Defensive lineman listed out for this matchup; October 1 reporting identifies his season-opening injury as season-ending without specifying the condition.; Nick Taylor (probable) — Cornerback listed probable for this matchup. Condition unspecified.; Ashton Woods (probable) — Linebacker listed probable for this matchup. Condition unspecified.

Iowa State Cyclones: Caden Crawford (out) — Defensive end listed out for the October 3 matchup in the October 1 conference report, published October 2. Condition unspecified.; Ka'Mori Moore (out) — Defensive tackle listed out for this matchup. Condition unspecified.; Jaheim Singletary (questionable) — Cornerback listed questionable for this matchup. The current report does not specify the condition.

QUARTERBACK

• Michael Hawkins Jr. is WVU's projected starter

  10.15 Y/A

  Michael Hawkins Jr. is WVU's projected starting quarterback. The September 30 official matchup preview discusses Hawkins as West Virginia's quarterback. The October 1 preview lists him with an 'or' alongside Scotty Fox Jr., so an exclusive confirmed starter is not established. 2026 line: 609 passing yards, 60.0% completions, 10.15 yards per attempt, 5-1 TD-INT over 4 games.

• Jaylen Raynor is ISU's projected starter

  6.68 Y/A

  Jaylen Raynor is ISU's projected starting quarterback. The October 1 game preview identifies Raynor as Iowa State's quarterback for this matchup. No explicit game-day starter announcement was verified. 2026 line: 615 passing yards, 54.3% completions, 6.68 yards per attempt, 4-3 TD-INT over 4 games.

TRENCHES

• WVU: 294.8 rushing yards per game to ISU's 176.8

  118 YPG

  West Virginia is running for 294.8 a game through 4 games, almost double its 160.6 last season, which makes it the side dictating style on the ground. Iowa State at 176.8 sits right near its 174.7 last season, so its number looks real. WVU's surge is the one more likely to cool, and a road game against a steady opponent is a fair test of it.

PACE & SCRIPT

• ISU: 16 points allowed per game to WVU's 24.8

  8.8 PPG

  Iowa State allows 16 points a game, an improvement from 20.2 last season. West Virginia allows 24.8, much better than its 30.8 a year ago. Both defenses are ahead of last season over four games, and early schedules can flatter defensive numbers. Iowa State's defense at home has the stronger track record, which matters if this turns into a lower-scoring game.

MISMATCH

• WVU: 294.8 rush yards a game to ISU's 176.8

  294.8 VS 176.8

  West Virginia is running for 294.8 a game over 4 games, nearly double last season's 160.6, while Iowa State is at 176.8, about where it was last season at 174.7. Iowa State is steady and West Virginia is the outlier, so expect the WVU number to come down some. The game likely turns on whether Iowa State's front can force West Virginia into passing downs at home.

COVERAGE

• ISU: 158.8 passing yards allowed per game to WVU's 282.3

  123.5 YPG

  Iowa State allows 158.8 passing yards a game over four games, while West Virginia gives up 282.3 over the same stretch. Opponents have thrown with ease on West Virginia and have found it much harder against Iowa State. Four games is a fair early look but schedule detail is missing, so the Iowa State number may be partly opponent-driven. With Iowa State at home, the passing matchup leans its way on paper, which is worth weighing when you look at Iowa State's passing props and the total.

REPLACEMENT

• Darius Wiley (DL) is out for the season for WVU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  Defensive lineman listed out for this matchup; October 1 reporting identifies his season-opening injury as season-ending without specifying the condition. West Virginia vs. Iowa State Big 12 availability report: 10-1 (2026-10-02) Key WVU Football WR Out for Iowa State Game (2026-10-01)

• Ka'Mori Moore (DT) is out for ISU

  OUT

  Defensive tackle listed out for this matchup. Condition unspecified. West Virginia vs. Iowa State Big 12 availability report: 10-1 (2026-10-02)

• Caden Crawford (DE) is out for ISU

  OUT

  Defensive end listed out for the October 3 matchup in the October 1 conference report, published October 2. Condition unspecified. West Virginia vs. Iowa State Big 12 availability report: 10-1 (2026-10-02)

• Andre Devine (RB) is out for WVU

  OUT

  Running back listed out for this matchup. Condition unspecified. West Virginia vs. Iowa State Big 12 availability report: 10-1 (2026-10-02)

• Armoni Weaver-Bomar (WR) is out for WVU

  OUT

  Wide receiver listed out for this matchup. Condition unspecified. West Virginia vs. Iowa State Big 12 availability report: 10-1 (2026-10-02) Key WVU Football WR Out for Iowa State Game (2026-10-01)

• Emory Snyder (DB) is out for WVU

  OUT

  Nickel listed out for the October 3 matchup in the October 1 conference report, published October 2. Condition unspecified. West Virginia vs. Iowa State Big 12 availability report: 10-1 (2026-10-02)

SITUATIONAL

• WVU: 53.2% third-down conversion rate to ISU's 31.1%

  22.1 PP

  West Virginia converts 53.2% of third downs through 4 games, Iowa State 31.1%. That is a big flip from last season, when West Virginia was at 29.6% and Iowa State at 40.1%. Both numbers look likely to move back toward those marks. Four games is a small sample to buy a full reversal, especially with West Virginia on the road.

TEAM RECORD

• Big 12 game: WVU 0-1, ISU 0-1 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big 12. WVU is 0-1 against it, ISU is 0-1. 2026 standings through 2026-10-03.