The Red Wolves return 10 offensive starters from bowl-eligible teams.
Arkansas State University coach Butch Jones watches his team play against the University of Oklahoma during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Oklahoma, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Editor's note: This is the third in a 12-part series looking at each of the Iowa State football team's 2024 regular season opponents.
AMES — Arkansas State was in rebuilding mode under coach Butch Jones but became bowl eligible in 2023 after four consecutive losing seasons.
Jones, who served as Tennessee's head coach from 2013-2017, has a deep talent pool in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and the offensive line returns 10 starters, including two-way quarterback Jalen Rayner.
The 6-foot, 204-pound sophomore had 2,923 yards of total offense and 22 touchdowns (17 passing, five rushing) last season, so making him uneasy will be crucial for Iowa State's skilled and often tough defense.
Rayner's top targets also return, including wide receivers Courtney Jackson and Corey Rucker, who combined for nearly 1,400 yards receiving and nine touchdown catches in 2023.
Arkansas State also has depth up front and in the backfield, with leading returners Ja'Ques Cross and Zach Wallace combining for 13 rushing touchdowns last season.
Defensively, the Red Wolves are much more raw, returning just six starters, including defensive linemen Kieron Crawford and Nate Marty, who combined for 19.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks last season.
Arkansas State ranked eighth nationally among FBS programs in defensive touchdowns scored last season with four, meaning it's an aggressive team with five new starters.
The Red Wolves have become accustomed to playing against Big 12 powerhouses the past few seasons, having faced both Oklahoma (a former Big 12 school) and Kansas State since 2020. Arkansas State beat the Wildcats 35-31 in Manhattan in 2020 and was blown out by the Sooners 73-0 in Norman last season.
Iowa State vs. Arkansas State: Three things to watch
1. Can the Cyclones contain the Red Wolves' punt and kick returners?
ISU was solid in punt coverage (51st nationally) and kick coverage (54th) last season, so they'll need to be at their best against Arkansas State. Both Cross and Jackson are ranked in the top 20 returners nationally in 2023, so allowing special teams points or big returns could make this a tighter game than expected. Cross scored a touchdown on a kickoff return last season, and Jackson did the same on a punt return.
2. Can ISU's offensive line withstand the Red Wolves' potent pass rush?
Crawford is a 6-foot-4, 243-pound junior who came off the edge last season with a total of seven sacks. Marty is a 6-foot-1, 288-pound senior who shined on the interior and recorded six sacks in 2023. Those two will be hard to contain and could put Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht in a tough situation. But Becht excelled under pressure for much of last season and has a plethora of weapons that could make Arkansas State pay if it gets too aggressive.
3. Can the Cyclones' offense strike quickly?
When playing against athletic, slightly undersized teams from smaller conferences, getting off to a fast start on the scoreboard is key — and the Red Wolves are a prime example of such a team — and ISU's offense will need to generate some big plays early, establish a two-point lead and put Arkansas State on the ropes.
Iowa State vs Arkansas State: 2024 Predictions
As long as the Cyclones don't lose the ball too many times, they should be able to win fairly easily after a close first half.
2024 Iowa State football team opponent preview
• North Dakota
• Iowa
